Eli (musing): Follow in my steps? Come, thou shalt serve these blind eyes and quench the candles. (Omit this if there are no candles.) (While Samuel puts out the candles, Eli muses.) Follow in my steps? Shall it then be this lad, and not my sons, who shall rule Israel? Come, little lad, thou shalt lie here the night. (He motions to couch on which he sits. Samuel lies down. Eli kneels as though before altar.) O God, God, would that my sons were pure as is this child! Yea, I have reared my sons in folly; now I reap the punishment thereof. Lo, what shall be the end?
(He falls silent.)
(There is a pause; then Samuel half rouses and listens. He runs to Eli.)
Samuel: Here am I, master, for thou calledst me.
Eli: Nay, my son, I called thee not; lie down again.
(He reclines on other couch.)
Samuel (after a pause of about twenty seconds, again runs to Eli): Here am I, master, for thou calledst me.
Eli: Nay, my son, I called thee not; lie down again.
Samuel (lies down for twenty seconds; then he half rises and looks bewildered): He did call me, he did! he did! (He crosses to Eli.) Here am I, master, for truly thou didst call me.
Eli: Not I! (He reflects.) It is the Lord, who speaketh to thee and not to me. Alas, I have not the open vision. Go, lie down, and it shall be if he call thee, thou shalt say, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."