Театр

           Shehadasuddendesiretoseenobodyandbeseenbynobody.Shewantedjustforonehourtobeobscure."TellthefiremantoletmeoutatthefrontandI’lltakeataxi,andthenassoonasI’vegotoutletthecrowdknowthere’snouseintheirwaiting."

           "GodonlyknowswhatI’avetoputupwith,"saidEviedarkly.

           "Youoldcow."

           JuliatookEvie’sfaceinherhandsandkissedherraddledcheeks;thenslippedoutofherdressing-room,ontothestageandthroughtheirondoorintothedarkenedauditorium.

           Julia’ssimpledisguisewasevidentlyadequate,forwhenshecameintothelittleroomattheBerkeleyofwhichshewaspeculiarlyfond,theheadwaiterdidnotimmediatelyknowher.

           "Haveyougotacornerthatyoucansqueezemeinto?"sheaskeddiffidently.

           Hervoiceandasecondglancetoldhimwhoshewas.

           "Yourfavouritetableiswaitingforyou,MissLambert.Themessagesaidyouwouldbealone?"Julianoddedandheledhertoatableinthecorneroftheroom."Ihearyou’vehadabigsuccesstonight,MissLambert."Howquicklygoodnewstravelled."WhatcanIorder?"

           TheheadwaiterwassurprisedthatJuliashouldbehavingsupperbyherself,buttheonlyemotionthatitwashisbusinesstoshowclientswasgratificationatseeingthem.

           "I’mverytired,Angelo."

           "Alittlecaviaretobeginwith,madame,orsomeoysters?"

           "Oysters,Angelo,butfatones.""Iwillchoosethemmyself,MissLambert,andtofollow?"

           Juliagavealongsigh,fornowshecould,withafreeconscience,orderwhatshehadhadinmindeversincetheendofthesecondact.