(From the depth of the grove behind Dr. Thorne’s cottage,)
Enter Cleo stealthily. (She watches
Dr. Thorne with an expression in
which love, fear, reproach, and astonishment
contend. She makes no
sign, nor in any way is her presence
revealed to Dr. Thorne. Taking a
few steps forward, she touches the
shadow of one arm of the mighty
cross. Cleo retreats in confusion.)
Enter The Child (running down the
path). Papa! Papa! (Points up the
path. Beckons to his father. Points
ecstatically.) Look, look, Papa!
(Dr. Thorne arises to his full height; looks where The Child points.)
(Slowly and solemnly,)
Enter Jesus the Christ. (Our Lord
appears as a majestic figure, melting
of outline, divine of mien, with arms
outstretched in benediction.)
(Cleo at sight of the Sacred Figure wrings her hands in anguish, and makes as if she would flee; but remains gazing at the Vision, as if compelled by forces unknown to her. As the Vision draws nearer, Cleo drops upon her face. Her long hair covers her. All her contours blur into the increasing shadow. The scene is now quite dark, except for the light which falls from the Person of Our Lord. This shall fully reveal The Man, who falls at the feet of the Vision, and The Child, who stands entranced, with his little arms around his father’s neck.)
Dr. Thorne (lifts his hands rapturously). I was blind—But, now, I see! (Accepts and remains in the attitude of worship as manfully as he had refused it.)
(The Sacred Figure stirs, as if to meet the kneeling man; slowly dims, melts, and fades; vanishes.)
End of Scene III.