Lambert: What Happened?

I realize this has been discussed on numerous other websites, but I have never been satisfied with theories and I was just wondering what ideas are out there. The first time I saw 'Alien', this scene shook me to the core. The second time I watched it, I realized that I hadn't seen anything!! R Scott brilliantly hid it from us and just let us hear Lambert's nightmare inducing screams. Then we see her legs (or maybe arms) dangling with blood running down them. She was clothed and wearing shoes. Lambert was the first human female the Alien had encountered. My question is obvious, did it just kill her, or something much, much, worse?!?! Btw, I can't sleep waiting for this film!!!!!! AAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!