(Robert _bursts into the room and runs to his parents, who stand stiffly before him, embarrassed._) Robert. Good morning. Father!--Good morning, Mother I (_He embraces his mother and repeatedly kisses her hand_) I am--absolutely--inhumanly--happy! Heinecke. "Welcome, beloved son"--(_As_ Robert _bows over his hand he rubs it on his trousers_) You're going to kiss my hand?!! Robert. Certainly, if you'll let me! Heinecke. (_Extending his hand_) Now you can see what a good son he is! Robert. (_Looking about_) And here is where I once--I hardly know--is it really possible?--Or am I actually dreaming still? That would be too bad--Oh,--and the homesickness!--Lord in heaven, that homesickness!--Just think! You sit out there at night in some corner, and everything you have left appears about you, living;--mother, father,--the court, the garden, the factory--and then all of a sudden you see the long palm branches waving over you, or a parrot screams in the distance and you come to yourself and realise that you are all alone at the other end of the world! Brrr! Heinecke. Parrots? That must be nice! Here only the rich folks can have 'em! Robert. Yes, and if you only knew how I worried these last years, and even on the journey home, for fear I shouldn't find everything the way my longing had painted it! Heinecke. Why? Robert. There was a man--otherwise a dear friend, my best friend, too--who tried to prepare me for disappointment. You have become foreign, he said, and you shouldn't try to put together what Fate has separated so long ago--Heaven knows what else he said--and I was almost afraid of him, and you, and myself too! Thank God that doesn't bother me any more; every single thing has come out as I hoped! Everything I had imagined for ten years is exactly as I expected--there is Father--there's Mother, sweet and simple and (_Tenderly_) a bit of a chatterbox! (_Stretching himself_) But what are these two young arms for? Just watch! They've learned to make money!---And the sisters will soon be ready too! Just see!--And here is father's old paste-pot--(_Strokes the paste-pot_) And my confirmation certificate--framed! And the machinery makes the same, dear old noise! Frau Heinecke. You never slept a wink on account of that old machine--eh? It bumps and bangs the whole night! Robert. I was never sung to sleep by a sweeter lullaby, Mother. When I was almost asleep I kept saying: snort if you want, puff if you like, you old horse! Keep at it, but work as you will while I am lying here in bed, _you_ can't do anything for the glory of the house of Muhlingk. _Here_ is a lever that must be reckoned with! Wasn't that a proud thought?--And then my heart warmed for our benefactor. Heinecke. Huh! Robert. What, Father? Heinecke. Aw, nuthin'! Robert. And I have sworn that I won't slacken in his service until I've drawn my last breath! Heinecke. I should think by this time you'd have done about enough for them!