The understudy
An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.
The audience was settling into its seats, yet Miss Bell's carriage had still not appeared in the theatre yard. The manager sent the doorman into the street to look for her, while anxious voices rose behind the curtain. Margaret remained beside the costume chest. When the warning bell sounded, she took out the heroine's silver cloak and fastened it over her own dress. Next, she opened the prompt book at the first scene and repeated the heroine's opening speech until she could recite it without looking down.
Give two details which show that Margaret is preparing to take Miss Bell's place. You may use your own words or quotations.
456 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE English Language 1.3 Content: prose fiction study requirements, covering 1.3.1 Read challenging prose fiction for the unseen 19th-century extract. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.