STEEN. (Clinging to him, happily) Oh, Uncle, Uncle, Uncle Bertel!
HOLGER. (Seizing BERTEL on his other side) Uncle Bertel, welcome!
BERTEL. (Tousling their hair and shaking himself loose in pretended dismay) Help, help!—Robbers!—I'm beset!—Gently, youngsters!—(He goes over to the fire and stands warming himself) Brrrrr! It's cold in the forest to-night!—Well, (He faces them genially) why am I come?—Tell me that!
STEEN. (Exultantly) To take us to the Christmas Service?
HOLGER. Uncle! How didst thou know we were not going?
BERTEL. I met a fox—who said—
HOLGER. Oh-h!—Thou hast seen mother and father!
BERTEL. (Draws the stool nearer the fire and sits, the children promptly drop on the floor beside him) By our Lady, yes!—and walking so fast they had only time to throw me a word from the sides of their mouths. "Go up," cried Mother,—"I wist my boys are deep in tears!"—and I, not wishing to see you drown in so much water—
HOLGER. (Patting his arm) Dear Uncle Bertel!
STEEN. (Rising on his knees) Come, let's go quick!