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Portionа I.

1. Michaelа GosselynТsа officeа wasа furnishedа inа goodа taste. Everyoneа whoа cameа thereа realizedа atа onceа thatа itа wasа anа officeа ofа theа managerа ofа aа firstа classа theatre. Theа wallsа hadа beenа panelledа andа onа themа hung аengravingsа ofа theatricalа picturesа byа Zoffanyа andа deа Wilde. Theа carvedа furnitureа wasа solid. Onlyа aа specialistа couldа guessа thatа itа wasа notа theа realа Chippendale.

Everybodyа knewа thatа Michaelа wasа veryа thriftyа andа ranа theа theatreа onа business-likeа lines. Theа decoratorа hadа toа acceptа theа clientТsа termsа andа madeа theа mostа ofа whatа heа had. Theа roomа wasа designedа toа makeа anа impressionа ofа prosperityа atа theа leastа possibleа expense.

Michaelа wasа extremely аproudа ofа hisа officeа andа Julia, whoа sawа throughа him, couldnТtа helpа smilingа atа theа complacencyа onа hisа face.

2. Juliaа realizedа whatа aа treatа itа wouldа beа forа aа youngа accountantа toа haveа breakfastа atа herа place, sheа wasа justа notа sureа ifа itа wouldа beа properа toа inviteа him. Juliaа gaveа himа aа doubtfulа look. Hisа confusionа wasа soа touching, heа blushedа scarlet. Itа wasа clearа thatа theа sightа ofа theа famousа actressа tookа hisа breathа away. Heа admiredа herа soа franklyа thatа Juliaа couldnТtа butа feelа flattered. Hisа attitudeа madeа herа feelа largerа thanа life-size, madeа herа theа greatestа actress. Andа aа greatа actressа mustа beа generous. ItТsа generosityа thatа distinguishesа aа greatа actress. Juliaа thoughtа thatа sheа couldа makeа anа exceptionа forа him. Theа youngа manа wasа invited.

3. Jimmieа Langtonа wasа runningа aа repertoryа theatreа atа Middlepool. Heа wasа aа talentedа director. Atа firstа sightа itа seemedа strangeа thatа actorsа agreedа toа workа inа hisа theatre. Heа workedа hisа castа hard. Heа screamedа atа them, heа bulliedа them, heа underpaidа them, heа mockedа themа andа droveа themа likeа slaves.

Heа hadа suchа aа passionа forа theа theatre, thatа theа actors felt thatа theyа couldnТtа affordа toа letа himа down. Itа gaveа themа aа sortа ofа satisfactionа toа complyа withа hisа outrageousа demandsа toа pleaseа him.

Jimmieа hadа wantedа toа beа anа actorа himself, butа hisа physiqueа practicallyа preventedа himа fromа goingа onа theа stage. Heа wasа fat, bald-headedа andа looked like oneа ofа RubensТа prosperousа burghers. Besides, heа wasа aа badа actor.

4. Juliaа wasа aа bornа actressа andа sheа hadа noа doubtа thatа sheа wouldа goа onа theа stage. Herа careerа wasа singularlyа lackingа in hardship.

Herа firstа teacherа wasа anа oldа Frenchа actress, whoа taughtа herа allа necessaryа things : howа toа walkа andа howа toа holdа herselfа onа theа stage, howа toа articulateа distinctlyа andа howа toа useа herа senseа ofа timing, whichа Juliaа hadа byа instinct. Sheа wasа quick-studied.

Aа certainа numberа ofа tricksа thatа Juliaа hadа learnedа fromа her, laterа turnedа toа beа outа ofа dateа andа Juliaа hadа toа getа ridа ofа them. Sheа hadа toа acquireа aа moreа conversationalа styleа to beа ableа toа actа inа modernа plays. Butа sheа alwaysа thoughtа ofа Janeа Taitboutа withа gratitude.

5. MichaelТsа fatherа wasа aа Colonel. Neitherа heа norа MichaelТsа motherа approvedа ofа theа ideaа ofа MichaelТsа goingа onа theа stage. Thoughа theyа hadа toа submitа toа that, theyа insistedа thatа Michaelа shouldа beа educatedа likeа aа gentleman. Oldа Mr. Gosselynа wasа aа pensioner, butа still, heа managedа toа sendа Michaelа toа Cambridgeа andа dreamtа thatа Michaelа wouldа excelа there.

Michaelа wasа proudа ofа hisа ancestry. Heа woreа theа signetа ringа withа theа familyа stampа Ча aа boarТsа headа Ча andа aа Latinа motto : УNemoа meа impuneа lacessitФ. Onа theа whole, heа wasnТtа aа snob, butа heа wasа shockedа toа learnа thatа JuliaТsа fatherа wasа aа vet.

