Театр
Chapter 7
Throughoutthewarthetheatrewasveryprosperous,andsheprofitedbybeingseeninplaysthathadlongruns.Salarieswentup,andwithMichaeltoadvisehershewasabletoextorteightypoundsaweekfromreluctantmanagers.MichaelcameovertoEnglandonhisleavesandJuliawasdivinelyhappy.Thoughhewasinnomoredangerthanifhehadbeensheep-farminginNewZealand,sheactedasthoughthebriefperiodshespentwithherwerethelastdaysthedoomedmanwouldeverenjoyonearth.Shetreatedhimasthoughhehadjustcomefromthehorrorofthetrenchesandwastender,considerate,andunexacting.
Itwasjustbeforetheendofthewarthatshefelloutoflovewithhim.
Shewaspregnantatthetime.Michaelhadjudgeditimprudenttohaveababyjustthen,butshewasnearlythirtyandthoughtthatiftheyweregoingtohaveoneatalltheyoughttodelaynolonger;shewassowellestablishedonthestagethatshecouldaffordnottoappearforafewmonths,andwiththepossibilitythatMichaelmightbekilledatanymoment-itwastruehesaidhewasassafeasahouse,heonlysaidthattoreassureher,andevengeneralswerekilledsometimes-ifshewastogoonlivingshemusthaveachildbyhim.Thebabywasexpectedattheendoftheyear.ShelookedforwardtoMichael’snextleaveasshehadneverdonebefore.Shewasfeelingverywell,butshehadagreatyearningtofeelhisarmsaroundher,shefeltalittlelost,alittlehelpless,andshewantedhisprotectivestrength.
