Chapter 28

           ThreedayslaterRogerwentuptoScotland.BytheexerciseofsomeingenuityJuliahadmanagedthattheyshouldnotagainspendanylengthoftimealonetogether.Whentheyhappenedtobebythemselvesforafewminutestheytalkedofindifferentthings.Juliawasnotreallysorrytoseehimgo.Shecouldnotdismissfromhermindthecuriousconversationshehadhadwithhim.Therewasonepointinparticularthatunaccountablyworriedher;thiswashissuggestionthatifshewentintoanemptyroomandsomeonesuddenlyopenedthedoortherewouldbenobodythere.Itmadeherfeelveryuncomfortable.

           "Ineversetouttobearavingbeauty,buttheonethingnoonehaseverdeniedmeispersonality.It’sabsurdtopretendthatbecauseIcanplayahundreddifferentpartsinahundreddifferentwaysIhaven’tgotanindividualityofmyown.IcandothatbecauseI’mabloodygoodactress."

           Shetriedtothinkwhathappenedtoherwhenshewentaloneintoanemptyroom.

           "ButIneveramalone,eveninanemptyroom.There’salwaysMichael,orEvie,orCharles,orthepublic;notintheflesh,ofcourse,butinthespirit,asitwere.ImustspeaktoCharlesaboutRoger."

           Unfortunatelyhewasaway.Buthewascomingbackforthedress-rehearsalandthefirstnight;hehadnotmissedtheseoccasionsfortwentyyears,andtheyhadalwayshadsuppertogetherafterthedress-rehearsal.Michaelwouldremaininthetheatre,busywiththelightsandsoon,sothattheywouldbealone.Theywouldbeabletohaveagoodtalk.

           Shestudiedherpart.