Театр

           Sheburstoutcrying.

           "Youbrute.Yourottenhoundtohitawoman."

           "Youputthatwherethemonkeyputthenuts,dearie.Didn’tyouknowthatwhenawomanhitsmeIalwayshitback?"

           "Ididn’thityou."

           "Youdamnednearthrottledme."

           "Youdeservedit.Oh,myGod,I’dliketokillyou."

           "Nowsitdown,duckie,andI’llgiveyouadropofScotchtopullyoutogether.Andthenyoucantellmeallaboutit."

           Julialookedroundforabigchairintowhichshecouldconvenientlysink.

           "Christ,theplaceislikeapig-sty.Whythehelldon’tyougetacharwomanin?"

           Withanangrygestureshesweptthebooksontothefloorfromanarmchair,threwherselfinit,andbegantocryinearnest.Hepouredheroutastiffdoseofwhisky,addedadropofsoda,andmadeherdrinkit.

           "Nowwhat’sallthisToscastuffabout?"

           "Michael’sgoingtoAmerica."

           "Ishe?"

           Shewrenchedherselfawayfromthearmhehadroundhershoulder.

           "Howcouldyou?Howcouldyou?"

           "Ihadnothingtodowithit."

           "That’salie.Isupposeyoudidn’tevenknowthatfilthyAmericanmanagerwasinMiddlepool.Ofcourseit’syourdoing.Youdiditdeliberatelytoseparateus."

           "Oh,dearie,you’redoingmeaninjustice.InpointoffactIdon’tmindtellingyouthatIsaidtohimhecouldhaveanyoneinthecompanyhelikedwiththeoneexceptionofMichaelGosselyn."

           JuliadidnotseethelookinJimmie’seyeswhenhetoldherthis,butifshehadwouldhavewonderedwhyhewaslookingaspleasedasifhehadpulledoffaverycleverlittletrick.

           "Evenme?"shesaid.