登陆注册
15468300000169

第169章 six 1954-1965 Dane(1)

"Well," said Justine to her mother, "I've decided what I'm going to do." "I thought it was already decided. Arts at Sydney University, isn't that right?"

"Oh, that was just a red herring to lull you into a false sense of security while I made my plans. But now it's all set, so I can tell you." Meggie's head came up from her task, cutting fir-tree shapes in cookie dough; Mrs. Smith was ill and they were helping out in the cookhouse. She regarded her daughter wearily, impatiently, helplessly. What could one do with someone like Justine? If she announced she was going off to train as a whore in a Sydney bordello, Meggie very much doubted whether she could be turned aside. Dear, horrible Justine, queen among juggernauts.

"Go on, I'm all agog," she said, and went back to producing cookies. "I'm going to be an actress."

"A what?"

"An actress."

"Good Lord!" The fir trees were abandoned again. "Look, Justine, I hate to be a spoilsport and truly I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but do you think you're-well, quite physically equipped to be an actress?" "Oh, Mum!" said Justine, disgusted. "Not a film star; an actress! I don't want to wiggle my hips and stick out my breasts and pout my wet lips! I want to act." She was pushing chunks of defatted beef into the corning barrel. "I have enough money to support myself during whatever sort of training I choose, isn't that right?"

"Yes, thanks to Cardinal de Bricassart."

"Then it's all settled. I'm going to study acting with Albert Jones at the Culloden Theater, and I've written to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, asking that I be put on their waiting list."

"Are you quite sure, Jussy?"

"Quite sure. I've known for a long time." The last piece of bloody beef was tucked down under the surface of the corning solution; Justine put the lid on the barrel with a thump. "There! I hope I never see another bit of corned beef as long as I live."

Meggie handed her a completed tray of cookies. "Put these in the oven, would you? Four hundred degrees. I must say this comes as something of a surprise. I thought little girls who wanted to be actresses roleplayed constantly, but the only person I've ever seen you play has been yourself." "Oh, Mum! There you go again, confusing film stars with actresses. Honestly, you're hopeless."

"Well, aren't film stars actresses?"

"Of a very inferior sort. Unless they've been on the stage first, that is. I mean, even Laurence Olivier does an occasional film."

There was an autographed picture of Laurence Olivier on Justine's dressing table; Meggie had simply deemed it juvenile crush stuff, though at the time she remembered thinking at least Justine had taste. The friends she sometimes brought home with her to staya few days usually treasured pictures of Tab Hunter and Rory Calhoun. "I still don't understand," said Meggie, shaking her head. "An actress!" Justine shrugged. "Well, where else can I scream and yell and howl but on a stage? I'm not allowed to do any of those here, or at school, or anywhere! I like screaming and yelling and howling, dammit!" "But you're so good at art, Jussy! Why not be an artist?" Meggie persevered.

Justine turned from the huge gas stove, flicked her finger against a cylinder gauge. "I must tell the kitchen rouseabout to change bottles; we're low. It'll do for today, though." The light eyes surveyed Meggie with pity. "You're so impractical, Mum, really. I thought it was supposed to be the children who didn't stop to consider a career's practical aspects. Let me tell you, I don't want to starve to death in a garret and be famous after I'm dead. I want to enjoy a bit of fame while I'm still alive, and be very comfortable financially. So I'll paint as a hobby and act for a living. How's that?"

"You've got an income from Drogheda, Jussy," Meggie said desperately, breaking her vow to remain silent no matter what. "It would never come to starving in a garret. If you'd rather paint, it's all right. You can." Justine looked alert, interested. "How much have I got, Mum?" "Enough that if you preferred, you need never work at anything." "What a bore! I'd end up talking on the telephone and playing bridge; at least that's what the mothers of most of my school friends do. Because I'd be living in Sydney, not on Drogheda. I like Sydney much better than Drogheda." A gleam of hope entered her eye. "Do I have enough to pay to have my freckles removed with this new electrical treatment?"

"I should think so. But why?"

"Because then someone might see my face, that's why."

I thought looks didn't matter to an actress?"

"Enough's enough, Mum. My freckles are a pain."

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather be an artist?" "Quite sure, thank you." She did a little dance. "I'm going to tread the boards, Mrs. Worthington!"

"How did you get yourself into the Culloden?" "I auditioned."

"And they took you?"

"Your faith in your daughter is touching, Mum. Of course they took me! I'm superb, you know. One day I shall be very famous."

Meggie beat green food coloring into a bowl of runny icing and began to drizzle it over already baked fir trees. "Is it important to you, Justine? Fame?"

"I should say so." She tipped sugar in on top of butter so soft it had molded itself to the inner contours of the bowl; in spite of the gas stove instead of the wood stove, the cookhouse was very hot. "I'm absolutely iron-bound determined to be famous."

"Don't you want to get married?"

