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Page 3
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!
(STEEN _and_ HOLGER _make a dash for the door, fling it open and_
BERTEL _enters. He is a jolly robust peasant uncle of early middle
life, clad in rough gray jerkin and hose, with a dark gray cloak
wrapped about him. He so radiates cheer that the room seems warmer
for his presence in it. Nothing to be afraid of about him, the
children adore him._)
STEEN. (_Clinging to him, happily_) Oh, Uncle, Uncle, Uncle Bertel!
HOLGER. (_Seizing_ BERTEL _on his other side_) Uncle Bertel,
welcome!
BERTEL. (_Tousling their hair and shaking himself loose in pretended
dismay_) Help, help!--Robbers!--I'm beset!--Gently, youngsters!--(_He
goes over to the fire and stands warming himself_) Brrrrr! It's cold in
the forest to-night!--Well, (_He faces them genially_) why am I
come?--Tell me that!
STEEN. (_Exultantly_) To take us to the Christmas Service?
HOLGER. Uncle! How didst thou know we were not going?
BERTEL. I met a fox--who said--
HOLGER. Oh-h!--Thou hast seen mother and father!
BERTEL. (_Draws the stool nearer the fire and sits, the children
promptly drop on the floor beside him_) By our Lady, yes!--and walking
so fast they had only time to throw me a word from the sides of their
mouths. "Go up," cried Mother,--"I wist my boys are deep in tears!"--and
I, not wishing to see you drown in so much water--
HOLGER. (_Patting his arm_) Dear Uncle Bertel!
STEEN. (_Rising on his knees_) Come, let's go quick!
BERTEL. Patience, patience, young colt, plenty of time, mother said
something else.
STEEN. What?
BERTEL. (_His eye on the shelf above the fire_) That I should find some
warm porridge for my pains.
HOLGER. (_Springing to his feet_) Why, of course, there _is_
porridge! (_He goes to the shelf_) Nice and warm it is! All ready
for supper. (_He hands the first bowl to_ BERTEL, STEEN _capers
nimbly across the intervening space and seats himself on the side of the
hearth, facing_ BERTEL, _his back to the audience_)
STEEN. Supper! How could we forget supper?--Give me a _big_ bowlful,
Holger.
HOLGER. (_Handing_ STEEN _his porridge_) There isn't a _big_
bowlful here.
STEEN. (_Taking the bowl and hugging it_) Nice kind good supper, umh!
(_Begins to eat eagerly_)
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