The door closed behind him with a great bang, which sounded, however, less like a thunder-clap to Mr. Erin than that concluding sarcasm. He was not aware that a pamphlet had been published that very morning, which pointed out that the spelling of _and_ with an _e_, a practice pursued throughout the ‘Vortigern,’ had been utterly unknown, not only to Elizabethan times, but to any other. When Mr. Erin rejoined his two young people, who were waiting for him with no little anxiety in the next room, there was no need to ask his news. His face told it. Nevertheless, Margaret said, ‘Well, uncle?’ before she could stop herself. ‘It is not well,’ he answered passionately; ‘it is devilish bad.’ ‘But surely Mr. Harris was not uncivil?’ ‘Uncivil? Who wants his civility? Who but a fool would expect it in a theatrical manager? Bring me the play—the “Vortigern.”’ ‘What is the matter now?’ inquired William Henry. His manner, as usual, was imperturbable. Mr. Erin—so great was the revolution wrought in him by recent circumstances—seemed at once to derive comfort from it. ‘Well, it’s very unfortunate, but it seems that an objection has been discovered—insignificant in itself—but which seriously affects its genuineness.’ ‘Indeed? There have been a good many not insignificant objections—and yet it has been generally accepted,’ said the young man smiling. ‘It’s nothing to smile at, I do assure you, if what that fellow said is correct.’ He had the manuscript before him, and was examining it with nervous eagerness through his glasses. ‘Yes, here’s one, and here’s another _and_ with an _e_. Why should Shakespeare spell _and_ with an _e_?’ He looked up sharply at his son, as if asking a riddle of one who has the answer to it. ‘I am sure I don’t know, sir,’ replied William Henry quietly. ‘He spelt things pretty much as he pleased.’ ‘That’s true, that’s true. But just now it’s certainly most disappointing that there should be any hitch. The very stars in their courses seem to fight against us.’ ‘It is an unfortunate conjunction, that is all,’ said the young man, smiling again. ‘The objection of which Mr. Harris speaks may be new, but not the spelling: _and_ was so spelt in the Profession of Faith, for example.’ ‘Indeed! That had escaped my recollection. Come, that is satisfactory. All those, then, who signed the certificate will be with us. It was foolish of me to be so discouraged.’ ‘And did Mr. Harris decline the play on the ground of _and_ being written with the final _e_?’ ‘Well, no, he didn’t decline it.’ ‘He only used that argument, perhaps, in order to get it at a cheap rate?’ suggested William Henry.