Tears filled Sarah’s eyes. ‘So would you look ill if you’d lost a child the way I’ve lost Margaret.’

Bill was turning to comfort Sarah when there was an interruption: a group of children walked in with a woman in attendance.

‘Good evening, doorkeeper,’ the woman said briskly.

‘All present and correct?’ Bill asked.

‘No,’ said the woman, ‘one child is ill but we have a replacement.’

She handed Bill a piece of paper.

When they had gone, Sarah asked about the children.

‘Who are they?’

‘Extras used in the cathedral scene. It’s what we call a block booking. The agency they are booked from agrees to send six children a night. If the six engaged turn up then nothing happens, but if one is replaced then the agency sends a chit what I passes on to Mr Smith.’

‘Margaret would be sorry to hear one was ill,’ Sarah said. ‘She talks to the extra children and she’s real good to the little boy who is her page.’

Bill glanced at the agency chit. ‘Name of Simon Flower?’

‘Name of Simon,’ Sarah agreed. ‘I never heard his other name.’

In Margaret’s dressing room Miss Grey and Katie had done what they could to comfort and cheer Liza, but it had been hard work. She was scared of the part and so worried about Margaret that it hurt. However, at last she was made up and dressed and was called for her first entrance.

‘You won’t go,’ she pleaded with Miss Grey. ‘You will be here when I come off.’

‘I will,’ Miss Grey promised.

The moment the door had closed on Liza, Miss Grey jumped to her feet.

‘Stay here, Katie, I shan’t be long. I’m going to get Mrs Melly to make us some sandwiches. I don’t believe poor Mrs Beamish has eaten a thing all day.’

As always happens in the theatre, once the curtain was up, the play became of supreme importance and worry was forced into the background. Except that she had to be careful with her aitches Liza gave an adequate performance and everyone was pleased with her, so that she cheered up, and before the coronation scene, while Ivy, helped by Sarah, was fastening her into her robes, she ate several of Mrs Melly’s very tasty sandwiches.

‘You’ll have to be careful about the entrance, dear,’ Sarah told Liza. ‘As bad luck has it you’ve a new page tonight. That Simon’s off. I was talking to Mr Todd when the children came in.’

‘What’s the matter with Simon?’ Liza asked, for she knew about him, having helped Margaret get food for him.

‘I don’t know, dear,’ said Sarah. ‘There’s a lot of illness about, it’s this treacherous weather.’

Liza felt as if, with Margaret away, Simon was in her charge. ‘If he’s ill I hope Ma Mud’s being good to him. He’ll want feeding up.’

Liza found the usual crowd of extras waiting on the side of the stage. She saw there was a new little boy in Simon’s place.