And I saw by the light of my beard that you forgot to sing the
hymns; eh, Karen?
KAREN. Y-e-s--
OLD SOLDIER. And that you forgot to say your prayers; eh, Karen?
KAREN. Y-e-s--
OLD SOLDIER. You were thinking of your red shoes all the time.
KAREN. Y-e-s, Old Soldier.
OLD SOLDIER (_holding Karen and stooping until his beard covers her
shoes_). Cover and touch and change, my beard! Cover and touch and change!
KAREN. What are you doing? Let me go!
OLD SOLDIER (_holding her firmly_). I am turning your red shoes into
dancing shoes!
KAREN. I am afraid of you! Let me go!
OLD SOLDIER (_slapping soles of her shoes with hand_). Now I have made them
stick fast to your feet!
KAREN (_calling_). Grandmother! Grandmother!
OLD SOLDIER. Now you may go! Ha, ha!
KAREN. Why! I am dancing! I can't stop! Grandmother! Grandmother!
GRANDMOTHER. What is this? Mercy on me! She is dancing down the street! Run
after her, Coachman! Quick! Stop her!
COACHMAN (_running after Karen_). Stop, Mistress Karen! I'm after you!
OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!
GRANDMOTHER (_calling after Coachman_). There she goes around the corner!
COACHMAN (_calling off_). I'll get you, Mistress Karen! Just stop a bit!
OLD SOLDIER.
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