M. Ich liebe Dich, ich liebe Dich!  Ah, ich bin so glucklich dass ich nicht schlafen kann, nicht lesen kann, nicht reden kann, nicht—­

A. Und ich!  Ich bin auch so glucklich dass ich nicht speisen kann, nicht studieren, arbeiten, denken, schreiben—­

S. (To Wirthin—­aside.) Oh, there isn’t any mistake about it —­Gretchen’s just a rattling teacher!

Wirthin. (To Stephenson—­aside.) I’ll skin her alive when I get my hands on her!

M. Komm, alle Verliebte! [They jump up, join hands, and sing in chorus—­] Du, Du, wie ich Dich liebe, Du, Du, liebest auch mich!  Die, die zartlichsten Triebe—­

S. (Stepping forward.) Well! [The girls throw themselves upon his neck with enthusiasm.]

The girls.  Why, father!

S. My darlings! [The young men hesitate a moment, they they add their embrace, flinging themselves on Stephenson’s neck, along with the girls.]

The young men.  Why, father!

S. (Struggling.) Oh, come, this is too thin!—­too quick, I mean.  Let go, you rascals!

Geo. We’ll never let go till you put us on the family list.

M. Right! hold to him!

A. Cling to him, Will! [Gretchen rushes in and joins the general embrace, but is snatched away by the Wirthin, crushed up against the wall, and threatened with destruction.]

S. (Suffocating.) All right, all right—­have it your own way, you quartette of swindlers!

W. He’s a darling!  Three cheers for papa!

Everybody. (Except Stephenson, who bows with hand on heart) Hip—­hip —­hip:  hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!

GR.  Der Tiger—­ah-h-h!

Wirthin.  Sei ruhig, you hussy!

S. Well, I’ve lost a couple of precious daughters, but I’ve gained a couple of precious scamps to fill up the gap with; so it’s all right.  I’m satisfied, and everybody’s forgiven—­[With mock threats at Gretchen.]

W. Oh, wir werden fur Dich sorgen—­dur herrliches Gretchen!

GR.  Danke schon!

M. (To Wirthin.) Und fur Sie auch; denn wenn Sie nicht so freundlich gewesen waren, krank zu werden, wie waren wir je so glucklich geworden wie jetzt?

Wirthin.  Well, dear, I was kind, but I didn’t mean it.  But I ain’t sorry—­not one bit—­that I ain’t. [Tableau.]

S. Come, now, the situation is full of hope, and grace, and tender sentiment.  If I had in the least poetic gift, I know I could improvise under such an inspiration (each girl nudges her sweetheart) something worthy to—­to—­Is there no poet among us? [Each youth turns solemnly his back upon the other, and raises his hands in benediction over his sweetheart’s bowed head.]

Both youths at once.  Mir ist als ob ich die HandeAufs Haupt Dir legen sollt’—­[They turn and look reproachfully at each other—­the girls contemplate them with injured surprise.]