PLAYMATE. There are other children I must play with—far away from here, where you cannot follow me. But now, when I leave you here, don't forget what I have told you: that you mustn't touch the tree!
ERIC. We'll obey! We will! But don't go away, for it will soon be dark!
PLAYMATE. How is that? Anybody who has a good conscience and knows his evening prayer has nothing, nothing to be afraid of.
THYRA. When will you come back to us, little boy?
PLAYMATE. Next Christmas I come back, and every Christmas!—Good night, my little friends!
He kisses their foreheads and goes out between the bushes; when he reappears in the background, he is carrying a cross with a banner like that carried by the Christ-Child in old paintings; the Angelus bell begins to ring; as he raises the banner and waves it in greeting to the children, he becomes surrounded by a clear, white light; then he goes out.
ERIC and THYRA kneel and pray silently while the bell is ringing.
ERIC. [Having crossed himself] Do you know who the boy was, Thyra?
THYRA. It was the Saviour!
THE OTHER ONE steps forward.