Театр

           "Ithoughtyoumightlikeit.It’sbywayofbeingapartingpresent."

           "Areyougoingaway?"

           Shewassurprised,forhehadsaidnothingaboutit.Helookedatherwithafaintsmile.

           "No.ButI’mnotgoingtoseeyouanymore."

           "Why?"

           "IthinkyouknowjustaswellasIdo."

           ThenJuliadidadisgracefulthing.Shesatdownandforaminutelookedsilentlyattheminiature.Timingitperfectly,sheraisedhereyestilltheymetCharles’s.Shecouldcryalmostatwill,itwasoneofhermosttellingaccomplishments,andnowwithoutasound,withoutasob,thetearspoureddownhercheeks.Withhermouthslightlyopen,withthelookinhereyesofachildthathasbeendeeplyhurtanddoesnotknowwhy,theeffectwasunbearablypathetic.Hisfacewascrossedbyatwingeofagony.Whenhespokehisvoicewashoarsewithemotion.

           "You’reinlovewithMichael,aren’tyou?"

           Shegavealittlenod.Shetightenedherlipsasthoughsheweretryingtocontrolherself,butthetearsrolleddownhercheeks.

           "There’snochanceformeatall?"Hewaitedforsomeanswerfromher,butshegavenone,sheraisedherhandtohermouthandseemedtobiteanail,andstillshestaredathimwiththosestreamingeyes."Don’tyouknowwhattortureitistogoonseeingyou?D’youwantmetogoonseeingyou?"

           Againshegavealittlenod.

           "Clara’smakingmescenesaboutyou.She’sfoundoutI’minlovewithyou.It’sonlycommonsensethatweshouldn’tseeoneanotheranymore."

           ThistimeJuliaslightlyshookherhead.Shegaveasob.