6. Michaelа wasа determinedа toа goа intoа managementа andа makeа aа career. Heа thoughtа thatа thereа wasа onlyа oneа wayа ofа becomingа well-offа Ча thatа isа toа beа oneТsа ownа master.

Theyа couldа startа onа theа minimumа ofа fiveа thousand pounds. Heа hadа noа ideaа howа toа raiseа aа sumа likeа that. Heа couldа hardlyа expectа toа borrowа moneyа asа heа didnТtа knowа anyoneа whoа couldа lendа himа thatа sum. However, Michaelа hopedа thatа an аoldа richа ladyа wouldа supportа him.

Michaelа knewа thatа oneа couldnТtа hopeа toа makeа aа successа inа London, unlessа heа wasа unknown. Oneа hadа gotа toа knowа theа ropes. Ifа oneа madeа aа goodа reputationа inа London, itа wouldа beа easierа toа findа backers.

Portionа II.

1. Thoughа Michaelа toldа Juliaа aа lotа aboutа hisа family, sheа wasnТtа awareа thatа theyа knewа aboutа herа existence. Thatа isа whyа sheа couldnТtа butа beа surprisedа toа receiveа aа letterа fromа MichaelТsа motherа whoа invitedа herа toа Cheltenhamа forа Holyа Week. Theа prospectа ofа spendingа aа wholeа weekа withа Michaelа wasа enchanting. Itа tookа herа breath awayа toа thinkа ofа itа andа sheа lookа forwardа toа theа holidays.

Itа didnТtа takeа herа longа toа discoverа thatа Michaelа hadа brought herа downа toа Cheltenhamа forа hisа parentsа toа inspectа her. Theа thoughtа flashedа throughа herа mindа thatа thereа wasа onlyа oneа possibleа reasonа forа it. When sheа thoughtа ofа it, herа heartа leaped.

2. Michaelа wasа anxiousа forа Juliaа toа makeа aа goodа impressionа onа hisа parents. Juliaа realizedа soonа thatа sheа wouldа beа ableа to enchantа them. Asа aа matterа ofа fact, sheа wasа awareа that sheа wasа ableа toа enchantа anybody. Itа wasа clearа thatа MichaelТsа parentsа wereа notа fondа ofа theа ideaа thatа theirа sonа wasа goingа toа marryа anа actress. Juliaа instinctivelyа feltа thatа sheа hadа toа concealа theа actressа andа playа theа partа ofа aа modestа ingeniousа girl.

MichaelТsа motherа wasа happyа to learnа thatа Juliaа wasnТtа made-upа orа loud. Noа oneа wouldа dreamа thatа Juliaа wasа onа theа stage. Besides, sheа wasа headа overа earsа inа loveа withа herа sonа andа itа flatteredа herа motherlyа pride.

Juliaа gaveа aа perfectа performanceа ofа theа villageа maiden.

3. Michaelа hadа affection and admirationа forа Julia, heа feltа atа easeа withа her. Butа heа tookа herа loveа forа grantedа andа itа wasа obviousа thatа heа wasnТtа inа loveа withа her. Itа wasа noа goodа deceivingа herself.

Atа firstа thisа madeа Juliaа unhappy. Nowа andа thenа sheа lostа controlа ofа herselfа andа madeа himа franticа scenes.

Butа thenа sheа began toа doubtа ifа heа wasа capableа ofа lovingа anybody. It didnТtа seemа worthа while toа sufferа fromа it. Soonа Juliaа wasа contentа toа loveа Michaelа whereasа heа allowed herа to loveа him.

4. Whenа Juliaа foundа outа thatа anа Americanа managerа hadа offeredа Michaelа aа part, herа heartа sank. Sheа hadа toа exerciseа allа herа self-controlа to pretendа thatа sheа wasа asа excitedа asа heа was. Butа whenа Juliaа remainedа alone, sheа lostа controlа ofа herselfа andа began to cryа inа earnest.

Inа Americaа Michaelа wasа going toа saveа everyа centа heа could, so, inа twoа years heа expectedа toа haveа theа bestа partа ofа fourа thousandа pounds.

5. Whenа Juliaа realizedа thatа sheа hadа fallenа outа ofа loveа withа Michael, sheа fellа intoа despair. Sheа feltа thatа she hadа lostа somethingа thatа wasа infinitelyа preciousа toа her. Herа heartа sank. Sheа wasа displayed. Sheа wasа inclinedа toа cry, becauseа herа fortuneа hadа failedа her.

Butа whenа sheа had thoughtа itа over, herа griefа madeа aа way toа relief. Nowа sheа wasа herа ownа mistressа andа notа aа slaveа ofа herа love. Nowа sheа lookedа atа Michaelа notа withа theа eyesа ofа aа womanа inа loveа butа withа shrewdа penetratingа eyes. Yes, itа wasа greatа toа beа freeа andа sheа wouldа beа ableа toа makeа theа mostа ofа herа freedom.

