Театр

           Wasitpossiblethatthreemonthshadmadesomuchdifferenceinhim,orwasitmerelythatforyearsshehadstillseenhimwiththeeyesthathadseenhimwhenhecameonthestagetorehearseatMiddlepoolinthegloriousbeautyofhisyouthandshehadbeenstrickenaswithamortalsickness?Hewaswonderfullyhandsomestill,afterallhewasonlythirty-six,buthewasnotaboyanymore;withhisclose-croppedhairandweather-beatenskin,littlelinesbeginningtomarkthesmoothnessofhisforeheadandtoshowunderhiseyes,hewasdefinitelyaman.Hehadlosthiscoltishgraceandhismovementswereset.Eachdifferencewasverysmall,buttakenaltogethertheyamounted,inhershrewd,calculatingeyes,toallthedifferenceintheworld.Hewasamiddle-agedman.

           TheystilllivedinthesmallflatthattheyhadtakenwhenfirsttheycametoLondon.ThoughJuliahadbeenforsometimeearningagoodincomeithadnotseemedworthwhiletomovewhileMichaelwasonactiveservice,butnowthatababywascomingtheflatwasobviouslytoosmall.JuliahadfoundahouseinRegent’sParkthatshelikedverymuch.Shewantedtobesettleddowningoodtimeforherconfinement.

           Thehousefacedthegardens.Abovethedrawing-roomfloorweretwobedroomsandabovethese,tworoomsthatcouldbemadeintoadayandanightnursery.Michaelwaspleasedwitheverything;eventhepriceseemedtohimreasonable.Juliahad,duringthelastfouryears,beenearningsomuchmoremoneythanhethatshehadofferedtofurnishthehouseherself.Theystoodneofthebedrooms