Театр
Chapter 7
Heeventuallygotapartinacostumeplay.
Theywerebothactingwhenthewarbrokeout.ToJulia’sprideandanguishMichaelenlistedatonce,butwiththehelpofhisfather,oneofwhoseoldbrotherofficerswasanimportantpersonageattheWarOffice,heverysoongotacommission.WhenhewentouttoFranceJuliabitterlyregrettedthereproachesshehadsooftenheapeduponhim,andmadeuphermindthatifhewerekilledshewouldcommitsuicide.ShewantedtobecomeanursesothatshecouldgoouttoFrancetooandatleastbeonthesamesoilashe,buthemadeherunderstandthatpatriotismdemandedthatsheshouldgoonacting,andshecouldnotresistwhatmightverywellbehisdyingrequest.Michaelthoroughlyenjoyedthewar.Hewaspopularintheregimentalmess,andtheofficersoftheoldarmyacceptedhimalmostatonce,eventhoughhewasanactor,asoneofthemselves.Itwasasthoughthefamilyofsoldiersfromwhichhewasbornhadsetasealonhimsothathefellinstinctivelyintothemannerandwayofthinkingoftheprofessionalsoldier.Hehadtactandapleasantmanner,andheknewhowtopullstringsadroitly;itwasinevitablethatheshouldgetonthestaffofsomegeneral.HeshowedhimselfpossessedofconsiderableorganizingcapacityandthelastthreeyearsofthewarhepassedatG.H.Q.*Heendeditasamajor,withtheMilitaryCrossandtheLegionofHonour.
MeanwhileJuliahadbeenplayingasuccessionofimportantpartsandwasrecognizedasthebestoftheyoungeractresses.
