Театр

           Theroommighthavebeenasetinwhichshehadonceacted;itwasvaguelyfamiliar,butnolongermeantanythingtoher.Thelovethathadconsumedherthen,thejealousyshehadstifled,theecstasyofsurrender,ithadnomorerealitythanoneoftheinnumerablepartsshehadplayedinthepast.Sherelishedherindifference.Tomcamein,withthetea-clothshehadgivenhim,andneatlysetoutthetea-servicewhichshehadalsogivenhim.Shedidnotknowwhythethoughtofhiscasuallyusingstillallherlittlepresentsmadeherinclinedtolaugh.Thenhecameinwiththeteaandtheydrankitsittingsidebysideonthesofa.Hetoldhermoreabouthisimprovedcircumstances.Inhispleasant,friendlywayheacknowledgedthatitwasowingtotheworkthatthroughherhehadbeenabletobringthefirmthathehadsecuredalargershareintheprofits.Hetoldheroftheholidayfromwhichhehadjustreturned.ItwasquitecleartoJuliathathehadnoinklinghowmuchhehadmadehersuffer.Thattoomadehernowinclinedtolaugh.

           "Ihearyou’regoingtohaveanenormoussuccesstonight."

           "Itwouldbenice,wouldn’tit?"

           "AvicesaysthatbothyouandMichaelhavebeenawfullygoodtoher.Takecareshedoesn’trompawaywiththeplay."

           Hesaiditchaffingly,butJuliawonderedwhetherAvicehadtoldhimthatthiswaswhatsheexpectedtodo.

           "Areyouengagedtoher?"

           "No.Shewantsherfreedom.Shesaysanengagementwouldinterferewithhercareer."