Театр

           ThinkingthatJuliahadmoretactthanhe,andmoreinfluencewiththeboy,hehadurgedhertoputbeforehimtheadvantagesoftheForeignOfficeandthebrilliantpossibilitiesoftheBar.Juliathoughtitwouldbestrangeifinthecourseoftwoorthreehours’conversationshecouldnotfindawaytoleadtothisimportanttopic.AtdinnershetriedtogethimtotalkaboutVienna.Buthewasreticent.

           "Oh,Ijustdidtheusualthings,youknow.IsawthesightsandworkedhardatmyGerman.Iknockedaboutinbeerplaces.Iwenttotheoperaagooddeal."

           Shewonderedifhehadhadanyloveaffairs.

           "Anyhow,youhaven’tcomebackengagedtoaViennesemaiden,"shesaid,thinkingtodrawhimout.

           Hegaveherareflective,butfaintlyamusedlook.Youmightalmosthavethoughtthathehadseenwhatshewasdrivingat.Itwasstrange;thoughhewasherownsonshedidnotfeelquiteathomewithhim.

           "No,"heanswered,"Iwastoobusytobotherwiththatsortofthing."

           "Isupposeyouwenttoallthetheatres."

           "Iwenttwoorthreetimes."

           "Didyouseeanythingthatwouldbeanyusetome?"

           "Youknow,Ineverthoughtaboutthat."

           Hisanswermighthaveseemedalittleungraciousbutthatitwasaccompaniedbyasmile,andhissmilewasverysweet.JuliawonderedagainhowitwasthathehadinheritedsolittleofMichael’sbeautyandofhercharm.Hisredhairwasnice,buthispalelashesgavehisfaceasortofemptylook.Heavenonlyknewwherewithsuchafatherandsuchamotherhehadgothisratherlumpyfigure.