Opinion.
I think, in this part Julia showed herself as a crazy and excessively romantic person. She imagined that Michael was an ideal man, and she understood her mistake only after some years. It is quiet obvious that nobody is perfect, but Julia was sure in opposite for some period of time. She created an idol and suffered from it.
Michael again showed himself as a typical “out-of-date” gentleman. He didn’t even notice, that Julia fell out of love with him, and that shows that was living in his own world, made of stupid and ”ancient” gentlemen’s traditions and his business. And in the end of the part both of them were satisfied with each other. They acted with each other like friends, not like conjoints, and thought, that it was normal. That is rather strange for me. Also I am glad, that the author at last finished with the past of Julia and Michael, and next time I’ll read about these two in present time (the time, when the book was written).

Summary.
In this part the author finishes the biography of Michael and Julia. Michael’s work in America was not successful and the man, who had engaged him, refused to sign a new contract with Michael. Gosselyn was really confused, and he had to return home, Julia had strange feelings: she didn’t like, that her love was deeply mortified, but at the same time she was pleasant to see him again. Soon after Michael’s return, he offered Julia to marry him as soon as possible, and that event made Julia more than happy. Michael also decided to move to London.
Julia wasn’t satisfied with her life with Michael, because of his placidity. Michael’s character didn’t change: he remained kind and polite, but Julia wanted love. After some period of time their calm life was disturbed by war. To Julia’s pride and anguish Michael went to war as an officer. His life in army wasn’t really hard, but during the war Michael aged. Julia noticed that, when her husband returned home, and fell out of love with him though he still was rather handsome. Everything that had attracted Julia to Michael, at that time annoyed her. At the same time their business went almost perfect and they managed to get enough money to open their theater. They also moved form a small flat to a modern house, because Julia was pregnant. Time passed, and their theater gave them a lot of money, but Michael’s character was becoming worse and worse, and Julia couldn’t understand, why some years before that she had been full of passion to this man.

Expressions.
1)kick heels - ничего не делать;
2)you don't take care two straws at me - тебе на меня плевать;

Words.
1)languish - вянуть;
2)withdraw - снять с показа(о пьесе);
3)caustic - язвительный;
4)neat - четкий;
5)expense - расход;
6)exultation - ликование;
7)mortify - унижать;
8)fondly - нежно;
9)pallid - бледный;
10)gaiety - веселье;
11)infuriate - приводить в ярость;
12)breezy - оживленный;
13)reproach - упрекать;
14)trench - окоп;
15)imprudent - опрометчивый;
16)cuddle up - прижиматься ;
17)inclination - намерение;
18)ardour - страсть;
19)irritation - раздражение ;
20)mug - простофиля ;

Opinion.
In this part Julia became a victim of her own feelings. Her passion to Gosselyn was reason of her sufferings. More of this, as her director Jimmie Langton said, this situation wasn’t good for her career. Jimmie was sure that Julia could become a world theater star, and Michael was an impediment for her. At the end of this part Jimmie tried to solve this problem. He advised his American partner to sign a contract with Michael, though Gosselyn wasn’t more than a mediocre actor. Of course Jimmie didn’t say truth about his role in this history to Julia.
Julia’s sweetheart, Michael, showed himself as an old-fashioned gentleman. He was handsome, polite, but rather selfish and stupid. Even the idea was opening of his own theater was given to him by Julia. Despite the fact, that Michael asked Julia to marry him, he didn’t really love her, she was just convenient for him. And when he had an opportunity to earn some money far away from Julia, he agreed without thinking, though that was painful for her.

Retelling.
In this part some more information about biographies of Julia and Michael is told to the reader. When Michael joined the troop, Julia had been playing in Middlepool for a year and had already become a local theater star. Because of Gosselyn’s attractive appearance young actress fell in love with him. But Michael accepted all her compliments not exactly with indifference, but as he might have accepted a compliment on a fine old house that had been in his family for generations. They spent a lot of time with each other, but unfortunately to Julia, she was only a friend for Michael. Character of Gosselyn was far from perfect – he was very greedy, but it wasn’t a problem for Julia. All her attempts to charm Michael were not successful.
But one day Julia was invited to Michael’s parents to Cheltenham. Of course she agreed. During this visit, on the first sight, elder Gosselyns were rather kind to her, but Julia realized, that at the same time they were taking stock at her. She used all her talent to receive their sympathy. And her efforts were praised. One evening Michael said to her, that she made a good impression on his parents and asked her to marry him. Surely she couldn’t deny him. And in spite of the fact, that she knew, that he didn’t really love her, Julia was more than happy.Soon all the troop knew about their relations. Michael didn’t hurry to marry, and he was planning to save up some money and to open his own theater. Julia didn’t like this situation, because she wanted to marry Michael as soon as possible. More of this one American manager offered a one year contract to Michael, Gosslelyn agreed. So he was going to leave Julia for a year.

