Chapter 29

           Fourhourslateritwasallover.Theplaywentwellfromthebeginning;theaudience,notwithstandingtheseason,afashionableone,werepleasedaftertheholidaystofindthemselvesoncemoreinaplayhouse,andwerereadytobeamused.Itwasanauspiciousbeginningforthetheatricalseason.Therehadbeengreatapplauseaftereachactandattheendadozencurtaincalls;Juliatooktwobyherself,andevenshewasstartledbythewarmthofherreception.Shehadmadethelittlehaltingspeech,preparedbeforehand,whichtheoccasiondemanded.TherehadbeenafinalcalloftheentirecompanyandthentheorchestrahadstruckuptheNationalAnthem.Julia,pleased,excitedandhappy,wenttoherdressing-room.Shehadneverfeltmoresureofherself.Shehadneveractedwithgreaterbrilliance,varietyandresource.TheplayendedwithalongtiradeinwhichJulia,astheretiredharlot,castigatedtheflippancy,theuselessness,theimmoralityoftheidlesetintowhichhermarriagehadbroughther.Itwastwopageslong,andtherewasnotanotheractressinEnglandwhocouldhaveheldtheattentionoftheaudiencewhileshedeliveredit.Withherexquisitetiming,withthemodulationofherbeautifulvoice,withhercommandofthegamutofemotions,shehadsucceededbyamiracleoftechniqueinmakingitathrilling,almostspectacularclimaxtotheplay.Aviolentactioncouldnothavebeenmoreexcitingnoranunexpecteddenouement*moresurprising.ThewholecasthadbeenexcellentwiththeexceptionofAviceCrichton.