Secretly she triumphed. It was only the beginning in the inevitable recognition of her greatness. It strengthened her belief that she was of the elect, and she rarely ever thought of the "Mary" part with which she was actually to prove herself, but she hurled herself into the development of the other Mary, which should have been hers, by all the laws of right. The two creatures merged--were one. Once or twice at rehearsal, aroused by her cue from some wonderful scene where Mary held the spotlight, she faltered for a second for those barren lines of the real Mary.
"What's the matter with you, Miss Bryce? Keep your mind on what you're doing," warned Jenkins.
She smiled at him. Poor fool! In a few weeks he would be bragging that he stage-managed her first appearance. She could afford to be patient with his bad temper, now.
Dress rehearsal was called and became a fevered memory. The day of the opening Isabelle spent quietly at home, except for a ride in the Park. She was to rest, and have her supper in her sitting room. Wally came in, in the midst of her repast, and fussed about her room.
"I am. I'm so nervous I could scream!" he exploded. "I hate all this notoriety. They say the house will be packed."
"We always like a full house," she said, serenely.
"If you could only be kept in a cage, in the cellar!"
"Poor old Wally! Don't fret. You'll be very proud of me some day."
"Quite. Wally is the only nervous one. Who is coming to dinner, Max?"
"Come along, Wally, she ought to rest. For all our sakes, Isabelle, keep your head and don't make a fool of yourself."
"Much obliged," said Isabelle. "I take it you are wishing me luck."
Wally kissed her cheek, and they went out.
"Poor dears," mused Isabelle, "it will be hard for them to accommodate themselves to my importance."
Then she gave herself up to dreams of triumph until it was time to go. There was excitement in the air at the theatre. Voices were high, and eyes were bright. She was greeted loudly from open doors, as she went to her dressing room. Since the papers had boomed her, her position in the company had changed. Every one was dressed early and little knots of people discussed the big house, the critics, the chances of success for the play. It was a "strong" play, and, so far, the season had offered only trifles. It was too soon to know yet what the public appetite craved.