As squire, Luke followed next. Jack was going to fall in somewhere within the ranks of the players, but Luke pulled him alongside him.

‘We’ll take a day out to enjoy ourselves!’ Luke shouted above the noise. ‘Why isn’t Barbary here?’

‘Too pagan for him,’ Jack bawled back.

‘It’s just a bit of fun!’

Once the two friends caught the gist of the catchy tune they joined in.

Cordelia and Alicia joined the festivities at ten o’clock, wandering through the sideshows and stalls of the fair, watching the street entertainers, avoiding the pedlars and the same unfortunate dancing bear that could be seen on market day in Marazion. A fortune-teller suddenly offered her services to Alicia.

‘Get away from me!’ she screamed. She hated being reminded of the actress in London. The woman had forecast that three people connected to her would die. It made her afraid for her baby.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said to Cordelia. ‘My condition sometimes makes me feel out of sorts.’

‘You need to sit down in comfort,’ Cordelia counselled. She wondered why Mrs Jack had looked so afraid.

They found Luke taking a drink at the trestle tables and benches outside the alehouse, where his gift of half a dozen barrels of ale and jars of rum were set up. Jack was drinking water sweetened with honey. Happy faces, grateful from a break in their hard existence, were to be seen everywhere, and the two men were laughing too.

‘My dears!’ Luke rose gallantly. ‘The weather has done us proud, although it might become a little too fierce for you, Alicia. Sit down with Jack. Mrs Jewell, bring out something for the ladies!’ he shouted through the shanty’s open window.

Cordelia sat and sipped a tot of rum, and watched Luke eyeing the females, many of whom were parading up and down for his benefit. The girls were in white or light colours. Wild flowers were braided through their hair. The women had prettied their best wear with ribbons and lace.

‘It’s a pity they aren’t in a position to really dress up,’ she said, then deliberately leaned on Luke to whisper, ‘I wish I’d thought of it before, I’ve got some old petticoats which could have been cut up for the little girls.’

‘Excellent idea for next year.’ Luke smiled. ‘I’ve decided to start the festivities two days early in future, by introducing a three-day miracle play. I wonder if I could find a band of players among this lot.’

‘You’ll have to write something yourself, Luke,’ Jack said.

‘I could organize the making of costumes, which could be kept at Polgissey and added to each year,’ Alicia interjected, moving about uncomfortably on the hard bench.

‘The people need to be taught new skills,’ Cordelia murmured thoughtfully. ‘Some here even lack the basics in their homes. A school should be set up for the children, perhaps two or three times a week.’