Театр

           Youthoughtyou’donlygivenbirthtoanuglyduckling;perhapshe’sgoingtoturnintoawhite-wingedswan."

           CharleswasnotgivingJuliawhatshewanted.Shehadexpectedhimtobemoresympathetic.

           "Isupposehe’sgettingold,poordear,"shereflected."He’slosinghisgripofthings.Hemusthavebeenimpotentforyears;Iwonderitneverstruckmebefore."

           Sheaskedwhatthetimewas.

           "IthinkIoughttogo.Imustgetalongnight’srest."

           Juliasleptwellandwhensheawokehadatonceafeelingofexultation.Tonightwasthefirstnight.Itgaveheralittlethrillofpleasuretorecollectthatpeoplehadalreadybeenassemblingatthepitandgallerydoorswhensheleftthetheatreafterthedress-rehearsal,andnowatteninthemorningtherewasprobablyalreadyalongqueue.

           "Luckyit’safinedayforthem,poorbrutes."

           Inbygoneyearsshehadbeenintolerablynervousbeforeafirstnight.Shehadfeltslightlysickalldayandasthehourspassedgotintosuchastatethatshealmostthoughtshewouldhavetoleavethestage.Butbynow,afterhavingpassedthroughtheordealsomanytimes,shehadacquiredacertainnonchalance.Throughouttheearlypartofthedayshefeltonlyhappyandmildlyexcited;itwasnottilllateintheafternoonthatshebegantofeelillatease.Shegrewsilentandwantedtobeleftalone.Shealsogrewirritable,andMichael,havinglearntfromexperience,tookcaretokeepoutofherway.Herhandsandfeetgotcoldandbythetimeshereachedthetheatretheywerelikelumpsofice.