SCENE III
TIME: the following Sunday, after church.
PLACE: the churchyard.
| THE GRANDMOTHER. |
| KAREN. |
| THE OLD SOLDIER. |
| THE COACHMAN. |
[The GRANDMOTHER and KAREN come from the church. The OLD SOLDIER stands near the church door. He tries to speak to the Grandmother, but she does not hear him.]
KAREN. Wait a moment, Grandmother! The Old Soldier wants to speak with you.
GRANDMOTHER (turning). What do you want, Old Soldier?
OLD SOLDIER. I want to dust your shoes, madam.
GRANDMOTHER. That is very good of you.
(Old Soldier dusts her shoes).
Thank you; now I will go to my carriage while you dust Karen's shoes.
[She goes.]
OLD SOLDIER. Stretch out your foot, little Karen.
(Karen thrusts out her foot.)
What is this? Red shoes for church?
KAREN. I looked at my old black shoes—
OLD SOLDIER (interrupting). And then at your new red ones?
KAREN (nodding). Yes, and then at my black ones again—
OLD SOLDIER (interrupting). And then put on your red ones!
KAREN. Sh-h! Grandmother must not know.
OLD SOLDIER. She can't hear, for I am talking through my long red beard.
KAREN. Why is your beard so red, Old Soldier?
OLD SOLDIER. To make more light for my eyes—that I may see without looking.
KAREN. See without looking?
OLD SOLDIER (nodding). I was not in the church, yet I saw you clearly when you knelt at the altar and raised the golden cup to your lips.
KAREN (surprised). You saw that?
OLD SOLDIER (nodding). And more—I saw your thoughts.
KAREN. You saw my thoughts?
OLD SOLDIER (nodding). It was to you as if your red shoes passed before your eyes in the cup. Am I not right?
KAREN (showing fear). Y-e-s—
OLD SOLDIER. And I saw by the light of my beard that you forgot to sing the hymns; eh, Karen?
KAREN. Y-e-s—
OLD SOLDIER. And that you forgot to say your prayers; eh, Karen?
KAREN. Y-e-s—
OLD SOLDIER. You were thinking of your red shoes all the time.
KAREN. Y-e-s, Old Soldier.
OLD SOLDIER (holding Karen and stooping until his beard covers her shoes). Cover and touch and change, my beard! Cover and touch and change!
KAREN. What are you doing? Let me go!
OLD SOLDIER (holding her firmly). I am turning your red shoes into dancing shoes!
KAREN. I am afraid of you! Let me go!
OLD SOLDIER (slapping soles of her shoes with hand). Now I have made them stick fast to your feet!
KAREN (calling). Grandmother! Grandmother!
OLD SOLDIER. Now you may go! Ha, ha!
KAREN. Why! I am dancing! I can't stop! Grandmother! Grandmother!
GRANDMOTHER. What is this? Mercy on me! She is dancing down the street! Run after her, Coachman! Quick! Stop her!
COACHMAN (running after Karen). Stop, Mistress Karen! I'm after you!
OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!
GRANDMOTHER (calling after Coachman). There she goes around the corner!
COACHMAN (calling off). I'll get you, Mistress Karen! Just stop a bit!
OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!
GRANDMOTHER. My poor Karen! My poor Karen!
COACHMAN (returning). I couldn't catch her, madam! She danced right out of the town gate!
GRANDMOTHER. Out of the town gate?
COACHMAN. Yes, madam, and straight for the dark wood.
GRANDMOTHER. We will drive after her!
[Coachman jumps to his seat.]
OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!
GRANDMOTHER. Quick, Coachman, quick! We must catch her before she gets to the dark wood. My poor Karen! My poor Karen!
[The carriage dashes off.]