Part 3 (2/2)

OLD MAN. Prompted by caution, which demands darkness--

PEHR. By the glow of contentment's calm light--

OLD MAN. Which they stole from the spice stall, and their delight is in planning the next expedition to the city market. I know it, do you hear!

And up there, in the palace, where the lights glisten by the thousands and mirror themselves in the wines' sour streams--there they roll--empty heads and empty hearts--who say that they think and feel for the people's welfare! There they roll, between bottles and dishes--

PEHR. Why do you talk so fast? Let me continue--

OLD MAN. No! Away with you and obey, boy!

PEHR. Yes, away from here! I want to go out and see the world. I want to see child-faces--even if they can be clouded by envy's cankerworm! I want to taste the fruit of the tropics even if it is worm-eaten! I would drink the wine though it were gall, and I want to put my arm around a maid's waist, even if a bankrupt father does sit at the hearth stone! I want silver and gold--if in the end it is nothing but dross!

OLD MAN. h.e.l.l-fire! who's been here?

A VOICE. Curse not Christmas!

PEHR. What can this mean? It is so strange here to-night--stranger than usual. Father, look at me! Why, that's not his face!

OLD MAN. [Kneeling.] My son! Listen to your father--obey the old man, who wishes you only good; remain within these peaceful walls!

PEHR. It is too late!

OLD MAN. What do I see?--that ring! who gave it to you? [Tries to take the ring from Pehr.]

PEHR. Who are you? You are not my father!

OLD MAN. Your guilty, your unhappy father, who is bound by the witchcraft of the Powers! [Old Man is transformed into a big black cat.]

PEHR. Jesu Maria, help! [Bright rays dart out from Virgin's image; clock strikes twelve.]

PEHR. The witch! The witch! Away, unclean spirit! [Cat vanishes.] And now--[opens tower shutters] for life! [Fingers ring.] To the forest.

[Going through window.] _Out_!

CURTAIN.

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE.

Snow-clad woods; diagonally across stage is an ice-covered brook. Dawn.

Wind blows through the trees as curtain rises. Pehr on.

PEHR. So this is the forest, whither my thoughts have so often flown through the clear air, and this is the snow! Now I want to throw s...o...b..a.l.l.s, as I've seen school boys do. It is supposed to be something uncommonly amusing. [He takes up some snow and casts a few s...o...b..a.l.l.s.]

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