Театр

           Whatshecouldn’tgetoverwasthatshehadfallenforthecomedyofundyingpassionthathehadplayedallthoseyears;forofcourseitwasjustapose;helikedtoseehimselfastheconstantadorer,andthelastthinghewanted,apparently,wastohavehisconstancyrewarded.

           "Bluffedme,hedid,completelybluffedme."

           ButanideaoccurredtoJuliaandsheceasedtosmile.Whenawoman’samorousadvancesaredeclinedbyamansheisapttodrawoneoftwoconclusions;oneisthatheishomosexualandtheotheristhatheisimpotent.Juliareflectivelylitacigarette.SheaskedherselfifCharleshadusedhisdevotiontoherasacovertodistractattentionfromhisrealinclinations.Butsheshookherhead.Ifhehadbeenhomosexualshewouldsurelyhavehadsomehintofit;afterall,insocietysincethewartheytalkedofpracticallynothingelse.Ofcourseitwasquitepossiblehewasimpotent.Shereckonedouthisage.PoorCharles.Shesmiledagain.Andifthatwerethecaseitwashe,notshe,whohadbeenplacedinanembarrassingandevenridiculousposition.Hemusthavebeenscaredstiff,poorlamb.Obviouslyitwasn’tthesortofthingamanlikedtotellawoman,especiallyifheweremadlyinlovewithher;themoreshethoughtofitthemoreprobablesheconsideredtheexplanation.Shebegantofeelverysorryforhim,almostmaternalinfact.

           "IknowwhatI’lldo,"shesaid,asshebegantoundress,"I’llsendhimahugebunchofwhiteliliestomorrow."