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 begins to grow behind him. The smoke-grimed back wall of the
hut has vanished and in its place appears a vision of the cathedral
chancel.--One by one objects emerge from the darkness. The light
touches the golden altar, the gleaming appointments upon it, the
jewel-like tones of the stained glass window above, and the rich
carpet under foot; it shows the marble arches at the sides and
shines softly on the robe of the kneeling_ PRIEST. _As the dim
vision grows to clearness, so the music comes nearer and swells
forth softly into the Christmas processional. Unconscious of it all_
HOLGER _looks up at the_ WOMAN, _his face swept with despair_.)

HOLGER. Oh, it's no use! I'd rather be all blind and never see than miss
the vision that the Christ will send!

WOMAN. (_Gazing at the vision_) Look, look what comes!

HOLGER. (_Staring at the woman's face illuminated by the light from the
chancel_) Dame! (_He turns to see where the light comes from and the
vision meets his eye_) Oh-h-h-h! (_He crouches back at the_ WOMAN'S
_feet, held spell-bound by the sight. As the music changes the_ PRIEST
_rises slowly to his feet, faces the congregation and makes a gesture of
approach. The voices of the choir join the music, and from the left side