Nick and Cecily stay for a while longer at the dinner, Nick singing for the assembly when urged. Then he and Cecily make their way in the twilight to the Attwood's cottage, where his parents are waiting. At long last, Nick is reunited with his mother: And after a while, "Mother," said he, and took her face between his strong young hands, and looked into her happy eyes, "mother dear, I ha' been to London town; I ha' been to the palace, and I ha' seen the Queen; but, mother," he said, with a little tremble in his voice, for all he smiled so bravely, "I ha' never seen the place where I would rather be than just where thou art, mother dear!"
As Cecily and Nick wander dazedly down the street away from his home, they suddenly hear a voice calling Nick's name. It is Susanna, William Shakespeare's daughter, and she runs up to the two children saying that her father has been searching for them all the way from London. She draws them into the house where they find Will Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and several other of their literary friends who greet Nick and Cecily joyously, having feared them lost. Will asks after Nick's mother and Nick tells him sorrowfully that he hasn't seen her because his father has disowned him and banned him from their home. Hot-headed Ben Jonson vows to go knock some sense into Simon Attwood but Will discourages this plan, pointing out that it will only cause more trouble and do nothing to reconcile Nick to his family. Johnson suggests that they take the children in, pointing out that Nick would be a valuable addition to the theater. Will asks Nick what he wants and the boy brokenly says that he wants to see his mother. This causes one of the Will's friends- John Combe, a local businessman- to go to the tannery to talk to Nick's father. Their meeting is a long one which apparently becomes heated, because when Combe emerges from the tannery he is dripping with vat liquor. Simon Attwood also exits the building, likewise dripping. He calls after Combe, however, and asks him to shake hands. Combe does so, then walks home with a smile on his face to change into dry clothes. Simon on the other hand, walks to the river and sits there for a long time, wrestling with his thoughts. After hours have passed, Simon gets up and goes straight to William Shakespeare's house, arriving while he and his friends are at dinner. Nick and Cecily are also there; it is a merry party, but the laughter stops abruptly when Simon is shown in by a servant. The tanner finds himself the recipient of a lot of unfriendly glares. Will coolly asks him his business and Simon brokenly says that he wants his son. He asks Nick to come home- if not for him, then for his mother. Nick's warm heart is quick to forgive but he hesitates, asking his father if he will also make Cecily welcome. Simon agrees, saying that they don't have much but will take in Cecily as family, sharing what they have with her. The mood in the room has lightened considerably with the tanner's obviously humbled and heartfelt behaviour. Will and Ben Jonson confer, and then Shakespeare brings forth two heavy sacks. Will explains that after Gaston Carew was condemned, he met with him as requested. Carew sent his love to Cecily, begged forgiveness once more of Nick, and told Will of a place in his house where he had stowed away a cache of money in case of emergency. One of the bags has Cecily's name on it and the other has Nick's, addressed in Carew's handwriting. There is plenty of money in them to ensure that both the children can be well raised and cared for. A changed man, Simon asks forgiveness of Will, saying that he has often wronged him and Shakespeare warmly invites him to stay for dinner. Simon tells him though that he is going to go to his house and tell his wife that Nick is coming home. He does so, and for the first time in a long time tells her that he loves her. Nick and Cecily stay for a while longer at the dinner, Nick singing for the assembly when urged. Then he and Cecily make their way in the twilight to the Attwood's cottage, where his parents are waiting. At long last, Nick is reunited with his mother: And after a while, "Mother," said he, and took her face between his strong young hands, and looked into her happy eyes, "mother dear, I ha' been to London town; I ha' been to the palace, and I ha' seen the Queen; but, mother," he said, with a little tremble in his voice, for all he smiled so bravely, "I ha' never seen the place where I would rather be than just where thou art, mother dear!"
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