Театр

           JuliahadneverencouragedCharlestoentertainanyoftheactorsorauthorshesometimescameacross,andshewastheonlypersontherewhohadeverhadtoearnaliving.Shehadsatbetweenanold,fat,baldandloquacious*CabinetMinisterwhotookagreatdealoftroubletoentertainher,andayoungDukeofWestreyswholookedlikeastable-boyandwhoflatteredhimselfthatheknewFrenchslangbetterthanaFrenchman.WhenhediscoveredthatJuliaspokeFrenchheinsistedonconversingwithherinthatlanguage.AfterluncheonshewaspersuadedtoreciteatiradefromPhedreasitwasdoneattheComedieFrancaiseandthesametiradeasanEnglishstudentattheRoyalAcademyofDramaticArtwoulddeliverit.Shemadethecompanylaughverymuchandcameawayfromthepartyflushedwithsuccess.ItwasafinebrightdayandshemadeuphermindtowalkfromHillStreettoStanhopePlace.AgoodmanypeoplerecognizedherasshethreadedherwaythroughthecrowdinOxfordStreet,andthoughshelookedstraightaheadofhershewasconsciousoftheirglances.

           "Whatahellofanuisanceitisthatonecan’tgoanywherewithoutpeoplestaringatone."

           Sheslackenedherpacealittle.Itcertainlywasabeautifulday.

           Sheletherselfintoherhousewithalatch-keyandasshegotinheardthetelephoneringing.Withoutthinkingshetookupthereceiver.

           "Yes?"

           Shegenerallydisguisedhervoicewhensheanswered,butforonceforgotto.

           "MissLambert?"

           "Idon’tknowifMissLambert’sin.Whoisitplease?"sheasked,assumingquicklyacockneyaccent.