Final answer:
The father is overjoyed when his younger son returns home, but the 'wicked concubine' and her mistress are angry and continue to plot unsuccessfully.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the younger son returns home, the reaction of the father is one of overwhelming gladness and joy. The father in the passage was evidently relieved that his boy had managed to escape some peril, and it is made clear that his affection for the boy surpasses any other connection, as evidenced by his loss of affection for the 'wicked concubine.' Meanwhile, the reaction of the concubine and her mistress is starkly different; they are filled with anger and continue to seek ways to fulfill their malevolent schemes, contriving in vain. This narrative contrasts the genuine, powerful love a parent has for their child with the manipulative and self-serving attitudes of others, and it highlights the depth of the father's emotion through his reaction to his son's return.