Театр

           "D’youreallythinkthere’sachanceforme?"Throughherself-assurance,throughthecountry-housemannersheassumedinordertoimpressJulia,therepiercedananxiouseagerness."Ifyou’dputinawordformeitwouldhelpsomuch."

           Juliagaveherareflectivelook.

           "Itakemyhusband’sadvicemoreoftenthanhetakesmine,"shesmiled.

           Whentheyleftthedressing-roomsothatAviceCrichtonmightchangeforthethirdact,JuliacaughtthequestioningglanceshegaveTomasshesaidgood-byetohim.Juliawasconscious,thoughshesawnomovement,thatheslightlyshookhishead.Hersensibilityatthatmomentwasextraordinarilyacuteandshetranslatedthemutedialogueintowords.

           "Comingtosupperafterwards?"

           "No,damnit,Ican’t,I’vegottoseeherhome."

           Julialistenedtothethirdactgrimly.Thatwasinordersincetheplaywasserious.Whenitwasoverandapaleshatteredauthorhadmadeahaltingspeech,Tomaskedherwhereshewouldliketogoforsupper.

           "Let’sgohomeandtalk,"shesaid."Ifyou’rehungryI’msurewecanfindyousomethingtoeatinthekitchen."

           "D’youmeantoStanhopePlace?"

           "Yes."

           "Allright."

           Shefelthisreliefthatshedidnotwanttogobacktotheflat.Hewassilentinthecarandsheknewthatitirkedhimtohavetocomebackwithher.SheguessedthatsomeonewasgivingasupperpartytowhichAviceCrichtonwasgoingandhewantedtobethere.Thehousewasdarkandemptywhentheyreachedit.Theservantswereinbed.Juliasuggestedthattheyshouldgodowntothebasementandforage.