Holger.  Take heart, Steen, perhaps we can go next year.

Steen.  Next year!  Next year I’ll be so old I won’t want to go.

Holger.  Oh, quite old folks go to the Christmas service.  Come, let’s watch the people going down to town.

Steen.  No.

Holger.  The road’ll be full, grand folk! (He crosses to the window)
Come watch, Steen.

Steen.  No!

Holger. (Looking out) Why the road’s all empty again!

Steen. (In a wailing tone) Everybody’s gone!

Holger. (Trying to be brave) They’re lighting the cathedral!

Steen.  I don’t care!

Holger.  Oh, Steen, come see,—­like the stars coming out!

Steen.  I won’t see!  Mother said way last summer that we could go to-night, and now—­(His voice breaks in a sob)

Holger.  She meant it!  She didn’t know that the grandmother would be ill, and she and father’ud have to go to her.  Be fair, Steen!

Steen.  They might let us go alone.  “Too little!” Bah!

Holger. (In a low almost frightened tone) Steen, come here!

    (The tone, rather than the words, take Steen quickly to HOLGER’S
    side.)

STEEN.  What?

HOLGER. (Pointing out the window) Look, by the dead pine yonder, an old woman facing us, kneeling in the snow, see? praying!

STEEN. (In an awed tone) She’s looking at us!

HOLGER.  She’s raising her hand to us!

STEEN.  She’s beckoning!

HOLGER.  No, she’s making the Sign of the Cross.

    (Both boys drop their heads devoutly.)

STEEN.  Who is she, Holger?

HOLGER.  I don’t know.

STEEN. (Drawing back from the window and crossing the room to the fire) Oh, Holger, I’m afraid!

HOLGER.  No, no!  Look, she has turned away,—­she’s deeper in the shadow,—­why, she’s gone! (Following STEEN with all his bright courage bubbling high again, and speaks in a bantering tone) Just some old granny going down to town, and thou afraid!

STEEN. (Recovering also) And thou afraid!

HOLGER.  I was not!

STEEN. (Derisively) Oh-h-h-h!

HOLGER.  Well, I was just a little bit afraid—­lest she might frighten thee. (Steps are heard outside the house.  Both boys start and look frightened again) Hush,—­steps—­coming here!

STEEN. (Backing from the door) The old woman!

HOLGER. (Crosses the room, looks cautiously out of the window, then cries joyously) No,—­Uncle Bertel!

BERTEL. (Off stage) Hullo, there,—­open, Holger!