william-somerset-maugham-theatre

ured it with satisfaction. Her brain seemed miraculously lucid. "Roger says we don't exist. Why, it's only we who do exist. They

are the shadows and we give them substance. We are the symbols of all this confused, aimless struggling that they call life, and it's only the symbol which is real. They say acting is only make-believe. That make-believe is the only reality."

Thus Julia out of her own head framed anew the platonic theory of ideas. It filled her with exultation. She felt a sudden wave of friendliness for that immense anonymous public, who had being only to give her opportunity to express herself. Aloof on her mountain top she considered the innumerable activities of men. She had a wonderful sense of freedom from all earthly ties, and it was such an ecstasy that nothing in comparison with it had any value. She felt like a spirit in heaven.

The head waiter came up to her with an ingratiating smile. "Everything all right, Miss Lambert?"

"Lovely. You know, it's strange how people differ. Mrs. Siddons was a rare one for chops; I'm not a bit like her in that; I'm a rare one for steaks."

Commentary

p. 4. Chippendale - elegant style of furniture of the 18th century

Nemo me impune lacessit (bat.) - Nobody can offend me without impunity

p. 5. Homburg - man's hat with curled brim p. 12. K.C. - King's Councel (lawyer's title) p. 15. beaute du diable - devilish beauty p. 16. laudable - praiseworthy

p. 24. indiarubber - (here) smooth

p. 25. before you could say knife - very quickly, in a moment p. 27. paragrapher - (here) newspaper observer

p. 39. stucco - (here) covered with plaster or cement

p. 42. footman - liveried servant for attending at door or table p. 43. pop - bubbling alcoholic drink

p. 47. pop up - drop in for a moment p. 50. ninepins - kind of skittles

p. 57. bob - small coin of five pence tight-wad - pack of banknotes

p. 59. care two straws - care only a little

p. 60. ortfan-grinder - player of mechanical organ p. 62. G.H.Q. - General Headquarters

p. 69. notoriety - unfavourable fame p. 71. - see page 4

p. 72. Vous Vavez voulu, Gerges Dandin (Fr.) - You wanted this, Georges Dandin.

My daughter, she's the greatest actress in England

p. 228. crochet - make needlework in which yarn is looped into pattern of stitches by means of hooked needle

sou - French five-centime coin

p. 230. tisane - barely-water (decoction)

soutien-gorge (Fr.) - bra, brassiere

p. 231. c'est de la folie (Fr.) - that is stupid

c'est vraiment pas raisonnable, ma fille (Fr.) - that is really not reasonable, my daughter

en bross - brush-like

p. 233. takings - money taken in business

p. 234. be at one's beck and call - be at one's service immediately upon request

p. 237. bis dat qui cito dat (hat.) - immediate gift has double price p. 253. scone - small soft cake of flour

p. 254. port-looking - saucy, impudent p. 259. cantankerous - quarrelsome p. 266. obsequious - servile

p. 275. verisimilitude - appearance of being true p. 276. dress-rehearsal - final rehearsal

p. 286. latchkey - key of outer door

p. 287. denouement (Fr.) - final resolution in play

p. 296. put spoke in one's wheel - hinder one's purposes stage-hand - person handling scenery in theatre

p. 297. harridan - bad-tempered old woman

p. 299. bonnie bairn (Scotch) - good-looking child