‘How mean,’ thought Margaret, ‘why shouldn’t she laugh?’ So she faced Mr Smith with her chin high and her eyes blazing. She did not need her script for that scene, so she threw it on the stage and with fury turned on Mr Smith.

After that speech Sir John called out something which Mr Smith did not hear so he went to the footlights where he could hear more clearly.

‘I’m coming down, Tommy,’ Sir John said. ‘I don’t need to hear any more.’

Sir John came on to the stage through an iron pass door. He came straight to Margaret and took her hand in his.

‘Well done, dear,’ he said. ‘You will have to work very hard but I am sure you can do it. The part is yours.’ Then he turned to Tommy. ‘Is Miss Grey here?’

‘I’m here,’ Miss Grey’s voice answered. ‘Come up, dear, and of course you too,’ she said to Sarah. ‘And we’ll see what we have that will fit.’ She had been warned by Tommy Smith about Margaret’s horror of receiving charity. ‘I hope I have picked out frocks you will like, Margaret.’

‘And a coat?’ Sarah asked anxiously.

‘And some coats,’ Miss Grey agreed, ‘and anyway, even if you don’t like the clothes, dressing up is always fun, isn’t it?’

Alone on the stage Sir John clasped Tommy’s hand. ‘It was the laugh that settled it. Anyone who can laugh like that on a partly-lit stage wearing an old jersey and skirt …’

‘And black boots,’ Tommy reminded him.

‘And black boots,’ Sir John agreed, ‘has the makings of a fine actress.’

Upstairs in Katie’s bedroom six frocks and three coats and some hats were awaiting Margaret’s approval. But first Miss Grey introduced the two girls to each other.

‘Did Papa give you the part?’ Katie asked, and when Margaret nodded, she turned proudly to Miss Grey. ‘I told you he would. I heard him singing in his bath and he only does that when he’s found a new actor or actress for his company.’

‘What are you doing about lessons?’ Miss Grey asked.

It was Sarah who answered. ‘We shall have to move. We’re staying with my sister near Drury Lane but it’s a small room and she’s stout, and I’m not what you’d call willowy, so we’ll have to move on and then Margaret’ll go to the school that’s nearest.’

‘Are there a lot of children in the play?’ Miss Grey asked.

‘No,’ said Margaret. ‘I suppose I’ll have an understudy.’

Katie broke in: ‘In the cathedral scene at the end there are children, choirboys and little Grand Dukes and Duchesses, people like that.’

Margaret was surprised. ‘Then you’ve read the play?’

The girls had moved away from Miss Grey and Sarah.

‘I read them all,’ Katie whispered. ‘Uncle Tommy lends them to me. This play, of course, I read and reread because Papa wanted me to be Anastasia but Mama would not let me. She doesn’t want me to be an actress. But I will be some day.’