Театр

           ItwascalledNowadays,andtheintentionhadbeentoproduceitearlyintheautumn.IthadagreatpartforJuliaandtheadvantageofonethatwellsuitedMichael.Itwasthesortofplaythatmighteasilyrunayear.MichaeldidnotmuchliketheideaofproducingitinMay,withthesummercomingon,butthereseemednohelpforitandhebeganlookingaboutforacast.

           Oneafternoon,duringtheintervalatamatinee,EviebroughtanoteintoJulia.ShewassurprisedtoseeRoger’shandwriting.

           DEARMOTHER,

           ThisistointroducetoyouMissJoanDenverwhoItalkedtoyouabout.She’sawfullykeenongettingintheSiddonsTheatreandwouldbequitesatisfiedwithanunderstudyhoweversmall.

           Youraffectionateson,

           ROGER

           Juliasmiledattheformalwayinwhichhewrote;shewastickledbecausehewassogrownupastotrytogetjobsforhisgirlfriends.ThenshesuddenlyrememberedwhoJoanDenverwas.JoanandJill.ShewasthegirlwhohadseducedpoorRoger.Herfacewentgrim.Butshewascurioustoseeher.

           "IsGeorgethere?"Georgewasthedoorkeeper.Evienoddedandopenedthedoor.

           "George."

           Hecamein.

           "Istheladywhobroughtthisletterherenow?"

           "Yes,miss."

           "TellherI’llseeheraftertheplay."

           Sheworeinthelastactaneveningdresswithatrain;itwasaverygranddressandshowedherbeautifulfiguretoadvantage.Sheworediamondsinherdarkhairanddiamondbraceletsonherarms.Shelooked,asindeedthepartrequired,majestic.ShereceivedJoanDenverthemomentshehadtakenherlastcall.