Театр

           Hisdaughter,Honor(thiswasthepartforwhichAviceCrichtonhadbeenengaged),wasstudyingmedicinewiththeintentionofpractisinginIndia.AloneinLondon,andfriendlessaftersomanyyearsabroad,hehadpickedupawell-knownwomanofthetowncalledMrs.Marten.Mrs.MartenbelongedtothesameclassasPaula,butshewaslessexclusive;she"did"thesummerandthewinterseasonatCannesandintheintervalslivedinaflatinAlbemarleStreetwheresheentertainedtheofficersofHisMajesty’sbrigade.Sheplayedagoodgameofbridgeandanevenbettergameofgolf.ThepartwellsuitedJulia.

           Theauthorfollowedthelinesoftheoldplayclosely.Honorannouncedtoherfatherthatshewasabandoninghermedicalstudiesanduntilhermarriagewishedtolivewithhim,forshehadjustbecomeengagedtoEllean’sson,ayoungguardsman.Somewhatdisconcerted,RobertHumphreysbroketoherhisintentionofmarryingMrs.Marten.Honortooktheinformationwithcomposure.

           "Ofcourseyouknowshe’satart,don’tyou?"shesaidcoolly.

           He,muchembarrassed,spokeoftheunhappylifeshehadledandhowhewantedtomakeuptoherforallshehadsuffered.

           "Oh,don’ttalksuchrot,"sheanswered."It’sgrandworkifyoucangetit."

           Ellean’ssonhadbeenoneofMrs.Marten’snumerousloversjustasEllean’shusbandhadbeenoneofPaulaTanqueray’s.WhenRobertHumphreysbroughthiswifedowntohishomeinthecountryandthisfactwasdiscovered,theydecidedthatHonormustbeinformed.TotheirconsternationHonordidnotturnahair.