es.) Six ... eight ... twelve
... sixteen ... eighteen ... twenty ... twenty-two ...

LENE. That's the number. There are eight sleighs.

AUNT CLARA. Go and open the door of the green room!

LENE (goes off to the left). What _will_ Mrs. Warkentin say to that?

AUNT CLARA. _I_ will attend to that. It can't be helped today. We shall
have to use the rooms for our coffee later.

LENE (returns). She'll make a nice fuss!

AUNT CLARA. Off with you now. They are coming. Take the ladies and
gentlemen into the front rooms until we have the dinner on the table.
Then you can go and call them.

LENE. Very well, Miss Clara. (Quickly off to the right.)

[Short pause, during which AUNT CLARA stands listening. Then
HELLA enters from the right, dressed in black.]

HELLA (with a quick glance to the left, then to AUNT CLARA who has
retreated to the background). What is the matter with my room? Why are
the doors open?

AUNT CLARA. The guests certainly must have some place where they can
relax a bit, later on.

HELLA (nonplussed). In my rooms?

AUNT CLARA. They surely can't sit around in this one place the whole
afternoon. They must take their coffee _some_where.

HELLA (from the left). Why I _do_ say ...! Really! All of my books are
gone!

AUNT CLARA (indifferently). I put things to rights a bit, madam. Why I
_couldn't_ leave them as they were. I took the books upstairs.

HELLA. Upstairs! Very well, then that's where _I_ will go. (Starts out
toward the right.)

PAUL (enters and runs into HELLA). Where are you going?

HELLA. I am going upstairs.

PAUL. _Where_ are you going!

HELLA. Upstairs. I _can't_ find a nook down _here_ today where I might
rest.

PAUL. So you really refuse to dine with us?

HELLA (places her hand on his arm). Spare me the agony, Paul! You know
I can't endure so many strangers. It will give me a headache.

PAUL. Stay a short time at least! Show that much consideration!

HELLA (retreats a step). Consideration ... No one shows _me_ any
consideration!

PAUL (pacing up and down). Nice mess, when not even the nearest
relatives ...

HELLA. Why, you are to be present.

PAUL. But you must be present! I desire it, Hella!

HELLA. And what if I simply _cannot_?

PAUL (plants himself before her). Why not?

HELLA. Because I cannot. Because I hate these feeds!

PAUL (more calmly). That is correct. So do I! But what can we do about
it? It _is_ the custom.

HELLA. Custom, Paul, custo