We talked, across the gangway, about the season, and Hereford, and how pretty we thought it would be in spring. They all talked very loudly, those three, so that the whole of the carriage could and did listen. I have never decided whether actors cannot help talking loudly or whether they think that the unpaying public actually enjoys the privilege of listening to them. A little of each, perhaps. I watched Sophy, and Sophy watched David, and David watched Sophy. Michael watched everyone, and ordered a bottle of British Railways wine because he did so like everyone to be happy and cozy.

“What a lovely start to the season, meeting you like this,” he said from time to time. I could tell that Sophy, in fact, got on his nerves, as I did. David was all right: for one thing, he was a man, and for another thing, he had a certain professional matiness which he did not mind using on Michael’s behalf; but on the whole, as a gathering, we were a little too sharp and silly for his taste.

I noticed that Sophy was not bothering to watch me. I knew why: it was because I had a baby on my knee. You underestimate me, my girl, I said to myself; and when David had finished his dry and tepid chicken I handed Joe over, just to remind her of his paternity, while I attacked the remainder of my meal. David immediately handed him to Pascal, but I could see that the idea had sunk home. “What an adorable baby,” she cried when Joe finally ended up on Pascal’s knee, next to the gangway and next to her. “What’s his name?”

“Joseph,” I said.

“What an unusual name,” said Sophy. “Do you call him Joe? And what’s the little girl called?”

“Tell Sophy your name,” I said to Flora, who stared back at me reproachfully, pausing in her task of eating, one by one, a plateful of peas. “Go on, tell her your name.” Flora said nothing.

“Perhaps she’s shy,” said Sophy.

“Go on, tell her your name,” said David.

“No,” said Flora, and ate another pea.

“She’s called Flora,” I said. “She doesn’t really know what her name is yet. She isn’t two yet.”

“Do you mean,” said Sophy, “that you’ve got two children both under the age of two?”