are so many in the Bible!

STEEN. Yes, which?—Would there be a whale now to swallow a priest?

BERTEL. Thou goosey! This was no Bible miracle,—it happened there, there, where we see the lights,—hundreds of years ago. (BERTEL has followed HOLGER to the window and STEEN joins them. As he speaks BERTEL slips his arms affectionately round both children and the three stand looking out. At this moment something stirs in the dim shadows that shroud the corner up above the fire-place. Suddenly out of the dark the OLD WOMAN emerges. A tall figure, if she were not so bent, wrapped in a black cloak. There is nothing grotesque or sinister in her appearance, she might have stood for a statue of old age, impressive in its pathos. As she sits on the stool near the fire she throws back the cloak disclosing the plain straight dress of gray beneath. The light of the fire reveals her crouched, swaying back and forth praying silently, her face still shaded by the heavy hood of her cloak. The others gazing intently out at the church do not see her. BERTEL continues speaking) Surely thou hast heard of the Miracle of the Chimes?

HOLGER. I've heard folks speak of it,—but I never knew just what happened.

STEEN. Oh, tell us, Uncle Bertel.

BERTEL. Aye, listen then!—You see the great tower there?—(Both children nod emphatically) It goes so high into the clouds that no one can see it's top!—No one even knows how high it is for the men who built it have been dead for hundreds of years.

STEEN. But what has that to do with the chimes?

HOLGER. Hush, Steen, let uncle speak!

BERTEL. The chimes are up at the top of the tower—and they are holy bells,—miraculous bells, placed there by sainted hands,—and when they rang 'twas said that angels' voices echoed through them.

STEEN. Why doesn't someone ring them now?

BERTEL. Ah, that is not so easy!—They are said to ring on Christmas Eve when the gifts are laid on the altar for the Christ-child,—but not every offering will ring them, it must be a perfect gift. And for all these years not one thing has been laid upon the altar good enough to make the chimes ring out.

HOLGER. Oh, that's what the priest was talking about to mother, then. He said it mustn't be just a fine gift for show but something full of love for the Christ-child.

STEEN. Oh, I want to hear them!

BERTEL. We shall!—The very air is full of holy mystery! The Spirit of Christ will be there in the church to-night! (To HOLGER) Thy cap, boy!

(HOLGER stands wrapt in thought gazing out at the cathedral.)

STEEN. (Taking the cap and cloak from the peg near the door and bringing them down and piling them into HOLGER'S arms) Here they are, old dreamer!—(He turns back up toward the door in such a way that he does not see the silent figure in the corner) And hurry!

(BERTEL too turns toward his left hand and does not see the woman.)

HOLGER. (In a tone of bright happiness, roused from his dreaming) I'm coming!—Nothing can happen to stop us now, can it? (As he says this he wheels to his right in a way that brings the chimney corner in his line of vision. He starts, bends forward staring as the others open the door, then he speaks in a tone that is little more than a gasp) Steen!

(The others stop and stare at him, then in the direction of his look.)

STEEN. Oh!—The Old Woman!

BERTEL. (Looking to STEEN) When did she come in?

STEEN. I didn't see her!

(HOLGER crosses timidly towards her. As he approaches the OLD WOMAN turns her eyes on him and holds out her hands in pitiful appeal.)

HOLGER. What dost thou want, dame?

OLD WOMAN. (In a voice that is harsh and broken) Refuge—from the storm of the world!

HOLGER. Surely thou shalt rest here.

OLD WOMAN. (Half rises stiffly as HOLGER draws nearer) Oh, son, I am so weary and so heavy laden. (She sways and HOLGER runs forward, catching her in his arms and supporting her on the stool. The others stand watching. She sits huddled forward in a position that suggests collapse)

HOLGER. She's faint! (He touches her hands) She's so cold! Quick, Steen, build up the fire! (STEEN goes to the fire and puts on another log, the flames blase up. HOLGER busies himself chafing the woman's hands and covering her with the old cloak that has dropped back from her shoulders) She must have lost her way in the forest.

BERTEL. (Stands watching the woman rather suspiciously, now comes to HOLGER taps him on the arm and draws him a little apart, speaking in an undertone) We have scant time to lose with that old beggar.

HOLGER. What'll I do with her?

BERTEL. Leave her and come on.

STEEN. And come—before it is to-morrow! (He is back by the door, his hand on the latch)

HOLGER. (Turns and looks at the old woman and then back to BERTEL) Oh, I—ought we to go and leave her?

STEEN. Not go?

BERTEL. Go, of course we'll go, she'll warm herself and march along.

HOLGER. But she is ill. (Turns to STEEN with new decision in his manner) Thou shalt go with Uncle but I—must stay with her.

BERTEL. Nonsense, Holger!

HOLGER. No, it isn't!—If we should all go now, the fire would go out and the light,—and she would wake up in the cold darkness and not know where to turn for help.

BERTEL. Na, by Saint Christopher!—Miss a miracle to keep company with a beggar!—Who held her hand before thou camest along? Send her packing and make haste, Holger.

STEEN. Oh, do, Holger!

HOLGER. If there were some place near that we could take her.

BERTEL. There isn't a place on the road,—they've all gone to town long ago. Bid her fare there also!

HOLGER. (Looks at the OLD WOMAN, then at BERTEL, then back to the OLD WOMAN, then he shakes his head) Mother wouldn't treat her so,—she'd be good to her.

BERTEL. Think of what you'll miss! (An expression of anguish passes over HOLGER'S face, but he shakes his head and turns toward the old woman) Well, this is idle talk, thou and I will go, Steen.

STEEN. Oh, come,—let's go!

BERTEL. (To STEEN, but for HOLGER'S benefit) Thou and I will see the King, perchance—The Christ! Thou art stubborn, Holger, I who am older tell thee what to do! (HOLGER shakes his head again) Come, Steen! (He opens the door and goes out)

STEEN. (Following him) Good-bye, Holger.

HOLGER. Good-bye! (STEEN goes out and shuts the door. There is a moment's pause while HOLGER stands staring at the closed door, then he suddenly runs toward it) Oh, wait, wait for me, Uncle, I will go! (He opens the door, starts to go through it, then stops, turns and looks at the Woman, is drawn slowly backward by his gaze and comes in closing the door) No!

WOMAN. (Moaning) The path—is so—steep!

HOLGER. (Goes to her and bends over