SERGIUS. Well, last night I could not sleep, so I got up and came in here, and just as I was passing by that barrel (_points to barrel up L.C. where_ JACK FROST _is concealed_), I thought I heard a noise. It was like some one rapping on the barrel. Like this. (_Raps on another barrel._) I thought it was a goblin and I never stopped running until I was safe in my bunk with the bedclothes around my head. ANITA. Pooh! I'm not afraid. No leetla goblin man can make-a me afraid. SERGIUS. They do wonderful things on Christmas Eve. But come; let us go to the bottom of the stairs. The ladies and gentlemen are looking down and Tomasso is playing his violin. Soon they will throw apples and oranges down to us, and perhaps money. Come and see. ANITA. No, I'd rather wait here. SERGIUS (_crossing to door at R._). All right, but don't let the goblin man catch you. (_Exits at R._) ANITA. The goblin man! Poof! There is no such thing as a goblin man. In-a Italy we do not have such goblin mans. He said he heard something rap, rap on the inside of the barrel. Poof! Sergius must have been having one beeg, grand-a dream. Never in all my life did I ever hear anything go rap, rap on the inside of a barrel. (_Stands close to_ JACK FROST'S _barrel._) And if I did, I'd think it was a leetla, weeny-teeny mouse. But a leetla, weeny-teeny mouse never could go rap, rap on the inside of a barrel, try as hard as he could. It must have been a dream. JACK FROST (_raps sharply on the inside of the barrel_). ANITA. Oh, what was that? I thought I heard something. (_Goes toward barrel cautiously._) Maybe it is the leetla, teeny-weeny baby mouse. (Rises on tiptoes to peer into the barrel.) I'll just peek in and see. (_Just as she looks into the barrel_, JACK FROST _pops up his head almost in her very face._) JACK FROST. Hello! ANITA (_starting back, very much frightened_). Oh! JACK FROST. Did you say oh, or hello? ANITA. I just said, oh. JACK FROST. Well, then, hello. (_Climbs out of the barrel._) ANITA. Hello. JACK FROST (_goes to her_). You aren't frightened, are you? ANITA (_at R._). Well, I'm a leetla frightened, but not verra much. JACK FROST. Why? I won't hurt you. ANITA. You came up so sudden. I never expected to find a boy in that barrel. And you are such a queer looking boy. JACK FROST. Boy? I'm not a boy. ANITA. You're not? You look like a boy. You're not a girl, are you? JACK FROST (_indignantly_). Well, I should say not! I'm just a kind of a sort of a kind of an idea, that's all. I'm your imagination. ANITA. I hope you're not a goblin. JACK FROST. Oh, no. I'm not a goblin. They're old and have long beards. I'm not old at all. (_Twirls around on toes._) See, I'm even younger than you are. (_Makes low bow._) I'm a pixie. ANITA. And what is a pixie? JACK FROST. I told you before, it's just your imagination. ANITA. You look like a boy. What is your name? JACK FROST. My name is Claus.