Театр

           Itwascheapbazaarstuff,andyouwonderedhowanyonehadthoughtitworthbringinghome.

           Juliawasquick-witted.ItdidnottakeherlongtodiscoverthattheColonel,notwithstandinghisreserve,andMrs.Gosselyn,notwithstandinghershyness,weretakingstockofher.ThethoughtflashedthroughhermindthatMichaelhadbroughtherdownforhisparentstoinspecther.Why?Therewasonlyonepossiblereason,andwhenshethoughtofitherheartleaped.Shesawthathewasanxiousforhertomakeagoodimpression.Shefeltinstinctivelythatshemustconcealtheactress,andwithouteffort,withoutdeliberation,merelybecauseshefeltitwouldplease,sheplayedthepartofthesimple,modest,ingenuousgirlwhohadlivedaquietcountrylife.ShewalkedroundthegardenwiththeColonelandlistenedintelligentlywhilehetalkedofpeasandasparagus;shehelpedMrs.Gosselynwiththeflowersanddustedtheornamentswithwhichthedrawing-roomwascrowded.ShetalkedtoherofMichael.Shetoldherhowcleverlyheactedandhowpopularhewasandshepraisedhislooks.ShesawthatMrs.Gosselynwasveryproudofhim,andwithaflashofintuitionsawthatitwouldpleaseherifshelethersee,withtheutmostdelicacy,asthoughshewouldhavelikedtokeepitasecretbutbetrayedherselfunwittingly,thatshewasheadoverearsinlovewithhim.

           "Ofcoursewehopehe’lldowell,"saidMrs.Gosselyn."Wedidn’tmuchliketheideaofhisgoingonthestage;yousee,onbothsidesofthefamily,we’rearmy,buthewassetonit."