Театр

           Michaelwrotetoheronceaweek,brisk,businesslikelettersinwhichhetoldherwhathertakings*wereattheSiddonsandthepreparationshewasmakingforthenextproduction;butCharlesTamerleywrotetohereveryday.Hetoldherthegossipofthetown,hetalkedinhischarming,cultivatedwayofthepictureshesawandthebooksheread.Hewastenderlyallusiveandplayfullyerudite.Hephilosophizedwithoutpedantry.Hetoldherthatheadoredher.Theywerethemostbeautifullove-lettersJuliahadeverreceivedandforthesakeofposterityshemadeuphermindtokeepthem.OnedayperhapssomeonewouldpublishthemandpeoplewouldgototheNationalPortraitGalleryandlookatherportrait,theoneMcEvoyhadpainted,andsighwhentheythoughtofthesad,romanticlove-storyofwhichshehadbeentheheroine.

           Charleshadbeenwonderfultoherduringthefirsttwoweeksofherbereavement,shedidnotknowwhatshewouldhavedonewithouthim.Hehadalwaysbeenatherbeckandcall*Hisconversation,bytakingherintoadifferentworld,hadsoothedhernerves.Hersoulhadbeenmuddied,andinhisdistinctionofspiritshehadwashedherselfclean.Ithadrestedherwonderfullytowanderaboutthegallerieswithhimandlookatpictures.Shehadgoodreasontobegratefultohim.Shethoughtofalltheyearshehadlovedher.Hehadwaitedforhernowformorethantwentyyears.Shehadnotbeenverykindtohim.Itwouldhavegivenhimsomuchhappinesstopossessherandreallyitwouldnothavehurther.Shewonderedwhyshehadresistedhimsolong.