Justine looked scornful. "Not bloody likely! Spend my life wiping snotty noses and cacky bums? Salaaming to some man not half my equal even though he thinks he's better? Ho ho ho, not me!"

"Honestly, you're the dizzy limit! Where do you pick up your language?" Justine began cracking eggs rapidly and deftly into a basin, using one hand. "At my exclusive ladies" college, of course." She drubbed the eggs unmercifully with a French whisk. "We were quite a decent bunch of girls, actually. Very cultured. It isn't every gaggle of silly adolescent females can appreciate the delicacy of a Latin limerick:

同类推荐
  • 词谑

    词谑

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 释名

    释名

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 让德公祠勒石诗章

    让德公祠勒石诗章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说无上处经

    佛说无上处经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 子华子

    子华子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 不是所有人都叫林小夕

    不是所有人都叫林小夕

    “小冰子,快来服侍本猫猫入寝”西西穿着一身蕾丝睡衣,雪白的肌肤若影若现,手从胸前滑下来到那片山丘地带.......
  • 主宰封神

    主宰封神

    【封神演义】之中,所有人最害怕的一句话估计就是:“我送道友上榜!”在这个世界,无数修仙之人抱着陆压的大腿道:“伟大的鸿蒙诸天至高神圣主宰啊,给个机会让弟子上【大道封神榜】吧!”顺则成神,逆则成仙!升仙界中,所有修行者都为成仙而努力。但是,天资再高,也有劫难,一百名有望成仙的天骄,有九十九位要倒在长生仙门之前,被劫难化做飞灰。那么,当无灾无劫的神道出现之后……
  • 冷冷态度:公主恶魔的婚后事儿

    冷冷态度:公主恶魔的婚后事儿

    他,帅气,多金,高冷,腹黑,世界500强黎氏集团继承人。她,美丽,可爱,天真,呆萌,世界500强楚氏集团继承人。门当户对的他们商业联姻在一起,却没有一丝感情,直到那一次。。。
  • 血战丧尸城

    血战丧尸城

    士杰克公司里,一种恐怖的病毒快速地扩散开来。接触到这种病毒的人无一幸免地变成了丧尸,继而攻击人类,传染病毒。丧尸横行,全城紧急封锁,世界变得暗无天日,天灾降临,又有谁能阻挡?
  • 一生逍遥之逍遥时空帝

    一生逍遥之逍遥时空帝

    一生逍遥,一生萧瑶!瑶儿,虽然你是最高级的封号时空帝。但是,我,姬玄,一定会用生生世世来守候你,还有属于我们的爱情!萧瑶,我爱你,生生世世!我愿我们:一生逍遥!
  • 爆萌女仙:龙太子我不负责

    爆萌女仙:龙太子我不负责

    慕笑作为一个神仙,她是既高兴又不高兴的,高兴的是她当了一个高大上的职位-守护神;不高兴的事,当的是一颗蛋的守护神!一颗比自己早出生九年距现在已经一百多年了可还是一点反应都没有的龙蛋。这还不是重点,重点是她守着这颗蛋又过了一百多年终于裂开了,并出来个帅气的赤果果金发碧眼少年。“作为看到我身体的人,你是选择对我负责呢还是对我负责呢?”金发碧眼少年对着慕笑道“什么玩意?如果看到你身体就得对你负责那还有好多神君都得对你负责呢!”慕笑翻白眼,他以为她多乐意看到他的身体啊?再说当时她都不知道神游去哪了好么!“但你是第一个”“…”好吧少年你赢了
  • 天鼎狂少

    天鼎狂少

    血海深仇,促使袁卓回到都市,为报血海深仇,袁卓毅然决然踏上复仇之路。一手成立军工大鳄盘古集团,塑造传奇天鼎帝国,他狂妄一生,动怒血流成河,为复仇登上巅峰,看袁卓如何书写属于自己的传奇。
  • 天价傻妃要爬墙

    天价傻妃要爬墙

    情痴装得再像,也逃不过本小姐的火眼金睛。一朝穿越,曾经那个为了虚情假意的挚爱,任人欺凌的傻子谢三小姐,已经彻底的死透了。如今谁敢再说她是个傻子,谁敢再说她丑得想吐,谁敢再不把她当人看?!新婚之夜,渣女算计,渣男阴险,她面不改色,以牙还牙:“王爷……新婚之夜你睡了我家狗狗,又不给名分,你这么流氓,你家皇帝老子造吗?”?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 魔门之首

    魔门之首

    五千年前,宇皇定九州,两千年前,秦王一统天下。而如今,他抓住了一把刀,就像是握住了天下,宁死不松手...
  • 你看阳光多温暖

    你看阳光多温暖

    有时候,他宁愿相信自己是命中注定要和这个女人捆绑在一起的。他想,这辈子,他要给她所有的阳光,驱散她所有的阴霾。她来,像梦那样短,她走,像时光那样长,所以,这辈子,他不想放开她的手。