Aldred felt quite excited when Scene III was begun. She managed, without attracting anybody's attention, to take a stealthy peep through the doorway. Yes, there was Nellie, standing quite ready, and horrible enough to make even Aldred jump, though she was expecting to see her. All was in good training, and Lorna was rapidly coming to the fatal lines. She delivered them with her usual lack of fire:
"The key fits well—now, wherefore should I fear?
I will at last discover what's in here!
Bluebeard's a hundred miles away in Spain;
In ignorance no longer I'll remain.
Turn, little key! Ope, door, for good or ill!
Reveal your secret—know I must and will!"
She flung open the door, as she had done at every rehearsal, in an absolutely wooden manner, and with neither interest nor curiosity in her tone; but her expression changed when she saw the vision in the passage, and for once in her life she accomplished a very excellent representation of the part. She shrieked with a horror that was only too natural, and drew back with a face as white as that of the sham ghost outside.
The girls applauded furiously.
"Well done!"
"Good!"
"Splendid!"
"Why, what's the matter?"
"Lorna, are you acting?"
"Oh, I say! Catch her, quick; she's really fainting!"