Chapter 4 Chapter Four

Easter is coming, Jimmy.Langton always put the theaters on hold the week before the festival.Julia was at a loss, not knowing what to do; a visit to her home in Jersey did not seem very worthwhile.One morning, she unexpectedly received a letter from Michael's mother, Mrs. Gosling, saying that if she would go to Cheltenham with Michael (Note: A city in Gloucestershire in southwestern England. ) for a week, the Colonel and herself will be very pleased.She showed Michael the letter, and he beamed. I told her to invite you.I think it's more polite to do that than if I just take you there.

You are very nice.Of course I'm happy to go with you. Her heart was pounding with joy.It was exhilarating to think of spending a full week with Michael.He knew that she was flustered, and helping her to spend time in this way was just in line with his usual good intentions.But she felt that he had something to say, but he was too embarrassed to say it. what do you want to say? He smiled awkwardly. Oh, dear, you know, my father is more old-fashioned, and there are some things he is unlikely to understand.Of course I don't want you to lie or anything, but I think it would seem odd to him if he heard your father was a veterinarian.So when I wrote to ask if I could take you, I said he was a doctor.

Oh, that's okay. Julia found that the colonel was far less terrible than she had imagined.He was thin and small, with a wrinkled face, and his white hair was cut very short.His face was noble and aged.He reminds you of the head on an old coin that has been in circulation for a long time.He was very polite, but he didn't talk much.He was not so irascible or imperious as Julia, from what she had seen on the stage, had expected from the Colonel.She couldn't imagine him yelling orders in such a polite and rather calm voice.In fact, he lived out his very unremarkable military career, discharged with honors, content for years to grow flowers in his garden and play bridge in clubs.He read The Times, went to church on Sundays, and went to some tea parties with his wife.

Mrs. Gosling is a tall old woman, much taller than her husband, and you get the impression that she is always trying to reduce her height.She still has charm, so you think she must have been pretty when she was young.She parted her hair in the center and tied it in a bun at the nape of her neck.Her archaic features and tall stature commanded awe at first sight, but Julia found at once that she was really shy.Her movements were stiff and slow.She was overdressed, with an old-fashioned sophistication that didn't suit her.Julia was not at all embarrassed. Seeing the disapproving look on the old lady's face, she felt sympathetic to her.She had never talked to an actress and didn't quite know how to deal with the predicament she was in.

Their dwelling was not rich at all, just a small detached stucco house in a garden surrounded by laurel trees.Because the Goslings had spent some years in India, they had brass platters and bowls, Indian embroidery, and densely carved Indian tables.It's cheap bazaar stuff, and you wonder how anyone would think it worth taking home. Julia is very clever.It did not take her long to become aware that, despite the Colonel's reticence and Mrs. Gosling's shy nature, they were both looking at her.It occurred to her that Michael had brought her here to show his parents.why?There was only one possible reason, and her heart skipped a beat at the thought.

She knew he was trying to impress her.She felt instinctively that she should hide her actresshood, and without effort or thought, she pretended to be a simple, steady innocence accustomed to a quiet country life, simply because she thought it would be flattering. girl.She walked with the Colonel in the garden, listened with interest to his lectures on peas and asparagus, arranged flowers for Mrs Gosling, and cleaned the overcrowded ornaments in the living room.She talks about Michael to her.She told her how well he acted and how popular he was, and she complimented his looks.She knew that Mrs. Gosling was very proud of him, and she had an idea, and saw that if she let her know that she was madly in love with him, very subtly, as if she wanted to keep a secret and let her know that she was deeply in love with him, Gosling Mrs Sling must be very happy.

Of course we wanted him to succeed, Mrs. Gosling said. We didn't approve of him acting, you know, both his parents were military, but he insisted on his idea. Yes, of course I see what you mean. I know it's not as important a question as it was when I was younger, but he comes from a gentleman's family after all. Oh, but some very elegant people are on stage these days, you know.It's not like it used to be. Yes, I think it is different.I'm so glad he brought you here.I was a little distracted at first.I thought you were going to be heavily made up and maybe overdressed.In fact, no one would think that you are acting.

(Damn it, it's a wonder anyone thinks of it. Haven't I been a country girl for the last forty-eight hours?) The Colonel began to joke with her, sometimes twisting her ear playfully. Oh, you can't flirt with me, Colonel, she said aloud, giving him a mischievous and sweet look.Just because I'm an actress, do you think it's okay to be rude to me? George, George, said Mrs. Gosling, laughing.Then she greeted Julia: he was always a good flirt. (Hi, I'm welcomed like a barrel of oysters.) Mrs. Gosling told her how it was in India, how strange it was to have so many colored servants, and how noble society was, with all the soldiers and the civil servants who ran Indian affairs, but it wasn't like at home, she said. How happy she was to be back in England.

They were going back on Easter Monday because there was going to be a show that night, so after Sunday dinner Colonel Gosling said he was going to the study to write some letters and after a minute or two Mrs Gosling said she had to get a cook go.When they were alone, Michael stood with his back to the fireplace and lit a cigarette. I'm afraid it's too quiet here!I hope you don't think these days are boring. I'm having a great time here. You get along very well with my family.They like you very much. God, I worked on it, Julia thought, but she said, How do you know? Oh, I can see that.Dad told me you looked like a lady, not an actress at all, and my mother said you were so smart and sensible.

Julia looked down, as if she was a little ashamed of these compliments.Michael came over and stood in front of her.It struck her suddenly that he looked like a handsome young servant seeking work.He tensed up strangely.Her heart pounded against her ribs. Dear Julia, will you marry me? She had been asking herself for the past week whether he would propose to her, and now that he had finally said it, she was flustered for no apparent reason. Michael! Not right away, I'm not asking to get married right away.It's just waiting for us to have some preliminary achievements.I know your acting skills put me far away, but we're going to hit it off soon, and when we run the theater ourselves, I think we'll make a good team.And you know I like what you like.I mean, I've never met a woman like you.

(Damn idiot, what's all this nonsense doing? Doesn't he know I'm crazy to just want to marry him? Why doesn't he kiss me, kiss me, kiss me? I don't know if I should tell him, I For him, I suffered from lovesickness.) Michael, you are so beautiful, no one can refuse to marry you! baby! (I'd better get up. He won't know how to sit down. God, how many times Jimmy has taught him to do this scene!) She stood up and looked up to his face.He put his arms around her and kissed her on the lips. I have to go and tell mom. He let go of her and ran for the door. Mommy mommy! Presently the Colonel and Mrs. Gosling came in.Their faces were filled with joyful anticipation. (Holy crap, it turned out to be an elaborate trick.) Mom, Dad, we're engaged. Mrs. Gosling began to cry.She staggered up to Julia, stretched out her arms, hugged her, and kissed her.The colonel squeezed his son's hand firmly with a manly gesture, and pulling Julia out of his wife's arms, kissed her too.He was deeply moved.All these emotions moved Julia, and though she laughed, the tears rolled down her cheeks.Michael looked at this touching scene with deep sympathy. Let's celebrate with a bottle of champagne, okay?He said, I was so excited to see Mamma and Julia. Ladies, God bless them, said the colonel, after everyone's glasses were filled.