seizes both his hands, shakes them, and presses them warmly.] Johan, now we are alone; now you must give me leave to thank you.
Johan.
Oh, nonsense!
Bernick.
My house and home, my domestic happiness, my whole position in society—all these I owe to you.
Johan.
Well, I am glad of it, my dear Karsten; so some good came of that foolish story after all.
Bernick.
[Shaking his hands again.] Thanks, thanks, all the same! Not one in ten thousand would have done what you did for me then.
Johan.
Oh, nonsense! Were we not both of us young and a bit reckless? One of us had to take the blame upon him
Bernick.
Yes, and the guilty one was the obvious person.
Johan.
Stop! Then the obvious person was the innocent one. I was alone, free, an orphan; it was a positive blessing to me to escape from the grind of the office. You, on the other hand, had your mother still living; and, besides, you had just got secretly engaged to Betty, and she was devoted to you. What would have become of her if she had learnt?
