Театр

           Therentoftheflatwouldbefallingdueonquarter-day.Alotofthethingsinitbelongedtoher.Hewouldn’tmuchlikegoingbacktohisbed-sittingroominTavistockSquare.Shethoughtofthefriendshehadmadethroughher.He’dbeencleverwiththem.Theyfoundhimusefulandhe’dkeepthem.Butitwouldn’tbesoeasyforhimtotakeAviceabout.Shewasahard,mercenarylittlething,Juliawassureofthat,shewouldn’tbemuchinclinedtobotherabouthimwhenhismoneyflowedlessfreely.Thefooltobetakeninbyherpretenceofvirtue!Juliaknewthetype.Itwasquiteobvious,shewasonlyusingTomtogetapartattheSiddonsandthemomentshegotitshewouldgivehimtheair.Juliastartedwhenthisnotioncrossedhermind.ShehadpromisedTomthatAviceshouldhavethepartinNowadaysbecauseitfellintothesceneshewasplaying,butshehadattachednoimportancetoherpromise.Michaelwasalwaystheretoputhisfootdown.

           "ByGod,sheshallhavethepart,"shesaidoutloud.Shechuckledmaliciously."Heavenknows,I’magood-naturedwoman,buttherearelimitstoeverything."

           ItwouldbeasatisfactiontoturnthetablesonTomandAviceCrichton.Shesaton,inthedarkness,grimlythinkinghowshewoulddoit.Buteverynowandthenshestartedtocryagain,forfromthedepthsofhersubconscioussurgeduprecollectionsthatwerehorriblypainful.RecollectionsofTom’sslim,youthfulbodyagainsthers,hiswarmnakednessandthepeculiarfeelofhislips,hissmile,atonceshyandroguish,andthesmellofhiscurlyhair