LAURA. [Rises.] Maybe that's John.
[ELFIE brushes a tear quickly from her eye.
ELFIE. Oh! And you'll promise me, Laura?
LAURA. I'll try. [ANNIE enters up stage from the adjoining room and crosses to the door.] If that's Mr. Madison, Annie, tell him to come in.
LAURA stands near the table, almost rigid. Instinctively ELFIE goes to the mirror and re-arranges her gown and hair as ANNIE exits. ELFIE turns to LAURA.
ELFIE. If I think he's the fellow when I see him, watch me and I'll tip you the wink.
[Kisses LAURA; up stage puts on coat.
She goes up stage to centre; LAURA remains in her position. The doors are heard to open, and in a moment JOHN enters. He is dressed very neatly in a business suit, and his face is tanned and weather-beaten. After he enters, he stands still for a moment. The emotion that both he and LAURA go through is such that each is trying to control it, LAURA from the agony of her position, and JOHN from the mere hurt of his affection. He sees ELFIE and forces a smile.
JOHN. [Quietly.] Hello, Laura! I'm on time.
LAURA smiles, quickly crosses the stage, and holds out her hand.