‘Only you and I and Jeremy and Winty would know. It was a long run, which is all the Management considers.’

‘Yes.’

Peregrine looked at her notes. ‘Maggie: The Dark Lady. Yes. Shakespeare – Simon Morten? Do you think?’

‘Yes, I do. He’s got a highly-strung manner, a very quick temper and a sense of humour. And with a Shakespeare wig he’d look marvellous.’

‘Better than Barrabell?’

‘I think so, but then I don’t like Barrabell. What little I’ve seen of him.’

‘He’d succumb to the Voice Beautiful, I fear. He doesn’t as Banquo but the Bard himself would be too much for him. He’d begin to sing.’

‘He’s a meanie.’

‘Yes.’

‘I’ve got a riddle,’ Robin shouted.

‘I’m no good at riddles,’ William said doubtfully.

‘Look –’ Crispin began.

‘Shut up, Cip. Your mother and I are talking. Pipe down. Who wants more beef? Anybody? Clear away the plates and tell Doreen we’re ready for her delicious pudding.’

‘Doreen! Pud!’ Robin yelled.

‘That’s really rude,’ said Emily. ‘Crispin, go into the kitchen and ask her properly. And if she doesn’t throw a pot at you it’s because she’s got much nicer manners than any of us. Honestly, Perry, I sometimes wonder where these boys were lugged up.’

‘William, will you have a look at this part and I’ll get you to read it for me before I go down to the theatre.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘You can read it in my study. The boys are not allowed in there.’

And so, for about an hour after lunch William read the first act. There were passages he did not understand and other passages which, though clear enough as far as the words went, seemed meant to convey another meaning from that usually attached to them. But the boy, Hamnet, was plain sailing. He was ill; he was lonely; his mother was too much occupied with a personal resentment to do more than attend impersonally to him, and his father was a starlike marvellous creature who came and went and was adored and vilified.

He began to read the boy’s lines, trying them one way and another until the sound of them seemed right or nearly so.

Peregrine came in, so quietly that William did not hear him. He sat down and listened to the treble voice. Presently he opened his copy of the play and began to feed out the lines. William looked up at him and then returned to his task and they finished the act together.

‘Well,’ said Peregrine, ‘that was a good beginning. It’s three o’clock. Let’s go up to the nursery and see what the others are doing.’