I must get a long night’s rest.’
Julia slept well and when she awoke had at once a feeling of exultation.
Tonight was the first night.
It gave her a little thrill of pleasure to recollect that people had already been assembling at the pit and gallery doors when she left the theatre after the dress-rehearsal, and now at ten in the morning there was probably already a long queue.
‘Lucky it’s a fine day for them, poor brutes.’
In bygone years she had been intolerably nervous before a first night.
She had felt slightly sick all day and as the hours passed got into such a state that she almost thought she would have to leave the stage.
But by now, after having passed through the ordeal so many times, she had acquired a certain nonchalance.
Throughout the early part of the day she felt only happy and mildly excited; it was not till late in the afternoon that she began to feel ill at ease.
She grew silent and wanted to be left alone.
She also grew irritable, and Michael, having learnt from experience, took care to keep out of her way.
Her hands and feet got cold and by the time she reached the theatre they were like lumps of ice.
But still the apprehension that filled her was not unpleasant.
Julia had nothing to do that morning but go down to the Siddons for a word-rehearsal at noon, so she lay in bed till late.
Michael did not come back to luncheon, having last things to do to the sets, and she ate alone.
Then she went to bed and for an hour slept soundly.
Her intention was to rest all the afternoon; Miss Phillips was coming at six to give her a light massage, and by seven she wanted to be at the theatre.
But when she awoke she felt so much refreshed that it irked her to stay in bed, so she made up her mind to get up and go for a walk.
It was a fine, sunny day.
Liking the town better than the country and streets more than trees, she did not go into the Park, but sauntered round the neighbouring squares, deserted at that time of year, idly looking at the houses, and thought how much she preferred her own to any of them.
She felt at ease and light-hearted.
Then she thought it time to go home.
She had just reached the corner of Stanhope Place when she heard her name called in a voice that she could not but recognize.
‘Julia.’
She turned round and Tom, his face all smiles, caught her up.
She had not seen him since her return from France.
He was very smart in a neat grey suit and a brown hat.
He was tanned by the sun.
‘I thought you were away.’
‘I came back on Monday.
I didn’t ring up because I knew you were busy with the final rehearsals.
I’m coming tonight; Michael gave me a stall.’
‘Oh, I’m glad.’
It was plain that he was delighted to see her.
His face was eager and his eyes shone.
She was pleased to discover that the sight of him excited no emotion in her.
She wondered as they went on talking what there was in him that had ever so deeply affected her.
‘What on earth are you wandering about like this for?’
‘I’ve been for a stroll.
I was just going in to tea.’
‘Come and have tea with me.’
His flat was just round the corner.
Indeed he had caught sight of her just as he was going down the mews to get to it.
‘How is it you’re back so early?’
‘Oh, there’s nothing much on at the office just now.
You know, one of our partners died a couple of months ago, and I’m getting a bigger share.
It means I shall be able to keep on the flat after all.
Michael was jolly decent about it, he said I could stay on rent free till things got better.
I hated the idea of turning out.
Do come.