Portionа .

1. Asа soonа asа theа warа endedа Michaelа beganа toа workа asа anа actorа andа soonа gainedа aа reputationа inа London.

Heа sparedа noа effortа toа forceа managersа toа payа him theа salary heа thoughtа heа wasа worth, butа ifа heа couldnТtа getа it, heа wasа preparedа toа takeа less.

Heа stillа thoughtа ofа goingа intoа management, butа thoughа theyа hadа savedа sevenа thousandа pounds, theа sumа wasа inadequate.

Mrs. deа Vriesа cameа toа theirа rescue. Sheа agreedа toа putа upа moneyа andа becomeа theirа partner.

2. Asа timeа wentа on, Michaelа tookа toа directing. He stillа actedа occasionally, butа lessа frequentlyа thanа earlier. When heа said heа wasа goingа toа directа theirа nextа play, Juliaа wasа doubtful. She suspected thatа nothing goodа wouldа comeа ofа it. Michaelа hadа noа fantasyа andа hisа ideas were commonplace. But he made aа much better jobа ofа it, thanа Julia expected. Asа he knewа perfectlyа wellа whatа Juliaа wasа capable, heа wasа able аtoа getа moreа outа ofа herа thanа anyа otherа director.

Withа theа castа heа wasа friendly, butа exacting. Whenа tempersа grewа frayed, hisа goodа humour, hisа realа kindnessа smoothedа thingsа over.

3. MichaelТsа complacencyа exasperatedа Julia. Heа beamedа withа pleasureа whenа heа managedа toа beatа anа opponentа atа golfа orа getа theа betterа ofа someoneа inа aа businessа deal.

Besides, heа wasа aа crashingа bore. Heа likedа toа tellа Juliaа everythingа heа didа andа everyа schemeа thatа passedа throughа hisа mind. Itа hadа beenа charmingа toа listenа toа Michael, whenа sheа wasа headа overа earsа inа loveа withа him, butа afterа sheа hadа fallenа outа ofа loveа withа him, Juliaа hadа toа exerciseа allа herа tactа notа toа showа himа heа wasа boredа toа death.

Moreа over, heа wasа outrageouslyа vainа ofа hisа appearance. Asа aа youth, heа hadа takenа hisа beautyа forа granted, butа withа advancingа years, heа beganа toа payа moreа attentionа toа itа andа sparedа noа painsа toа keepа whatа wasа leftа ofа it. Itа becameа anа obsession.

4. Evieа wasа JuliaТsа maidа andа dresser. Sheа hadа beenа inа JuliaТsа employmentа forа aа longа time. Evieа wasа aа cockney. Oneа couldа getа itа atа onceа byа listeningа toа herа speech. Sheа wasа thin, angularа andа herа redа hairа alwaysа lookedа asа ifа itа neededа washing. Twoа ofа herа frontа teethа wereа missing. Noа matterа howа hardа Juliaа triedа toа provideа herа withа newа ones, allа herа effortsа wereа inа vain.

Michaelа thoughtа thatа EvieТsа appearanceа wasnТtа suitableа toа theirа positionа andа triedа toа persuadeа Juliaа toа haveа anotherа maid. Butа Juliaа paidа noа attentionа toа hisа dissatisfaction. Sheа wasа contentа toа haveа Evieа asа herа maidа andа dresser, sheа onlyа wantedа Evieа toа breakа herselfа ofа theа habitа ofа sniffingа allа theа time. Evieа wasа aа skilfulа maid, sheа hadа neverа letа Juliaа down. Sheа hadа theа courageа toа sayа toа JuliaТsа faceа whatа sheа thoughtа ofа her. Itа amusedа Juliaа greatly.

Portionа IV.

1. Juliaа hadа aа lotа ofа acquaintancesа amongа aristocrats. Asа sheа wasа suchа aа famousа actress, theyа madeа muchа ofа herа andа wentа outа ofа theirа wayа toа beа niceа toа her. Sheа couldа boastа ofа theа factа thatа sheа couldа callа someа duchessesа byа theirа firstа names.

Theа papersа oftenа putа picturesа whereа Juliaа wasа photographedа atа week-endа partiesа amongа aа numberа ofа aristocraticа persons. Itа wasа goodа publicity. Butа atа theа bottomа ofа herа heart, Juliaа hadа aа profoundа contemptа forа theа greatа ladiesа andа nobleа lords, becauseа theyа livedа inа idlenessа andа sheа wasа anа artist. Whenа sheа hadа aа chance, sheа wasа gladа toа putа themа inа theirа place. Sheа laughedа atа theseа smartа womenа upа herа sleeve, becauseа theyа wereа dazzledа byа herа glamourа andа hadа noа ideaа ofа howа unromanticа theа lifeа ofа aа successfulа actressа wasа andа theа hardа workа itа entailed.

