Театр

           ItwastruethatDollyhadgivenhimapairofcufflinksatChristmas,buthethoughtthatwasonlysothatheshouldn’tfeelleftoutinthecoldbecauseshehadgivenJuliaabroochthatmusthavecostatleasttwohundredpounds.Thatmightbeonlyhercunning.Well,hecouldhonestlysayhe’dneverdoneathingtomakeherthinktherewasanythingdoing.Juliagiggled.

           "No,darling,it’snotyoushe’sinlovewith."

           ItwasdisconcertingthewayJuliaknewwhathewasthinking.Youcouldn’thideathingfromthatwoman.

           "Thenwhydidyouputtheideaintomyhead?Iwishtogoodnessyou’dexpressyourselfsothatafellowcanunderstand."

           Juliadid.

           "Ineverheardsuchnonsense,"hecried."Whatafilthymindyou’vegot,Julia!"

           "Comeoffit,dear."

           "Idon’tbelievethere’sawordoftruthinit.AfterallI’vegoteyesinmyhead.DoyoumeantosayIshouldn’thavenoticedit?"Hewasmoreirritablethanshehadeverknownhim."AndevenifitweretrueIsupposeyoucantakecareofyourself.It’sachanceinathousand,andIthinkitwouldbemadnessnottotakeit."

           "ClaudioandIsabellainMeasureforMeasurer

           "That’sarottenthingtosay,Julia.Goddamnit,Iamagentleman."

           "Nemomeimpunelacessit."*

           Theydrovetherestofthejourneyinstormysilence.Mrs.deVrieswaswaitingupforthem.

           "Ididn’twanttogotobedtillI’dseenyou,"shesaidasshefoldedJuliainherarmsandkissedheronbothcheeks.ShegaveMichaelabriskhandshake.

           JuliaspentahappymorninginbedreadingtheSundaypapers.