"Good morning, fair sister. Blue Beard has gone away, and now we can look in his secret room."
"No, Sister Anne, No! I dare not," and Mrs. Fatima shrank back full of fear from the imaginary door. "Urge me no more. I am afraid."
"But, Mother," cried Virgie, with a little squeal of disappointment. "You _have_ to. It's part of the play," and she led her up to the invisible door.
"Now look in--and when you look--drop the keys--an' we'll both scream."
Slowly the door seemed to open and, after an instant's terrified silence, both actresses screamed with complete success. Whereupon Mrs. Fatima dropped to her knees and Sister Anne hugged her tight.
"It's blood. It's the blood of his seven wives. O-o-o-e-e-e!"
"Mercy! What's that?" cried the terrified Mrs. Fatima.
"It's Blue Beard. He's coming back," whereupon Virgie immediately left Mrs. Fatima to face her fate alone.
Having spent a night and a day behind the tree, Blue Beard now rushed upon the castle and roared for his wife.
"Greeting, my lord," said the trembling Mrs. Fatima with a low curtsey "I hope you have enjoyed your journey."
"'Ooman," demanded Blue Beard severely. "What make you look so pale?"
"I know not, sweet sir. Am I, then, so pale?"
"You is! What you be'n up to sence I be'n away? Ha! What I tole you? Look at de blood on dat key! False 'ooman, you done deceib' me. Down on yo' marrow bones an' prepyar to die!"
It was just about this time that old Uncle Billy, with a bridle in one hand and a carriage whip in the other came slowly upon the scene. At the sight of Sally Ann apparently about to assault his mistress the bridle dropped from his hand and with a tight clutch on the carriage whip he covered the intervening space at an amazing speed.
"Hi, dar! You li'l woolly haided imp! You tech Miss Hallie wid dat ar stick an' I bus' you wide open!"
"Oh, stop, Uncle Billy!" cried Virgie in dismay. "We're only having a play!"
"Maybe you is; but I lay ef I wrop my carriage whip roun' her laig, des oncet, she'll hop all de way to de river."
At this dismal prospect, which seemed much truer than the play, Sally Ann began to whimper loudly. "Miss Hallie, ef he stay here, I ain't gwine to play."
"Whar you git dem whiskers at?" demanded Uncle Billy.