“That wouldn’t be hard,” Tom said with a chuckle. He turned to Peggy with a smile of delight. “And you’re the understudy, eh?” Peggy nodded. “Well, well.” He smiled. “Your first real break?”
“With a professional company—yes.”
“I’d like to hear you read sometime.”
Peggy jumped to her feet and began rummaging through her handbag. “Why not right now!” she cried. “We can do the scene between the young girl and her grandfather.”
“We?” Tom exclaimed.
“Well, I can’t do the scene all by myself, can I?” said Peggy, with a quick look at Peter. “Somebody’s got to read the other lines.”
Tom laughed. “All right,” he said. “I’ll humor you. Give me the script.”
“Here,” Peter said, stepping forward. “I’ve got an extra copy. You keep yours, Peggy.” Peter paced over to one side of the room. “Let me explain what the set looks like. We’ll pretend that this is a door. And you’re sitting over there by the fire....”
In a few quick words Peter sketched in the scene for Tom Agate. The old man followed every word, nodding intermittently.
“I see,” he said at last. “Let’s try it.” He looked over at Peggy. “Are you all set?”