nd 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
of the chancel, people begin to enter carrying their gifts_)

(_An imperious looking man, richly dressed in black and gold comes
first, bearing a heavy box. He approaches the altar, kneels and puts
the chest in the_ PRIEST'S _hands, and, that the full value of his
gift may be publicly recognised, he throws back the lid, heaping up
the gold coin with which the box is filled. The_ PRIEST _turns, goes
up the steps to the altar and raises the chest as high as its weight
will permit. The man still kneeling awaits the chimes with superb
selfconfidence. The bells do not ring. Slowly the_ PRIEST _lowers
the gold to the altar, turns, raises his hand in blessing and
dismissal. The rich man rises, looking bewildered at his failure,
crosses to the right and stands near the altar as the pageant moves
on._)

(_The_ PRIEST _turns to the next comer_, A CO