Театр

           TheylivedinStanhopePlace,andwhentheyarrivedJuliatoldthebutlertoshowtheyoungmanwherehecouldwashhishands.Shewentuptothedrawing-room.ShewaspaintingherlipswhenMichaeljoinedher.

           "I’vetoldhimtocomeupassoonashe’sready."

           "Bytheway,what’shisname?"

           "Ihaven’tanotion."

           "Darling,wemustknow.I’llaskhimtowriteinourbook."

           "Damnit,he’snotimportantenoughforthat."Michaelaskedonlyverydistinguishedpeopletowriteintheirbook."Weshallneverseehimagain."

           Atthatmomenttheyoungmanappeared.InthecarJuliahaddoneallshecouldtoputhimathisease,buthewasstillveryshy.ThecocktailswerewaitingandMichaelpouredthemout.Juliatookacigaretteandtheyoungmanstruckamatchforher,buthishandwastremblingsomuchthatshethoughthewouldneverbeabletoholdthelightnearenoughtohercigarette,soshetookhishandandheldit.

           "Poorlamb,"shethought,"Isupposethisisthemostwonderfulmomentinhiswholelife.Whatfunit’llbeforhimwhenhetellshispeople.Iexpecthe’llbeablastedlittleheroinhisoffice."

           Juliatalkedverydifferentlytoherselfandtootherpeople:whenshetalkedtoherselfherlanguagewasracy.Sheinhaledthefirstwhiffofhercigarettewithdelight.Itwasreallyratherwonderful,whenyoucametothinkofit,thatjusttohavelunchwithherandtalktoherforthreequartersofanhour,perhaps,couldmakeamanquiteimportantinhisownscrubbylittlecircle.

           Theyoungmanforcedhimselftomakearemark.