Театр

           "NotnearlysuchagoodperformanceasifI’dhadtheopportunityofrehearsingitafewtimes,"Juliaansweredtartly."Yousee,whatyoudon’tunderstandisthatactingisn’tnature;it’sart,andartissomethingyoucreate.Realgriefisugly;thebusinessoftheactoristorepresentitnotonlywithtruthbutwithbeauty.IfIwerereallydyingasI’vediedinhalfadozenplays,d’youthinkI’dcarewhethermygesturesweregracefulandmyfalteringwordsdistinctenoughtocarrytothelastrowofthegallery?Ifit’sashamit’snomoreashamthanasonataofBeethoven’s,andI’mnomoreofashamthanthepianistwhoplaysit.It’scrueltosaythatI’mnotfondofyou.I’mdevotedtoyou.You’vebeentheonlythinginmylife."

           "No.YouwerefondofmewhenIwasakidandyoucouldhavemephotographedwithyou.Itmadealovelypictureanditwasfinepublicity.Butsincethenyouhaven’tbotheredmuchaboutme.I’veboredyouratherthanotherwise.Youwerealwaysgladtoseeme,butyouwerethankfulthatIwentmyownwayanddidn’twanttotakeupyourtime.Idon’tblameyou;youhadn’tgottimeinyourlifeforanyonebutyourself."

           Juliawasbeginningtogrowatrifleimpatient.Hewasgettingtoonearthetruthforhercomfort.

           "Youforgetthatyoungthingsareratherboring."

           "Crashing,Ishouldthink,"hesmiled."Butthenwhydoyoupretendthatyoucan’tbeartoletmeoutofyoursight?That’sjustactingtoo."

           "Youmakemeveryunhappy.YoumakemefeelasifIhadn’tdonemydutytoyou."