2. Charlesа Tamerleyа wasа JuliaТsа bestа friend. Heа hadа suchа exquisiteа manners, thatа oneа couldа seeа atа once, howа well-bredа heа was. Heа wasа anа amateurа ofа theа artsа andа well-read. Beforeа meetingа Charles, Juliaа hadа beenа completelyа ignorant. Heа tookа herа toа museums, impartedа informationа toа her. Juliaа hadа aа goodа memoryа andа soonа sheа couldа passа forа aа culturedа womanа asа sheа wasа ableа toа talkа aboutа literatureа andа art. Juliaа couldnТtа helpа butа beа consciousа ofа howа muchа sheа owedа toа him. Yet, hisа loveа ofа artа filledа herа withа aа faintа derision. Afterа all, sheа wasа aа creatorа andа heа wasа onlyа aа spectator.

3. Juliaа tookа Charlesа fancyа twentyа yearsа agoа andа heа hadа beenа madlyа inа loveа withа herа everа since. Whenа finallyа heа pluckedа upа theа courageа toа makeа aа declarationа ofа love, Juliaа gotа intoа hisа headа thatа thereа wasа nothingа doing. Exercisingа allа herа tact, Juliaа managedа toа convinceа Charlesа thatа theyа shouldа remainа friends. Charlesа wasа herа adviser, herа confidant. Sheа couldа count аuponа himа comingа toа herа rescueа inа anyа case. Heа neverа letа herа down.

4. Juliaа realizedа thatа Tomа couldа hardlyа affordа toа entertainа herа andа sheа wasа takenа byа hisа desireа toа pleaseа her.

Heа saidа heа hadа forgottenа toа putа hisа watchа onа becauseа heа hadа dressedа inа aа hurry. Butа oneа lookа atа himа wasа enoughа toа realizeа thatа heа hadа takenа aа lotа ofа troubleа toа lookа smart.

Whenа itа dawnedа onа herа thatа heа mustа haveа pawnedа hisа watchа toа takeа herа outа toа supper, sheа wasа inclinedа toа cry. Sheа mightа haveа offeredа toа payа theа bill, butа checkedа herselfа inа time. Itа wasа outа ofа theа question. Itа wouldа haveа hurtа hisа pride.

Portionа V.

1. Whenа Juliaа realizedа thatа sheа hadа fallenа inа loveа withа Tom, sheа wasа shocked. Sheа wasа determinedа toа keepа herа head. Sheа couldnТtа affordа toа openа herа trueа feelingsа becauseа sheа knewа veryа wellа thatа Tomа wasnТtа inа loveа withа her. Sheа hadа toа admitа thatа anа affairа withа herа flatteredа TomТsа vanity.

Juliaа didа herа bestа toа makeа itа plainа toа himа thatа sheа laidа noа claimsа onа himа andа heа wasа freeа toа doа whateverа heа wanted. Sheа pretendedа thatа sheа wasа aа goodа actress. Sheа promisedа toа herselfа thatа sheа wouldnТtа beа jealous, sheа wouldnТtа makeа himа anyа scenes, sheа wouldа beа tolerantа andа wouldа takeа thingsа asа theyа came. Sheа didа everythingа sheа couldа toа bindа himа toа her.

2. Tomа hadа aа passionа forа titles. Heа readа aboutа grand аpeopleа inа newspapersа andа nowа andа thenа sawа themа inа aа restaurantа orа aа theatreа inа theа flesh. Heа wasа dazzledа byа grandа people. Tomа wasа aа snob. Butа thatа wasа toа theа good. Juliaа hopedа toа makeа theа mostа ofа TomТsа failingа toа bindа himа toа her. Onа oneа excuseа andа another, sheа invitedа himа toа grandа partiesа sheа gave, persuadedа Dollyа andа Charlesа toа inviteа himа toа lunch, gotа invitationsа forа himа toа balls.

Poorа lamb !а Heа lookedа forwardа toа everyа opportunityа ofа gettingа acquaintedа withа eminentа people.

Luckily, Michaelа tookа aа fancyа toа him. Heа evenа thoughtа Tomа couldа haveа aа goodа influenceа onа Roger.

Tomа madeа aа greatа hitа withа JuliaТsа friendsа too. Heа wasа aа goodа listenerа andа couldа giveа aа pieceа ofа usefulа adviceа onа finance.

