Театр

           Sheknewalready.

           "IwasaspleasedasPunchwhenIfoundout,"shetoldherstepmother."Yousee,darling,youcantellmeifhe’sallrightinbed."

           ThiswasAviceCrichton’sbestscene,itlastedafulltenminutes,andMichaelhadrealizedfromthebeginningthatitwaseffectiveandimportant.Avice’scold,matter-of-factprettinesshadbeenexactlywhathehadthoughtwouldbesotellinginthecircumstances.Butafterhalfadozenrehearsalshebegantothinkthatthatwasallshehadtogive.HetalkeditoverwithJulia.

           "Howd’youthinkAviceisshaping?"

           "It’searlydaystotellyet."

           "I’mnothappyabouther.Yousaidshecouldact.I’veseennosignofityet."

           "It’sacast-ironpart.Shecan’treallygowronginit."

           "YouknowjustaswellasIdothatthere’snosuchthingasacast-ironpart.Howevergoodapartis,ithastobeactedforallit’sworth.I’mnotsureifitwouldn’tbebettertokickheroutandgetsomebodyelse."

           "Thatwouldn’tbesoeasy.Ithinkyououghttogiveherachance."

           "She’ssoawkward,hergesturesaresomeaningless."

           Juliareflected.ShehadherreasonsforwishingtokeepAviceinthecast.SheknewherwellenoughtobesurethatifsheweredismissedshewouldtellTomthatitwasbecauseJuliawasjealousofher.Helovedherandwouldbelieveanythingshesaid.HemighteventhinkthatJuliahadputthisaffrontonherinrevengeforhisdesertion.No,no,shemuststay.Shemustplaythepart,andfail;andTommustseewithhisowneyeswhatabadactressshewas.