Театр

           Twoorthreetimeswhenshesawhalfadozenpersonsgazingatashopwindowshepausedandgazedtoo,butnoneofthemtookanynoticeofher.Shestrolledon.Peoplepassedherinonedirectionandanother.Theyseemedinahurry.Noonepaidanyattentiontoher.Whenshesawamanalonecomingtowardshershegavehimaboldstare,buthepassedonwithablankface.Itoccurredtoherthatherexpressionwastoosevere,andsheletaslightsmilehoveronherlips.Twoorthreementhoughtshewassmilingatthemandquicklyavertedtheirgaze.Shelookedbackasoneofthempassedherandhelookedbacktoo,butcatchinghereyehehurriedon.Shefeltatriflesnubbedanddecidednottolookroundagain.Shewalkedonandon.ShehadalwaysheardthattheLondoncrowdwasthebestbehavedintheworld,butreallyitsbehaviouronthisoccasionwasunconscionable.

           "Thiscouldn’thappentooneinthestreetsofParis,RomeorBerlin,"shereflected.

           ShedecidedtogoasfarastheMaryleboneRoad,andthenturnback.Itwouldbetoohumiliatingtogohomewithoutbeingonceaccosted.Shewaswalkingsoslowlythatpassers-bysometimesjostledher.Thisirritatedher.

           "IoughttohavetriedOxfordStreet,"shesaid."ThatfoolEvie.TheEdgwareRoad’sobviouslyawash-out."

           Suddenlyherheartgaveanexultantleap.Shehadcaughtayoungman’seyeandshewassurethattherewasagleaminit.Hepassed,andshehadallshecoulddonottoturnround.Shestarted,forinamomenthepassedheragain,hehadretracedhissteps,andthistimehegaveherastare.