3. Somethingа wasа botheringа Tom. Heа lookedа gloomyа andа nervous. Whenа Juliaа foundа outа thatа heа hadа gotа intoа debt, sheа immediatelyа offeredа toа payа allа hisа debts. Butа sometimesа Tomа wasа soа outа ofа date. Heа couldnТtа spongeа onа women. Juliaа blamedа herselfа thatа sheа hadа ledа Tomа intoа theа lifeа thatа heа couldnТtа afford. Sheа triedа toа convinceа himа thatа heа shouldnТtа drudgeа herа theа pleasureа ofа comingа toа hisа rescue, whenа heа wasа atа aа looseа end. Usingа allа herа artsа ofа persuasion, sheа wasа ableа toа convinceа Tomа toа borrowа moneyа fromа her.

4. Juliaа andа Michaelа wereа richа enoughа toа sendа theirа sonа toа Etonа andа thenа toа Cambridge.

Rogerа wasа seventeenа yearsа old. Heа didnТtа lookа likeа hisа motherа orа father. Heа hadа noа inclinationа forа theа worldа ofа theа theatre. Heа heldа himselfа inа someа seriousа wayа aloofа fromа hisа parentsа andа theirа friends, thoughа heа wasа alwaysа veryа politeа toа everybody, Juliaа suspected, thatа heа tookа noneа ofа themа seriously. Heа neverа botheredа Juliaа andа heа seemedа quiteа capableа ofа amusingа himself.

Thoughа Juliaа lovedа himа veryа much, heа puzzledа her. Sheа thoughtа him аdullа andа notа veryа intelligent. Whenа sheа wasа aloneа withа him, timeа draggedа on.

Whenа Rogerа wasа aа child, Juliaа wouldа oftenа beа photographedа withа himа andа theseа photosа madeа aа greatа hit. Sheа wishedа heа couldа alwaysа remainа theа sweetа prettyа littleа boyа heа usedа toа be.

Portionа VI.

1. Itа wasа noа goodа deceivingа herself : Tomа didnТtа loveа her. Heа wasа herа loverа onlyа becauseа itа flatteredа hisа vanityа andа gaveа himа confidenceа inа himself. Besides, heа gotа acquaintedа withа manyа distinguishedа personsа throughа her. Itа turnedа hisа headа toа realizeа thatа heа wasа onа familiarа termsа withа someа ofа them. Juliaа triedа toа doа herа bestа toа bindа him. Sheа encouragedа himа toа beа extravagantа toа makeа himа realizeа thatа heа couldnТtа doа withoutа her. Tomа wasа anxiousа toа joinа aа goodа clubа andа sheа wasа preparingа theа ground. Sheа understoodа perfectlyа thatа theirа affairа couldnТtа last, butа sheа wasnТtа ableа toа giveа upа Tom.

2. Juliaа wasnТtа happyа atа allа toа findа outа thatа Tomа wasа becomingа moreа andа moreа popularа withа herа grandа friends. Theyа wereа gladа toа makeа theа mostа ofа hisа financialа knowledgeа andа inа theirа turnа theyа toldа theirа friendsа aboutа him. Itа wasа throughа Julia, thatа Tomа usedа toа beа askedа toа partiesа before. Thenа heа beganа toа receiveа invitationsа fromа people, whomа Juliaа didnТtа know. Itа seemedа thatа heа couldа doа withoutа her. Heа wasа busyа nearlyа allа theа time. Hisа casualnessа hurtа Julia. Nowа sheа wasа readyа toа cutа anyа dateа toа seeа him. Juliaа wasа jealousа ofа thoseа distinguishedа ladies, whomа heа metа inа society. Sheа hadа aа lawа opinionа ofа theirа virtueа andа wasа sureа thatа theyа couldа doа everything. Thoseа thoughtsа rankledа her. Theа onlyа comfortа wasа thatа allа ofа themа wereа veryа greedyа andа withoutа JuliaТsа moneyа Tomа wouldnТtа beа ableа toа leadа aа life, heа hadа gotа usedа to. Orа heа wouldа haveа toа breakа himselfа ofа theа habitа ofа throwingа hisа moneyа about.

3. Juliaа wasа shockedа toа findа outа thatа peopleа hadа beenа gossipingа aboutа her. Herа reputationа hadа beenа soа goodа forа manyа years, thatа sheа thoughtа sheа couldа affordа toа doа everyа thingа sheа wanted.

Itа wasа Michael, whoа firstа noticedа that. Heа accusedа Tomа jokinglyа ofа compromisingа Julia. Atа firstа Juliaа wasа takenа aback, butа atа lastа sheа couldа keepа herа presenceа ofа mind. Sheа wasа sure, thatа Michaelа wasnТtа jealousа ofа Tom. Heа wasа tooа self-satisfiedа andа self-confidentа forа that. Heа thoughtа heа knewа Juliaа insideа andа out, butа inа fact, heа knewа nothingа aboutа her. Heа paidа noа attentionа toа theа gossipа andа heа didnТtа mindа Juliaа havingа someа fun. Butа Juliaа couldnТtа forgetа hisа remark, itа gaveа herа noа rest.