Expressions.
1)thumping lie - наглая ложь;
2)neither borrower nor a lender - не бери в долг и не давай взаймы;
3)a fat lot I care - не моя забота;

Words.
1)flatter - льстить;
2)queer - чудной;
3)asset - ценное качество;
4)anxious - беспокоящийся;
5)vet - ветеринар;
6)inevitable - неизбежный;
7)gossip - сплетник;
8)clench - скрепление;
9)rotten - гнилой;
10)fork out - раскошелиться;
11)excite - побуждать;
12)beam - засиять (про человека);
13)close-cropped - коротко остриженный;
14)courteous - вежливый;
15)quick-witted - находчивый;
16)diminish - уменьшать;
17)distinguished - выдающийся;
18)deprecating - протестовать;
19)embroidery - вышивка;
20)pinch - щипок;

Opinion.
In my opinion, it is impossible to write something essential about the story after reading only a couple dozens of pages. It is just a beginning and serious actions were not performed by characters, so I can’t judge them. Reader only makes the acquaintance of the heroes of the story. But still, personality of Julia is rather interesting for me. In next parts I guess I’ll write something about this character. The other character, young and still unnamed clerk, I guess, is not so simple, and I can try to predict, that he will take part in some important action of the story. Personality of the 3rd character, Julia’s husband Michael Gosslyn doesn’t attract me yet. The story is full of descriptions, so reader can feel the atmosphere of these times.
I can say, that I recognize Maugham’s style of writing and it is rather pleasantly to read his works. Maugham is considered as a classic of world literature, so it is possible to say, that I am not disappointed with my choice of book for home reading.

Retelling.
The story begun, when Michael Gosselyn, fifty two year-old theater worker, met his wife Julia, a successful actress, in a room behind the scene. They had a conversation, and Michael told Julia about his new clerk. He added, that this guy was a devoted admirer of Julia’s talent. Then Gosselyn called his clerk and introduced him to Julia. Afterwards, conjoins decided to invite young man to their house to lunch with them. By the way, his name was hidden form a reader, because even his employer didn’t know his mane.During this visit, clerk was very shy, he smiled stiffly. But notwithstanding his general behavior, he payed some compliments to Julia. After the end of lunch, actress signed her own photograph and presented it to the clerk. Then her husband and the young man went away, and she started looking through her other photographs. After a couple of minutes she was completely in her reminding.
Then author gives small biographies of Julia and Michael to the reader. Gosselyn was mediocre actor, but in the beginning of his career, Michael had met Jimmie Langton, a flippant director, and joined his troupe. Because of this and his wonderful appearance, Gossleyn became rather famous. Julia had a different situation – she was a born actress. She began playing at the age of twelve, and after some period of time she was spotted by Jimmie, and invited her to join his troupe. He didn’t pay lots of money to his actors, but there was something extraordinary in his personality, and Julia agreed. In Jimmie’s troupe future conjoins met with each other.

Expressions:
1)on such business - таким образом;
2)turn his head - вскружить ему голову;
3)something has taken a weight of her mind - что-то стало для неё облегчением;

Words:
1)complacency - самодовольство;
2)sufficient - достаточный;
3)crest - герб;
4)notwithstanding - несмотря на;
5)immensely - чрезвычайно;
6)stiffly - напряженно;
7)upholstered - обитый;
8)hoarse - хриплый;
9)gilt - позолоченный;
10)wistful - тоскливый;
11)bearing - осанка;
12)nerve - смелость;
13)deprecating - неодобрительный;
14)roguish - лукавый;
15)obstinate - упрямый;
16)rubicund - румяный;
17)skip - прыгать на одной ноге;
18)concubinage - внебрачное сожительство;
19)languorous - томные;
20)flippant - дерзкий;