Chapter 26

           RehearsalsbegananddistractedJulia’stroubledmind.TherevivalthatMichaelputonwhenshewentabroadhaddoneneitherverywellnorverybadly,butratherthanclosethetheatrehewaskeepingitinthebilltillNowadayswasready.Becausehewasactingtwomatineesaweek,andtheweatherwashot,hedeterminedthattheyshouldtakerehearsalseasy.Theyhadamonthbeforethem.

           ThoughJuliahadbeenonthestagesolongshehadneverlostthethrillshegotoutofrehearsing,andthefirstrehearsalstillmadeheralmostsickwithexcitement.Itwasthebeginningofanewadventure.Shedidnotfeellikealeadingladythen,shefeltasgayandeagerasifshewereagirlplayingherfirstsmallpart.Butatthesametimeshehadadelicioussenseofherownpowers.Oncemoreshehadthechancetoexercisethem.

           Ateleveno’clockshesteppedontothestage.Thecaststoodaboutidly.ShekissedandshookhandswiththeartistssheknewandMichaelwithurbanityintroducedtoherthoseshedidnot.ShegreetedAviceCrich-tonwithcordiality.Shetoldherhowprettyshewasandhowmuchshelikedherhat;shetoldheraboutthelovelyfrocksshehadchosenforherinParis.

           "HaveyouseenTomlately?"sheasked.

           "No,Ihaven’t.He’sawayonhisholiday."

           "Oh,yes.He’sanicelittlething,isn’the?"

           "Sweet."

           Thetwowomensmiledintooneanother’seyes.Juliawatchedherwhenshereadherpartandlistenedtoherintonations.Shesmiledgrimly.Itwasexactlywhatshehadexpected.