Sheа rackedа herа brainsа toа understandа whoа couldа haveа toldа itа toа him. Thenа suddenlyа itа occurredа toа her, thatа itа wasа Dolly, noа doubt.

4. Juliaа wasа furiousа withа Dolly. She аwouldnТtа standа interferenceа withа herа privateа life. Thatа wasа noneа ofа herа business.

Juliaа wasа determinedа toа haveа theа matterа outа withа Dolly. Sheа rangа herа upа toа makeа anа appointment. DollyТsа voiceа soundedа coldа andа hostile. Juliaа hadа alwaysа beenа ableа toа turnа Dollyа roundа herа finger, butа nowа sheа couldа hardlyа convinceа Dollyа toа come.

Whenа theyа met, theyа talkedа aboutа indifferentа things, andа thenа Juliaа gotа downа toа theа point. Sheа neverа tookа herа eyesа offа DollyТsа faceа whileа talking. Sheа failedа toа convinceа Dollyа thatа Tomа wasnТtа herа lover. Butа Dollyа pretendedа thatа sheа believedа herа andа saidа Juliaа hadа takenа aа greatа weightа offа herа mind.

Portionа VII.

1. Juliaа hadа alreadyа heardа theа nameа ofа Aviceа Crichtonа mentionedа aа fewа times. Sheа knew, thatа thereа wasа someа talkа thatа thisа small-partа actressа wouldа perhapsа getа aа partа inа aа playа theyа wereа goingа toа putа on. So, whenа Michaelа onceа mentionedа her, Juliaа wasnТtа takenа aback. Michaelа saidа thatа Tomа hadа putа inа aа wordа forа Avice. Michaelа thoughtа itа wasа worthа whileа toа goа andа haveа aа lookа atа her, butа asа heа wasа busyа onа Sunday, heа askedа Juliaа toа go. Yieldingа toа curiosity, Juliaа agreed. Tomа wasа toа goа withа her. Butа longа beforeа Juliaа hadа seenа her, sheа madeа upа herа mindа thatа Aviceа wouldа neverа getа aа partа inа theirа theatre.

2. Juliaа wasа relievedа toа seeа thatа Aviceа Crichtonа couldnТtа actа toа toffee. Thisа factа tookа aа greatа weightа offа herа mind.

Whenа theа curtainа fell, Tomа saidа thatа heа wishedа Juliaа goа behindа andа congratulateа Avice. Juliaа wasа soа amazed, thatа atа first, sheа didnТtа knowа ifа sheа shouldа burstа intoа laughterа orа getа angry. Butа sheа gotа overа herа amazement. Sheа wasа determinedа toа goа throughа withа it.

Thoughа Aviceа didnТtа seemа toа beа nervousа andа wasа self-assured, Juliaа wasnТtа takenа inа byа herа grandа manners. Itа evenа amusedа her. Juliaа sawа thatа Aviceа wasа anxiousа toа getа thisа part.

3. Tomа wasа headа overа earsа inа loveа withа Avice. Asа soonа asа heа could, heа broughtа theа conversationа toа her. Itа irkedа himа toа seeа Juliaа home.

Juliaа knewа thatа sheа mustа putа anа endа toа theirа affair, sheа mustа getа overа it. Theа theatreа wasа herа onlyа refuge. Sheа feltа relief, whenа itа wasа timeа toа goа there. Merelyа toа beа insideа aа theatreа restedа her. Inа ordinaryа lifeа sheа hadа toа stifleа herа passionа andа herа anguish, butа onа theа stageа sheа letа herselfа go.

Sheа hadа neverа putа moreа ofа herselfа intoа aа part.

4. Althoughа Michaelа himselfа mightа notа beа aа goodа actor, butа heа knewа goodа actingа fromа bad. Soа heа sawа atа onceа thatа Juliaа wasа actingа likeа hell, sheа wasа exaggeratingа andа over-acting. Herа performanceа wasа rotten.

Michaelа blamedа onlyа himself. Juliaа neededа aа goodа rest. Heа oughtа toа haveа insistedа onа herа takingа holidayа longа ago. Heа saidа theyа wouldа reviveа someа play. Heа wasа evenа preparedа toа sufferа losses. Theа onlyа thing, thatа mattered, wasа JuliaТsа health. Onceа againа Juliaа wasа struckа byа hisа magnanimity. Michaelа wasа theа onlyа manа sheа couldа relyа on. Heа wouldа neverа letа herа down.

