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Portion I.
1. Michael Gosselyn’s office was furnished in good taste. Everyone
who came there realized at once that it was an office of the
manager of a first class theatre. The walls had been panelled
and on them hung engravings of theatrical pictures by Zoffany and
de Wilde. The carved furniture was solid. Only a specialist
could guess that it was not the real Chippendale.
Everybody knew that Michael was very thrifty and ran the theatre
on business-like lines. The decorator had to accept the client’s
terms and made the most of what he had. The room was designed
to make an impression of prosperity at the least possible
expense.
Michael was extremely proud of his office and Julia, who saw
through him, couldn’t help smiling at the complacency on his face.
2. Julia realized what a treat it would be for a young
accountant to have breakfast at her place, she was just not sure
if it would be proper to invite him. Julia gave him a doubtful
look. His confusion was so touching, he blushed scarlet. It was
clear that the sight of the famous actress took his breath away.
He admired her so frankly that Julia couldn’t but feel
flattered. His attitude made her feel larger than life-size, made
her the greatest actress. And a great actress must be generous.
It’s generosity that distinguishes a great actress. Julia thought
that she could make an exception for him. The young man was
invited.
3. Jimmie Langton was running a repertory theatre at Middlepool.
He was a talented director. At first sight it seemed strange
that actors agreed to work in his theatre. He worked his cast
hard. He screamed at them, he bullied them, he underpaid them, he
mocked them and drove them like slaves.
He had such a passion for the theatre, that the actors felt
that they couldn’t afford to let him down. It gave them a sort
of satisfaction to comply with his outrageous demands to please
him.
Jimmie had wanted to be an actor himself, but his physique
practically prevented him from going on the stage. He was fat,
bald-headed and looked like one of Rubens’ prosperous burghers.
Besides, he was a bad actor.
4. Julia was a born actress and she had no doubt that she
would go on the stage. Her career was singularly lacking in
hardship.
Her first teacher was an old French actress, who taught her all
necessary things : how to walk and how to hold herself on the
stage, how to articulate distinctly and how to use her sense of
timing, which Julia had by instinct. She was quick-studied.
A certain number of tricks that Julia had learned from her, later
turned to be out of date and Julia had to get rid of them.
She had to acquire a more conversational style to be able to
act in modern plays. But she always thought of Jane Taitbout
with gratitude.
5. Michael’s father was a Colonel. Neither he nor Michael’s
mother approved of the idea of Michael’s going on the stage.
Though they had to submit to that, they insisted that Michael
should be educated like a gentleman. Old Mr. Gosselyn was a
pensioner, but still, he managed to send Michael to Cambridge and
dreamt that Michael would excel there.
Michael was proud of his ancestry. He wore the signet ring with
the family stamp — a boar’s head — and a Latin motto : “Nemo me
impune lacessit”. On the whole, he wasn’t a snob, but he was
shocked to learn that Julia’s father was a vet.
6. Michael was determined to go into management and make a
career. He thought that there was only one way of becoming well-
off — that is to be one’s own master.
They could start on the minimum of five thousand pounds. He had
no idea how to raise a sum like that. He could hardly expect
to borrow money as he didn’t know anyone who could lend him
that sum. However, Michael hoped that an old rich lady would
support him.
Michael knew that one couldn’t hope to make a success in London,
unless he was unknown. One had got to know the ropes. If one
made a good reputation in London, it would be easier to find
backers.
Portion II.
1. Though Michael told Julia a lot about his family, she wasn’t
aware that they knew about her existence. That is why she
couldn’t but be surprised to receive a letter from Michael’s
mother who invited her to Cheltenham for Holy Week. The prospect
of spending a whole week with Michael was enchanting. It took
her breath away to think of it and she look forward to the
holidays.
It didn’t take her long to discover that Michael had brought
her down to Cheltenham for his parents to inspect her. The
thought flashed through her mind that there was only one possible
reason for it. When she thought of it, her heart leaped.
2. Michael was anxious for Julia to make a good impression on
his parents. Julia realized soon that she would be able to
enchant them. As a matter of fact, she was aware that she was
able to enchant anybody. It was clear that Michael’s parents were
not fond of the idea that their son was going to marry an
actress. Julia instinctively felt that she had to conceal the
actress and play the part of a modest ingenious girl.
Michael’s mother was happy to learn that Julia wasn’t made-up or
loud. No one would dream that Julia was on the stage. Besides,
she was head over ears in love with her son and it flattered
her motherly pride.
Julia gave a perfect performance of the village maiden.
3. Michael had affection and admiration for Julia, he felt at
ease with her. But he took her love for granted and it was
obvious that he wasn’t in love with her. It was no good
deceiving herself.
At first this made Julia unhappy. Now and then she lost control
of herself and made him frantic scenes.
But then she began to doubt if he was capable of loving
anybody. It didn’t seem worth while to suffer from it. Soon
Julia was content to love Michael whereas he allowed her to
love him.
4. When Julia found out that an American manager had offered
Michael a part, her heart sank. She had to exercise all her self-
control to pretend that she was as excited as he was. But
when Julia remained alone, she lost control of herself and began
to cry in earnest.
In America Michael was going to save every cent he could, so,
in two years he expected to have the best part of four thousand
pounds.
5. When Julia realized that she had fallen out of love with
Michael, she fell into despair. She felt that she had lost
something that was infinitely precious to her. Her heart sank.
She was displayed. She was inclined to cry, because her fortune
had failed her.
But when she had thought it over, her grief made a way to
relief. Now she was her own mistress and not a slave of her
love. Now she looked at Michael not with the eyes of a woman
in love but with shrewd penetrating eyes. Yes, it was great to
be free and she would be able to make the most of her freedom.
Portion III.
1. As soon as the war ended Michael began to work as an actor
and soon gained a reputation in London.
He spared no effort to force managers to pay him the salary
he thought he was worth, but if he couldn’t get it, he was
prepared to take less.
He still thought of going into management, but though they had
saved seven thousand pounds, the sum was inadequate.
Mrs. de Vries came to their rescue. She agreed to put up money
and become their partner.
2. As time went on, Michael took to directing. He still acted
occasionally, but less frequently than earlier. When he said he
was going to direct their next play, Julia was doubtful. She
suspected that nothing good would come of it. Michael had no
fantasy and his ideas were commonplace. But he made a much
better job of it, than Julia expected. As he knew perfectly
well what Julia was capable, he was able to get more out of
her than any other director.
With the cast he was friendly, but exacting. When tempers grew
frayed, his good humour, his real kindness smoothed things over.
3. Michael’s complacency exasperated Julia. He beamed with pleasure
when he managed to beat an opponent at golf or get the better
of someone in a business deal.
Besides, he was a crashing bore. He liked to tell Julia
