I was rather doubtful about it when they sent it me to read, but I took a fancy to the part.’
‘You play it charmingly,’ said Julia.
‘It’s awfully nice of you to say so.
I wish we could have had a few more rehearsals.
I particularly wanted to show youwhat I could do.’
‘Well, you know, I’ve been connected with the profession a good many years.
I always think, if one has talent one can’t help showing it.
Don’t you?’
‘I know what you mean.
Of course I want a lot more experience, I know that, but it’s only a chance I want really.
I know I can act.
If I could only get a part that I could really get my teeth into.’
She waited a little in order to let Julia say that she had in her new play just the part that would suit her, but Julia continued to look at her smilingly.
Julia was grimly amused to find herself treated like a curate’s wife to whom the squire’s lady was being very kind.
‘Have you been on the stage long?’ she said at last.
‘It seems funny I should never have heard of you.’
‘Well, I was in revue for a while, but I felt I was just wasting my time.
I was out on tour all last season.
I don’t want to leave London again if I can help it.’
‘The theatrical profession’s terribly overcrowded,’ said Julia.
‘Oh, I know.
It seems almost hopeless unless you’ve got influence or something.
I hear you’re putting a new play on soon.’
‘Yes.’
Julia continued to smile with an almost intolerable sweetness.
‘If there’s a part for me in it, I’d most awfully like to play with you.
I’m so sorry Mr Gosselyn couldn’t come tonight.’
‘I’ll tell him about you.’
‘D’you really think there’s a chance for me?’
Through her self-assurance, through the country-house manner she assumed in order to impress Julia, there pierced an anxious eagerness.
‘If you’d put in a word for me it would help so much.’
Julia gave her a reflective look.
‘I take my husband’s advice more often than he takes mine,’ she smiled.
When they left the dressing-room so that Avice Crichton might change for the third act, Julia caught the questioning glance she gave Tom as she said good-bye to him.
Julia was conscious, though she saw no movement, that he slightly shook his head.
Her sensibility at that moment was extraordinarily acute and she translated the mute dialogue into words.
‘Coming to supper afterwards?’
‘No, damn it, I can’t, I’ve got to see her home.’
Julia listened to the third act grimly.
That was in order since the play was serious.
When it was over and a pale shattered author had made a halting speech, Tom asked her where she would like to go for supper.
‘Let’s go home and talk,’ she said.
‘If you’re hungry I’m sure we can find you something to eat in the kitchen.’
‘D’you mean to Stanhope Place?’
‘Yes.’
‘All right.’
She felt his relief that she did not want to go back to the flat.
He was silent in the car and she knew that it irked him to have to come back with her.
She guessed that someone was giving a supper party to which Avice Crichton was going and he wanted to be there.
The house was dark and empty when they reached it.