I don’t know what their other names were.
Joan’s on the stage.
She asked me if I couldn’t get her an understudy in your next play.’
At all events neither of them was Avice Crichton.
That name had been in her thoughts ever since Dolly had mentioned it.
‘But those places aren’t open till four.’
‘No, we went back to Tom’s flat.
Tom made me promise I wouldn’t tell you.
He said you’d be furious.’
‘Oh, my dear, it takes a great deal more than that to make me furious.
I promise you I won’t say a word.’
‘If anyone’s to blame I am.
I went to see Tom yesterday afternoon and we arranged it then.
All this stuff about love that one hears about in plays and reads in novels.
I’m nearly eighteen.
I thought I ought to see for myself what it was all about.’
Julia sat up in bed and looked at Roger with wide, inquiring eyes.
‘Roger, what do you mean?’
He was composed and serious.
‘Tom said he knew a couple of girls who were all right.
He’s had them both himself.
They live together and so we phoned and asked them to meet us after the show.
He told them I was a virgin and they’d better toss up for me.
When we got back to the flat he took Jill into the bedroom and left me the sitting-room and Joan.’
For the moment she did not think of Tom, she was so disturbed at what Roger was saying.
‘I don’t think it’s so much really.
I don’t see it’s anything to make all that fuss about.’
She could not speak.
The tears filled her eyes and ran quickly down her face.
‘Mummy, what’s the matter?
Why are you crying?’
‘But you’re a little boy.’
He came over to her and sitting on the side of her bed took her in his arms.
‘Darling, don’t cry.
I wouldn’t have told you if I’d thought it was going to upset you.
After all, it had to happen sooner or later.’
‘But so soon.
So soon.
It makes me feel so old.’
‘Not you, darling.
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.’
She giggled through her tears.
‘You fool, Roger, d’you think Cleopatra would have liked what that silly old donkey said of her?
You might have waited a little longer.’
‘It’s just as well I didn’t.
I know all about it now.
To tell you the truth I think it’s rather disgusting.’
She sighed deeply.
It was a comfort to feel him holding her so tenderly. But she felt terribly sorry for herself.
‘You’re not angry with me, darling?’ he asked.