LILJEKRONA. (_Ignoring it, and meeting her glance with a steady gaze_) “And if any man hear my voice and will open the door, I will come in and sup with him, and he with me.” Your candles are too late. The door is closed. The voice is gone. (_Rises and exits slowly to his room._) OSWALD. (_After a pause_) Why did Father go away, Mother? HALLA. Is it anything the matter with the punch, Ma’am? OLGA. (_Hesitating_) No, Halla, it’s not the punch--I think he’s not--very happy---- SIGURD. Won’t he come back, Mother? Who will tell us stories? (_Wild music is heard from_ LILJEKRONA’S _room. It rises and falls in passionate rushes and casts a spell over those who listen_.) OLGA. (_Rising suddenly at the sound_) He is playing. Why--he has not played like that since he came home. It is his great heart full of revolt from all that is small about us. “You thought to bind me,” he is saying, “you thought to make me as small-minded as yourselves.” Oh, I was wrong! I thought to shut out unhappiness, but with it I have shut out love. To-morrow he will be gone, if God does not work a miracle in the night. (_She sinks into her chair and covers her face with her hands. The boys sit quite still and look with awe at their mother._ HALLA _wrings her hands in a half-understanding and miserable way_.) (_Sleighbells are heard._ HALLA _goes to the window_.) HALLA. It must be Torstein come back again at last. No, there are two of them. And yet that’s Torstein. He’s getting out. He’s helping the other. (_In a tone of horror._) Why, it must be Ruster with him! OLGA. (_Until now heedless, looking and drying her eyes_) _Ruster_, did you say, Halla? Has Ruster come back again? (_She approaches the window and looks out._) Surely it is he! (_She opens the door. The two men enter. They are covered with snow._ TORSTEIN _is blue with the cold, and_ RUSTER _seems half-frozen. His mustache hangs down over his mouth. He leans on_ TORSTEIN. _The children jump up from the floor._) Ruster, you are welcome back to Lofdala. (_She loosens his coat and leads him, with_ TORSTEIN’S _help, to the fire_. HALLA _draws up the armchair into which_ RUSTER _sinks weakly. The children watch._) TORSTEIN. (_Apologetically_) I had to bring him back, Ma’am. At every house they were either going away over Christmas, or were crowded with company. They didn’t even ask him to get out of the sledge. And the snow was so thick I thought we’d both be frozen. OLGA. You did well to bring him, Torstein. (_She rubs_ RUSTER’S _hands to give them life_. TORSTEIN _stands by the fire_.) Halla, is the punch still hot? HALLA. Yes, Ma’am. OLGA. Then pour out a glass. It will warm him. (HALLA _pours out two glasses. One she gives to_ TORSTEIN, _the other_ OLGA _holds to_ RUSTER’S _lips_.) TORSTEIN. (_Smacking his lips_) Um! That puts life into you! (_Sets down his glass._) Well, I must drive the horses around, or they’ll be drifted in.