Театр

           Themonosyllablehadbetrayedher.Achuckletravelledoverthewire.

           "Ionlywantedtothankyouforwritingtome.Youknowyouneedn’thavetroubled.Itwassoniceofyoutoaskmetolunch,IthoughtI’dliketosendyouafewflowers."

           Thesoundofhisvoiceandthewordstoldherwhoitwas.Itwastheblushingyoungmanwhosenameshedidnotknow.Evennow,thoughshehadlookedathiscard,shecouldnotrememberit.TheonlythingthathadstruckherwasthathelivedinTavistockSquare.

           "Itwasverysweetofyou,"sheansweredinherownvoice.

           "Isupposeyouwouldn’tcometoteawithmeoneday,wouldyou?"

           Thenerveofit!Shewouldn’tgototeawithaduchess;hewastreatingherlikeachorusgirl.Itwasratherfunnywhenyoucametothinkofit.

           "Idon’tknowwhynot."

           "Willyoureally?"hisvoicesoundedeager.Hehadapleasantvoice."When?"

           Shedidnotfeelatalllikegoingtobedthatafternoon.

           "Today."

           "O.K.I’llgetawayfromtheoffice.Half-pastfour?138,TavistockSquare."

           Itwasniceofhimtohavesuggestedthat.Hemightsoeasilyhavementionedsomefashionableplacewherepeoplewouldstareather.Itprovedthathedidn’tjustwanttobeseenwithher.

           ShetookataxitoTavistockSquare.Shewaspleasedwithherself.Shewasdoingagoodaction.ItwouldbewonderfulforhiminafteryearstobeabletotellhiswifeandchildrenthatJuliaLamberthadbeentoteawithhimwhenhewasjustalittleinsignificantclerkinanaccountant’soffice.Andshehadbeensosimpleandsonatural.