Chapter 21

           ButaweekorsolaterMichaelmentionedher.

           "Isay,haveyoueverheardofagirlcalledAviceCrichton?"

           "Never."

           "I’mtoldshe’srathergood.Aladyandallthatsortofthing.Herfather’sinthearmy.Iwaswonderingifshe’ddoforHonor."

           "Howdidyouhearabouther?"

           "ThroughTom.Heknowsher,hesaysshe’sclever.She’splayinginaSundaynightshow.NextSunday,inpointoffact.Hesayshethinksitmightbeworthwhiletogoandhavealook-see."

           "Well,whydon’tyou?"

           "IwasgoingdowntoSandwichtoplaygolf.Woulditboreyouawfullytogo?Iexpecttheplay’srotten,butyou’dbeabletotellifitwasworthwhilelettingherreadthepart.Tom’llgowithyou."

           Julia’sheartwasbeatingnineteentothedozen.

           "OfcourseI’llgo."

           ShephonedtoTomandaskedhimtocomeroundandhaveasnackbeforetheywenttothetheatre.Hearrivedbeforeshewasready.

           "AmIlateorwereyouearly?"shesaid,whenshecameintothedrawing-room.

           Shesawthathehadbeenwaitingimpatiently.Hewasnervousandeager.

           "They’regoingtoringupsharpateight,"hesaid."Ihategettingtoaplayafterit’sbegun."

           Hisagitationtoldherallshewantedtoknow.Shelingeredalittleoverthecocktails.

           "Whatisthenameofthisactresswe’regoingtoseetonight?"sheasked.

           "AviceCrichton.I’mawfullyanxioustoknowwhatyouthinkabouther.Ithinkshe’safind.Sheknowsyou’recomingtonight.She’sfrightfullynervous,butItoldhersheneedn’tbe.