Why the Chimes Rang | Page 5

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 her_) Didst thou speak, dame? (The WOMAN _does not answer_) Thou art like Grandmother, and I know what Mother would do for _her_! (_Feeling her hands_) Art warmer, dame?--still cold!--The covers aren't very thick. (_He looks about the bare room, sees the old shawl hanging from the peg near the fire, takes it down and spreads it over the woman_) Thou must get warm! (_Goes to the fire and builds it higher_)
WOMAN. (_Still wandering in her mind_) Berries,--yes, find berries.
HOLGER. Oh, thou art hungry! (_He turns to the shelf, takes his own untasted bowl of porridge, brings it to her_) Dame, here is food!
WOMAN. (_Rousing_) Food, give it to me, child, I am dying for food!
(HOLGER _gives her the porridge and sits down on the floor beside her._)
HOLGER. (_Watching her as she devours the porridge_) _Ah, poor soul!_--Why, thou wert starving!--Na, just see!--Mother says that's what makes my little brother so round and rosy, because he eats so much porridge,--you like it, don't you?
WOMAN. It is life itself! (_Her voice has grown young and strong. Sinks back again as she has eaten it all_) Bless thee, Child!
(HOLGER _sets the empty dish aside on the hearth and turns to feel her hands._)
HOLGER. Oh, thou art warm!
WOMAN. Aye, warm! (_In a voice increasingly rich and sweet. At this moment there comes the distant sound of organ music._ HOLGER _straightens suddenly in a listening attitude_) Listen,--is that music?
HOLGER. From the Cathedral!--Aye, it must be,--last summer we could hear it plain, and now with so many thousands there! (_Leaves the woman and stands in the center of the room listening attentively_) It's beginning!--(_Pause_) Everyone is there!
WOMAN. Why are they there.
HOLGER. It's the great service! (_He goes toward the window and stands looking out. He talks on half to her, half to himself_) All the world is there, the village folk, and strangers from afar, great court folk, too,--aye, and the King,--our King! And He will give a gift,--a King's gift! (_She rises erectly and follows him across the room. There is the strength and poise of youth in her walk. The heavy black hood has fallen back revealing a head covering of white linen that suggests a sister of Charity and gives her face a look of austerity and sweetness. She is strong, maternal, beautiful. Intuitively,_ HOLGER, _in his disappointment begins to lean upon her sympathy. The music grows a little louder and floats into the room_) Look, dame, you can even see the windows gleam! It is so near! It's all beginning and--I--am not there! (_A sob creeps into his voice_)
WOMAN. Son!
HOLGER. Aye, dame? (_He turns and comes toward her, she seats herself on the stool near the window, reaches out a hand and draws him down beside her_)
WOMAN. Thou, too, wouldst go? (HOLGER, _too moved by her sympathy to speak, nods silently and puts up a hand to hide the trembling of his lips. She slips her hand to his shoulder_) Another time thou'll go!
HOLGER. (_Fighting back his tears_) It'll never be the same again! To-night the Christ comes. Bertel said--"The Christ!"
WOMAN. Nay, son, pray to the Christ-child, pray that He does not pass thee by! (_She sits facing the back wall of the hut._ HOLGER _kneels before her, and drops his head in her lap. She lays her hand gently upon his hair and makes the sign of the cross above him_)
(_As they have been talking together, the fire on the hearth has burned itself out and the shadows in the room have crept forward and closed around them till only a faint outline of_ HOLGER and the WOMAN _can be distinguished in the glimmer of moonlight shining through the window nearby. There is a long pause broken only by the boy's sobbing which gradually sinks to silence. As he prays, a faint light