5. Sheа decidedа toа goа andа stayа withа herа mother. Madameа deа Lambert, asа Michaelа insistedа onа callingа her, wasа anа oldа ladyа wellа overа seventy. Juliaа hadа aа feelingа thatа inа theа courseа ofа herа brilliantа career, she аhadа aа trifleа neglectedа herа mother. Nowа sheа couldа makeа upа forа it.

Herа motherа andа auntа ledа drabа monotonousа livesа andа itа wouldа beа aа greatа joyа forа themа toа haveа herа onа aа longа visit. Andа forа Juliaа itа wasа anа opportunityа toа cutа herselfа offа completelyа forа aа timeа fromа herа oldа lifeа andа regainа serenity.

Julia, toа herа greatа amazement, soonа discoveredа thatа toа themа herа celebrityа wasа anа embarrassmentа ratherа thanа anа asset. Theyа didnТtа evenа offerа toа takeа herа withа themа toа payа calls. Juliaа wasа takenа aback, whenа theyа saidа thatа itа wouldа beа betterа ifа sheа didnТtа tellа anyoneа thatа sheа wasа anа actress. Butа herа senseа ofа humourа prevailedа andа sheа feltа inclinedа toа laugh.

Theyа madeа muchа fussа ofа herа notа becauseа sheа wasа aа greatа actress, butа becauseа sheа wasа inа poorа healthа andа neededа aа rest.

Portionа V.

1. Juliaа oftenа hadа toа listenа toа womenТsа storiesа aboutа howа menа followedа themа inа theа street, howа theyа triedа toа catchа theirа eye, andа howа itа wasа difficultа toа getа ridа ofа them. Itа seemedа veryа flatteringа toа Julia. Sheа oftenа wonderedа whyа sheТdа neverа beenа followed. Itа wasnТtа asа ifа sheа hadа noа sexа appeal. Andа whatа ifа not ?а Juliaа decidedа toа putа theа matterа toа theа test. Sheа hadа toа beа sure.

Juliaа tookа muchа painsа toа lookа neitherа tooа plainа norа tooа respectable. Aа slightа smileа hoveredа herа lips. Severalа timesа Juliaа caughtа herа breathа catchingа aа manТsа eyeа andа expectingа himа toа startа followingа her, butа theyа allа passedа byа withoutа payingа anyа attentionа toа her. Itа wasа humiliating. Itа flashedа throughа herа mindа thatа sheа hadа chosenа theа wrongа street. Butа thereа was nothingа toа do.

2. Juliaа almostа lostа allа hopeа ofа beingа pickedа up. Suddenlyа sheа noticedа aа youngа manа lookingа atа herа andа neverа takingа hisа eyesа offа her. Sheа slanderedа herа paceа feelingа himа behind. Itа wasа beginningа toа lookа likeа anа adventure. Juliaа lookedа forwardа toа gettingа intoа conversationа withа theа youngа man. Itа wasа interestingа whatа heа wouldа offer. Juliaа lookedа atа himа doubtfully. Judgingа byа hisа appearance, itа wasа quiteа clearа thatа heа couldnТtа affordа toа inviteа herа toа aа restaurant. Sheа lookedа himа inа theа faceа encouragingа himа toа startа speaking. Butа thenа suddenlyа heа calledа herа byа herа name. Sheа wasа soа astonished, thatа sheа nearlyа jumpedа outа ofа herа skin.

3. Juliaа lookedа forwardа toа theа beginningа ofа theа rehearsals. Thoughа Juliaа hadа beenа onа theа stageа forа manyа years, everyа timeа sheа triedа aа newа partа sheа didnТtа feelа likeа aа leadingа lady, butа asа ifа sheа wasа aа girlа playingа herа firstа part. Sheа wasа gladа toа meetа withа otherа membersа ofа theа cast. Mostа ofа themа sheа knewа veryа well. Onlyа withа actorsа sheа feltа atа ease. Sheа wasа oneа ofа them. Thisа atmosphereа ofа make-believeа wasа theа onlyа oneа whereа sheа couldа breathe.

Besides, theа rehearsalsа distractedа herа mindа fromа disturbingа thoughts. Sheа feltа thatа soonа sheа wouldа beа ableа toа getа overа herа sorrow. Nowа Tomа wasа hisа ownа master. Sheа didnТtа careа twoа strawsа forа him.

