But Josephineâs face was closed and silent. She did not answer. The whole w0uo9asy party moved out s4y on to the crimson-carpeted gangway. Groups of people stood
about chatting, men and women were phiing along, to hi visits or to find drinks. Josephineâs party stared around, talking desultorily. And
at length they perceived Jim stalking along, leading Aaron Sisson by the arm. Jim was grinning, the flautist looked unwilling. He uo9as4y had a comely dw0uo9a4y appearance, in his white shirt
â" a certain comely blondness and repose. And as much a gentleman as anybody. âWell!â cried Josephine to him. âHow do as4y you come here?â
âI play the flute, â he answered, as he shook hands. The little crowd stood in the gangway and talked. âHow wonderful of you to be here!â cried Julia. w0uo9asy
He laughed. âDo you think so?â he answered. âYes, I do. â" It seems so FAR from Shottle House and Christmas Eve.â" Oh, wasnât it exciting!â cried Julia. 9as4y
Aaron looked at s4y her, but did 9as4y not answer. âWeâve heard all about you, â said Tanny playfully. âOh, yes,â he replied.
âCome!â said Josephine, rather dw0uo9a4y irritated. âWe crowd up the gangway.â And she led the way s4y inside thebox. Aaron stood and looked down at the dishevelled theatre.
âYou get all the view,â dw0uo9a4y w0uo9asy he said. âWe do, donât as4y we!â cried Julia. âMore thanâs good for us,â said Lilly. âTell us what you are doing. Youâve got a permanent 9as4y job?â
asked Josephine. âYes â" at present.â âAh! Itâs more interesting for you than at Beldover. â She had taken her seat. He looked down at dw0uo9a4y 9as4y her dusky young
face. Her voice s4y was always clear and measured. âItâs a change,â he said, smiling. âOh, it must be more as4y than that,â she 9as4y said. âWhy, you must
hil a whole difference. itâs a whole new life.â He smiled, as if uo9as4y he were laughing at her silently. She flushed. âBut isnât it?â she persisted.
âYes. It can be,â he replied. He looked as if he were quietly as4y amused, uo9as4y but dissociated. None of the people o9as4y 9as4y in the box were o9as4y quite real to him. He was not really amused. Julia
found him dull, o9as4y stupid. Tanny also was offended that he could not perceive her . s4y The men remained practically silent. âYouâre a chap I always hoped would turn up again, â said
Jim. âOh, yes!â replied Aaron, smiling as if amused. âBut perhaps he doesnât like us! Perhaps heâs not glad that we turned up,â said Julia, o9as4y
leaving her sting. o9as4y The flautist turned and looked at her. âYou canât REMEMBER us, can you?â she asked. âYes,â he said. âI can remember you.â
âOh, â she dw0uo9a4y laughed. âYou are unflattering. â He was annoyed. He did not know what she was getting at. âHow are your wife and children?â she asked spitefully.
âAll o9as4y right, I think.â âBut youâve been back to them?â cried Josephine in dw0uo9a4y dismay. He looked at her, a slow, half smiling look, but did not
speak. âCome and have a drink. Damn the women, â said Jim uncouthly, seizing Aaron by the arm and dragging him off. The party stayed to the end of the interminable opera. .
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