Unknown by Unknown

worry about her father. She could count his recent attacks on one hand and each one had come on during one of her stepmother’s visits—and now when Alec had come to see them. She was beginning to think that anything that reminded him of the theatre was enough to set him off again, and yet surely that was rather an unworthy thought? It was certainly not something she would care to mention to anyone else.
    Her father felt well enough to get up for supper. Sarah watched him sitting at the other end of the table, his dressing-gown flapping loose around him. He looked quite normal again. His face was more lined than it had been, but otherwise he looked as he had always looked, his puckish, humorous face intent on boning his kipper, with just the same expression that he had when he was working. She wondered if he missed his work and whether he wanted to talk about it. He had never mentioned the theatre or anything to do with it since they had come to Chaddoxboume.
    ‘"You are going to consult Madge about this job of yours, aren’t you?” he said suddenly.
    “I’ll tell her about it when she next comes,” -Sarah compromised.
    Her father looked up. “She won’t be pleased,” he warned.
    Sarah didn’t think so either, but she determined to put a good face on her fears on that score. “I can’t tell her before I start the job. I start tomorrow. Dad, you don’t think Robert is making this job for me, do you? I should hate it if I weren’t going to be really useful to him.”
    Daniel grunted thoughtfully. “Seeing a lot of him, aren’t you?” His eyes ran over his daughter’s expressive face. “By the way, what did Alec Farne want?”
    “He’s worried about that play of his—”
    “Wants you, doesn’t he?”
    Sarah nodded slowly. “But, do you know, I’m not sure that I want to go back to the theatre ever. It’s been like a revelation, coming here. I had no idea that being in the theatre makes one so apart from other people. I suppose it’s because I’ve never known anything else.”
    “Hmm, I’ve always thought theatre people should stick to each other. Fatal to marry outside. They never understand how it eats you up. Look at your step-mother. Imagine if she’d married a doctor—or a solicitor !”
    Sarah chuckled. “The mind boggles!” she agreed.
    Daniel’s face broke into a puckish grin. “Whereas, my dear, you’ve talent enough to go to the top, but you’re not emotionally involved with the life! I’m glad you’re beginning to discover that for yourself!”
    Sarah needed all her ability as an actress when she walked through the orchard and across the Manor gardens the next morning. She was so nervous that her hands had trembled as she had buttoned up her neat, tailored coat. She didn’t strictly speaking, need to wear a coat, but she had decided that it was suitable for a secretary and had dressed accordingly.
    She stood for a long moment outside the front door, tracing out the legend ‘Invicta’ with the toe of her shoe, while she tried to summon up sufficient courage to ring the bell. In the end, she didn’t have to. The door was opened wide and Neil stood in the hall, openly laughing at her.
    “Well, well, you look the part!” he teased her.
    She coloured a little. “It’s important to me,” she began, then she broke off. “I’ve never done this kind of thing before. I didn’t want Robert to think that I wasn’t going to take it seriously! ”
    Neil grinned. “I can see you’re going to give an immaculate performance! Lucky Robert!”
    Sarah almost flounced past him, sadly put out. “I’m not playing a part! ” she assured him tartly.
    “Why not?” he retorted. “I expect to play a part every day of my life, standing up there before a whole lot of small boys and trying to din a bit of knowledge into their heads!”
    Sarah looked uncertain. “But this is real life,” she said.
    Neil’s laughter rang through the house. “Come on, I’ll show you into the study.