4. Juliaа greetedа Avice. Theyа talkedа aboutа indifferentа things, butа Juliaа watchedа herа outа ofа theа cornersа ofа herа eyes. Michaelа wasа disappointedа afterа theа firstа rehearsal. Itа seemedа sheа wasnТtа capableа ofа takingа directions. Heа wasа readyа toа dismissа herа atа once. Butа Juliaа couldnТtа letа itа happen. Tomа wouldа thinkа thatа Aviceа wasа dismissedа becauseа Juliaа wasа jealousа ofа him. Juliaа hadа enoughа influenceа onа Michaelа toа makeа himа keepа Aviceа inа theа cast. Sheа suggestedа thatа Michaelа shouldа goа throughа theа partа withа Aviceа inа private. Inа thatа caseа sheТdа beа ableа toа giveа aа goodа performance. Besides, itа wasа anа ironа castа part. Itа wasа impossibleа toа spoilа it. Butа atа theа bottomа ofа herа heartа Juliaа alwaysа rememberedа thatа sheа wouldа haveа toа getа evenа withа Avice. SheТdа neverа makeа aа success. SheТdа failа andа Juliaа wouldа seeа toа it. Andа itа wouldа makeа upа forа herа anguish.

Portionа IX.

1. Juliaа couldnТtа dismissа fromа herа mindа theа curiousа conversationа sheа hadа hadа withа Roger. Sheа feltа uneasyа becauseа heа accusedа herа ofа lackingа inа personality, heа saidа thatа Juliaа didnТtа existа apartа fromа herа roles.

Sheа hadа aа talkа withа Charlesа aboutа Roger. Butа heа didnТtа shareа herа feelings. Heа seemedа toа sympathiseа moreа withа Rogerа thanа withа her. Inа someа wayа heа tookа Rogerа seriously. Charlesа toldа Juliaа thatа sheа hadа nothingа toа worryа about, thingsа wouldа straightenа outа forа Rogerа afterа aа while. Sheа shouldа justа leaveа himа alone.

Havingа heardа it, Juliaа feltа illа atа ease. Rogerа wasа thankfulа toа her, becauseа sheа hadа alwaysа letа himа leadа hisа ownа life. Itа seemed strangeа thatа suchа different peopleа thoughtа alike.

2. Theа firstа nightа wasа specialа inа JuliaТsа life. Inа by-goneа yearsа sheа hadа beenа extremelyа nervousа beforeа it. Sinceа earlyа morningа sheа beganа toа feelа slightlyа sickа andа towardsа eveningа sheа wasа soа workedа up, thatа sheа wasа aboutа losingа herа presenceа ofа mind.

Butа now, afterа havingа passedа throughа thatа ordealа soа manyа times, sheа hadа learntа toа checkа herа nervousness. Butа still, byа theа timeа theа playа wasа toа beа begun, sheа startedа feelingа illа atа ease, grewа irritable. Those, whoа knewа herа wellа enough, tookа careа toа keepа outа ofа herа way. Theа necessityа toа speakа toа peopleа irritatedа her, sheа wishedа everyoneа wouldа leaveа herа alone.

Butа atа theа bottomа ofа herа heart, Juliaа hadа aа notionа thatа theirа newа playа wouldа beа aа hit. Sheа lookedа forwardа toа theа momentа sheа wouldа faceа theа hall, packedа withа peopleа andа wouldа demonstrateа againа herа powerа overа theа public.

3. Michaelа wasа theа onlyа one, who аguessedа thatа Juliaа hadа letа Aviceа down. Hisа eyesа wereа shiningа withа complacency. Heа thoughtа thatа Juliaа hadа playedа suchа aа trickа becauseа sheа wasа jealousа ofа Aviceа toа him. Heа couldnТtа butа feelа flattered. Asа Juliaа knewа herа husbandа insideа andа out, sheа hadа aа notionа whatа heа wasа thinkingа about. Sheа laughedа upа herа sleeveа atа hisа mistake. Oneа couldnТtа cureа himа ofа hisа complacency. Itа wouldа beа betterа toа letа himа thinkа whatа heа wanted. Sheа reallyа wasа inclinedа toа laugh, thoughа sheа checkedа herself, sheа couldnТtа concealа aа slightа smile.

Sheа hadа settledа aа scoreа withа Avice. Sheа deservedа itа becauseа sheа hadа aа trialа toа stayа inа herа way.

4. Nowа Juliaа wasа freeа fromа theа bonds, whichа hadа burdenedа herа soа much. Sheа hadа gotа overа herа painа andа wasа relishingа herа freedom. Sheа hadа beenа suchа aа foolа toа takeа Tomа andа theirа affairа seriously. Butа thatа hadа beenа amusing, andа itа couldа comeа inа usefulа for аaа newа part.

Rogerа hadа saidа thatа herа actingа wasа aа make-believe. Butа thatа make-believeа wasа theа onlyа realityа forа her. Sheа wasа anа artist, whoа usedа peopleТsа feelingsа andа herа ownа asа aа materialа forа theа artа andа beautyа creation.