Театр

           Hermannerwaswonderfullycasual;shemighthavebeentalkingofthefallofempiresorthedeathofkings.

           "D’youknowwhatIshouldhavesaid?Ishouldhavesaidyouweremadlyinlovewithher."Hestillavoidedhereyes."Areyouengagedtoherbyanychance?"

           "No."

           Helookedathernow,buttheeyesthatmetJulia’swerehostile.

           "Haveyouaskedhertomarryyou?"

           "HowcouldI?Adamnedrotterlikeme."

           HespokesopassionatelythatJuliawasastonished.

           "Whatareyoutalkingabout?"

           "Ohwhat’sthegoodofbeatingaboutthebush?HowcouldIaskadecentgirltomarryme?I’mnothingbutakeptboyand,Godknows,youhavegoodreasontoknowit."

           "Don’tbesosilly.WhatafusstomakeoverafewlittlepresentsI’vegivenyou."

           "Ioughtn’ttohavetakenthem.Iknewallthetimeitwaswrong.ItallcamesograduallythatIdidn’trealizewhatwashappeningtillIwasinituptomyneck.Icouldn’taffordtoleadthelifeyoumademelead;Iwasabsolutelyupagainstit.Ihadtotakemoneyfromyou."

           "Whynot?Afterall,I’maveryrichwoman."

           "Damnyourmoney."

           Hewasholdingaglassinhishandsandyieldingtoasuddenimpulse,heflungitintothefireplace.Itshattered.

           "Youneedn’tbreakupthehappyhome,"saidJuliaironically.

           "I’msorry.Ididn’tmeantodothat."Hesankbackintohischairandturnedhisheadaway."I’msoashamedofmyself.It’snotverynicetohavelostone’sself-respect."

           Juliahesitated.Shedidnotquiteknowwhattosay.

           "Itseemedonlynaturaltohelpyouwhenyouwereinahole.