LAURA. How could you expect it, in a house all by herself?
JULIA. I gave her the chance: I began by occupying my own room.
LAURA (self-caressingly). I wasn't here then. That didn't occur to you, I suppose? You seem to forget you weren't the only one.
JULIA. Kind of you to remind me.
LAURA. Saucy.
JULIA. Martha, will you excuse me?
(Polite to the last, she vanishes gracefully away from the vicinity of the coal-box. The place where she has been stooping knows her no more.)
LAURA (rushing round the intervening table to investigate). Julia!
(Martha is quite as much surprised as Mrs. James, but less indignant.)
MARTHA. Well! Did you ever?