SCENE: _The living-room of_ LOFDALA, _a Swedish manor house. It is the afternoon before Christmas and the room has an atmosphere of comfort and warmth; outside it is snowing. To the left is a large Swedish fireplace, with its hanging black chimney-hood, crane and shining kettles. A high wooden bench, a table and armchair are drawn close to the fire. A heavy, iron-hinged door opens outdoors at the center back. On either side are windows. At the left a door leads into the kitchen, and at the right a flight of stairs leads to the bedrooms. By the stairs stands a Christmas tree as yet unlighted. There is a music cabinet against the back wall, left; and an oblong table at the right; a carved wooden chest stands beside the fireplace._ TIME: _about 1890_. OLGA _is discovered arranging candles on the tree. She is slender and moderately tall, with large eyes and rich dark hair braided about her head. She wears Swedish holiday dress._ (_Enter_ OSWALD _and_ SIGURD, _running downstairs with their hands full of cotton. They are six and four years old_, OSWALD _being a little the taller. They are bright-faced, tow-headed little boys, and are dressed in their embroidered holiday suits._ OSWALD _stops halfway down, and leaning over the banisters drops bits of cotton on the tree_.) OSWALD. See, Mother, it’s snowing. SIGURD. Look, Mother--it’s snowing. (_Turns at the foot of the stairs and runs back to_ OSWALD.) OSWALD. Don’t make such big flakes, Sigurd. SIGURD. But I’m making it snow hard. OSWALD. Oh, look, that fell on a candle. OLGA. We need some more snow over here. Come down and make it snow on these branches. OSWALD. But, Mother, we need some most on this side--like this. SIGURD. Where is Father? OLGA. He has gone out with Torstein in the sledge to gather green boughs to make the house look like Christmas. SIGURD. It’ll soon be Christmas, Mother. When can we light the candles? OLGA. When Father comes home. Have we used up all the snow, Oswald? OSWALD. Yes, I will get some more. (_Starts upstairs._) Oh! (_Draws back as he discovers_ RUSTER, _who has just entered and is standing on the landing. He is unkempt and his shabby, black coat is buttoned up to his chin. His eyes are small and blurred and his dark hair stands out like a cloud about his head. But he is not wholly unattractive. His features are well-formed and his black mustache is twirled at a proud angle. He carries his music pen and manuscript. His voice is cracked and harsh._) OLGA. (_Looking up_) Why, Ruster! RUSTER. (_Shivering_) I thought you might be having punch. My bones are frozen working up in that cold room. It would take a taste of hell-fire to warm me up. (_Drinking from his flask._) OLGA. (_Turning toward the boys--raising her hand as if to silence_ RUSTER) The punch has not been made yet, Ruster. Children, have you forgotten your Christmas cookies? Halla will help you make them if you run out to her.