Театр
Chapter 23
"Ihadawonderfultime,"shetoldhim,"andofcourseitwasagrandtreatforthoseoldgirlstohavemethere,butIhaveafeelingthatifI’dstayedadaylongerIshouldhavebeenbored."
TodriveuptheChampsElyseesonthatlovelyeveningfilledherwithexhilaration.Itwasgoodtosmelloncemorethesmellofpetrol.Thecars,thetaxis,thehootingofhorns,thechestnuttrees,thestreetlights,thecrowdonthepavementandthecrowdsittingoutsidethecafes;itwasanenchantment.AndwhentheygottotheChateaudeMadrid,sogay,socivilizedandsoexpensive,itwasgrandtoseeoncemorewell-dressedwomen,decentlymade-up,andtannedmenindinner-jackets.
"Ifeellikeaqueenreturningfromexile."
Juliaspentseveralhappydayschoosingherclothesandhavingthefirstfittings.Sheenjoyedeverymomentofthem.Butshewasawomanofcharacter,andwhenshehadcometoadecisionsheadheredtoit;beforeleavingforLondonshewroteanotetoCharles.HehadbeentoGoodwoodandCowesandwasspendingtwenty-fourhoursinLondononhiswaytoSalzburg.
CHARLESDEAR,
HowwonderfulthatIshallseeyousosoon.OfcourseIamfreeonWednesday.Shallwedinetogetheranddoyoulovemestill?
YourJULIA.
Asshestuckdowntheenvelopeshemurmured:Bisdatquicitodat.*ItwasaLatintagthatMichaelalwaysquotedwhen,askedtosubscribetoacharity,hesentbyreturnofpostexactlyhalfwhatwasexpectedofhim.
