Fersen.  Good to have you home once more.

Rench (going up to George).  Good to see you, Captain, on a day like this.  As Larz Fersen said when we were going to strike, “It’s a fine day for it.”  Well, this is a better day—­you home and well, and the strike off.

George (glancing from one to the other, and then at Asher).  What do you mean?

Rench.  Why, Mr. Pindar—­your father here’s just made everybody happy.  He’s recognized the union, and we’re going back to work.  We’ll turn out machines to make shrapnel enough to kill every Hun in France,—­get square with ’em for what they done to you.

   (They all watch George, absorbed in the effect this announcement has
   on him.  An expression of happiness grows in his eyes.  After a
   moment he goes up to Asher.)

George.  Dad, why did you do this?

Asher.  I’ll tell you, George.  When you came home this afternoon I realized something I hadn’t realized before.  I saw that the tide was against me, that I was like that old English king who set his throne on the sands and thought he could stay the waters.  If—­if anything had happened to you, I couldn’t have fought on, but now that you’re here with me again, now that you’ve risked your life and almost lost it for this —­this new order in which you believe, why, it’s enough for me—­I can surrender with honour.  I’m tired, I need a rest.  I’d have gone down fighting, but I guess you’ve saved me.  I’ve been true to my convictions,—­you, who belong to the new generation, must be true to yours.  And as I told you once, all I care about this business is to hand it over to you.

George.  You’ll help me!

Asher.  This seems to be Jonathan’s speciality,—­science.  But I never give my word half heartedly, my boy, and I’ll back you to my last dollar.  Be prepared for disappointments,—­but if you accomplish something, I’ll be glad.  And if you fail, George,—­any failure for a man’s convictions is a grand failure.

George.  Well, it means life to me, dad.  I owe it to you.

Asher (turning toward Dr. Jonathan).  No, you owe it to him,—­to science.

   (He puts one hand on George’s shoulder, and the other, with an
   abrupt movement, on Dr. Jonathan’s.)

And if science will do as much for democracy, then—­

George.  Then, you’re from Missouri.  Good old dad!

Asher (huskily, trying, to carry it off, and almost overcome by emotion at the reconciliation).  I’m from Missouri, my boy.

Dr. Jonathan.  Then you’re a true scientist, Asher, for science, too, waits to be shown.

   (Asher goes out, lower right.  Dr. Jonathan, evidently in support
   and sympathy, goes with him.  George and the committee look after
   them, and then George sits down, and smiles at the men.)