Театр
Chapter 1
Thebedandthedressing-tablewereupholsteredinpinksilk,thechaise-longueandthearmchairinNattierblue;overthebedtherewerefatlittlegiltcherubswhodangledalampwithapinkshade,andfatlittlegiltcherubsswarmedallroundthemirroronthedressing-table.Onsatinwoodtablesweresignedphotographs,richlyframed,ofactorsandactressesandmembersoftheroyalfamily.Thedecoratorhadraisedhissuperciliouseyebrows,butitwastheonlyroominthehouseinwhichJuliafeltcompletelyathome.Shewroteherlettersatasatinwooddesk,seatedonagiltHamletstool.
Luncheonwasannouncedandtheywentdownstairs.
"Ihopeyou’llhaveenoughtoeat,"saidJulia."MichaelandIhaveverysmallappetites."
Inpointoffacttherewasgrilledsole,grilledcutletsandspinach,andstewedfruit.Itwasamealdesignedtosatisfylegitimatehunger,butnottoproducefat.Thecook,warnedbyMargerythattherewasaguesttoluncheonhadhurriedlymadesomefriedpotatoes.Theylookedcrispandsmeltappetizing.Onlytheyoungmantookthem.Juliagavethemawistfullookbeforesheshookherheadinrefusal.Michaelstaredatthemgravelyforamomentasthoughhecouldnotquitetellwhattheywere,andthenwithalittlestart,breakingoutofabrownstudy,saidNothankyou.Theysatatarefectorytable,JuliaandMichaelateitherendinverygrandItalianchairs,andtheyoungmaninthemiddleonachairthatwasnotatallcomfortable,butperfectlyincharacter.
