Театр

           BeforetheaudiencehadquiterealizedhowfunnytheywereJuliahadcutinwithherreply,andtheaudienceanxioustohearitsuppressedtheirlaughter.Thescenewhichwasdevisedtobeextremelyamusingtookonasardoniccolour,andthecharacterAviceplayedacquiredacertainodiousness.Aviceinherinexperience,notgettingthelaughsshehadexpected,wasrattled;hervoicegrewhardandhergesturesawkward.Juliatookthesceneawayfromherandplayeditwithmiraculousvirtuosity.Butherfinalstrokewasaccidental.Avicehadalongspeechtodeliver,andJulianervouslyscrewedherredhandkerchiefintoaball;theactionalmostautomaticallysuggestedanexpression;shelookedatAvicewithtroubledeyesandtwoheavytearsrolleddownhercheeks.Youfelttheshamewithwhichthegirl’sflippancyaffectedher,andyousawherpainbecauseherpoorlittleidealsofuprightness,herhankeringforgoodness,weresobrutallymocked.Theepisodelastednomorethanaminute,butinthatminute,bythosetearsandbytheanguishofherlook,Julialaidbarethesordidmiseryofthewoman’slife.ThatwastheendofAvice.

           "AndIwassuchadamnedfool,Ithoughtofgivingheracontract,"saidMichael.

           "Whydon’tyou?"

           "Whenyou’vegotyourknifeintoher?Notonyourlife.You’reanaughtylittlethingtobesojealous.Youdon’treallythinkshemeansanythingtome,doyou?Yououghttoknowbynowthatyou’retheonlywomanintheworldforme."