_Clar._ Courage, my dear children! about it! Thank God, we have got rid of that fashionable trumpery. Set the table again there in its place.-- So!---how glad I am to behold my old friends again! _Fred._ We shall have a comfortable repast on that table to night. _Clar._ As Jack is to be one of the party, O yes! _Gern._ I hope his change is right earnest; but I can scarcely believe it. _Clar._ No reflections, dear Gernau! What is past ought to be forgotten. _Gern._ But I must remove hence for all that. _Clar._ Why, perhaps not. Jack will now employ his power to some good purpose. _Fred._ I wonder where he stays so long. _Clar._ He is dissolving the partnership of sin with Reissman. _Gern._ I wish it may be done in writing. _Clar._ I have insisted on his having a conversation with him. SCENE VII. Enter SOPHIA. _Clar._ Whom have I the honour to--(Bows, and all the rest rise.) _Soph._ Without ceremony, my friends, _Fred._ It is Miss Reissman, father! _Soph._ Give me leave to wait for your son, Sir, who is to introduce me to your acquaintance, (To Frederica.) We have seen one another already. _Clar._ Miss Reissman? So--(with a smile.) The daughter of Mr.----; do not take it amiss. _Soph._ What? _Fred._ Father, let it rest there. _Clar._ Yes, yes! We do not like to mention any thing about it. You, you are welcome wherever you go; and so you are to me, God knows! Sit down here near an old man, if you have no objection. (Gern. reaches her a chair.) _Soph._ I know how to value the honour of this seat. _Clar._ You have a good opinion of my son. _Soph._ Yes, good Sir. _Clar._ He is rather in an odd predicament to day; but I hope things will take a better turn. _Soph._ I sincerely hope so, good father. SCENE VIII. Enter Privy Counsellor CLARENBACH. _P. Coun._ I am happy to find you, Sophia, by the side of my good father, hand in hand. What an enchanting picture in my eye! love, worth, and affection, hand in hand! my Sophia beneath the same roof under which I was born! _Soph._ Yes; and I read in your eyes that you were pleased to see me here. _P. Coun._ (kissing her hand.) God is my witness, this moment is the happiest of my life; happiness has been a stranger to my heart this long time. _Soph._ (rises.) Let peace and happiness dwell in this house henceforward; the good intelligence which I intended to bring about between father and son, between brother and sister, and friend, has taken place Without any interference;--so much the better! _Clar._ Ay, I see that your good intentions were in my favour. They were good I see,--I thank you for them. Give me your hand, sweet creature! (shaking her good naturedly by the hand.) Blessed is the man who is doomed to have you for his wife. _Soph._ Happy is that son who has such a father! (She leads the son up to the father, and they embrace.)