(HOLGER breathless with the adventure rises and goes timidly forward out of the gloom of the hut into the splendor of the chancel, looking very small and poorly dressed beside all the great ones.  He holds out his pennies to the PRIEST who bends and takes them with a tender little smile, and HOLGER, crossing himself, too abashed to stand and wait, shrinks back into the darkness and the sheltering arms of the Woman.)

(The PRIEST goes up the steps of the altar and holds the pennies high above his head in consecrating gesture, and as he does so, the organ music breaks off with an amazed suddenness for from above there comes the far triumphant ringing of the chimes, mingled with ethereal voices singing The Alleluia.)

(A wave of awe sweeps over everyone in the chancel and as the PRIEST wheels and gestures them to their knees, they prostrate themselves quickly. HOLGER, too, kneels awe-struck but the woman rises to her full height and stands watching.  From this time on, she withdraws gradually into the deeper shadows of the hut and is seen no more.)

(As they all kneel the Angel enters from the right, ascends the steps of the altar and stands beside the huddled figure of the PRIEST. As she stands there, a single pencil of light shines down upon her from above, a ray of light so brilliant that everything around seems dull in comparision, and while she gives her message, the light above grows till it floods her hair and garments with a miraculous radiance.  The ANGEL smiles at HOLGER and chants in a lovely voice.)

ANGEL.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, it is not gold nor silver nor rich pearls but love and selfsacrifice that please the Lord.  The Christ-Child was hungered and you gave him meat,—­a stranger and you took Him in.

HOLGER. (In an awed tone) But I—­I have not seen the Christ-Child.

ANGEL.  Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these His Brethern, you have done it unto Him! (The ANGEL stands with one hand uplifted, as the music rises in a great crescendo of triumph.  HOLGER, quite overcome, drops his face in his hands and as the climax of the singing is reached, the whole tableau is held for a moment, then blotted out in darkness.)

(There is a pause, then the light on the hearth flares up revealing the boy alone, still on his knees, looking up bewildered at the back wall of the hut, where the vision had been.  Swiftly he rises to his feet and turns to face the Woman.)

HOLGER.  Dame,—­dame!—­The Chimes,—­the star—­did you see? (She is gone, he stares about him looking for her) Gone!  Gone! (The music still rings softly) But the Chimes! (He turns, runs to the window, and flings open the casement.  A soft light, half moonlight, half something more luminous pours in upon him.  He speaks in a tone of infinite happiness, looking upward) The stars!—­God’s Chimes!