Театр

           I’dloveone,shesaid,andtheywentinandshechoseoneandgavehernameandaddress,hepaidforitonthenail,andthenshesaid,thankyousomuch,andwalkedoutwhilehewaswaitingforthechange."

           "That’swhatshetoldyou."Evie’ssniffwassceptical.ShegaveJuliaapuzzledlook."What’stheidea?"

           "Oh,nothing.IwasonlywonderingwhyinpointoffactIneverhavebeenaccostedbyaman.It’snotasifIhadnosexappeal."

           Buthadshe?Shemadeuphermindtoputthemattertothetest.

           Thatafternoon,whenshehadhadhersleep,shegotup,madeupalittlemorethanusual,andwithoutcallingEvieputonadressthatwasneitherplainnorobviouslyexpensiveandaredstrawhatwithawidebrim.

           "Idon’twanttolooklikeatart,"shesaidasshelookedatherselfintheglass."OntheotherhandIdon’twanttolooktoorespectable."

           Shetiptoeddownthestairssothatnooneshouldhearherandclosedthedoorsoftlybehindher.Shewasatriflenervous,butpleasantlyexcited;shefeltthatshewasdoingsomethingrathershocking.ShewalkedthroughConnaughtSquareintotheEdgwareRoad.Itwasaboutfiveo’clock.Therewasadenselineofbuses,taxisandlorries;bicyclistsdangerouslythreadedtheirwaythroughthetraffic.Thepavementswerethronged.Shesaunteredslowlynorth.Atfirstshewalkedwithhereyesstraightinfrontofher,lookingneithertotherightnortotheleft,butsoonrealizedthatthiswasuseless.Shemustlookatpeopleifshewantedthemtolookather.