LAURA. Oh!
JACK. [Realizing that he had said something awkward.] I think I was the first Socialist he'd ever met. He had just gotten to the stage of despair. He'd started out with a long program of reforms... and he was going to educate the people to them... one by one, until he'd made them all effective. I said to him: "By the time you've got the attention of the public on reform number thirty... what do you suppose the politicians will have been doing with reform number one?"
JULIA. We all have to go through that stage. I can remember just as well... [A ring upon the bell.] Ah, there he is.
JACK. [Rises and goes to the door.] But I think he's most through butting his head against the stone wall! [Calls.] Are you there, old man?
MONTAGUE. [Off.] I'm here!
JACK. How are you?
MONTAGUE. Fine!
JACK. Come right in.
MONTAGUE. [Enters; a tall, handsome man of thirty; self-contained and slow of speech; the dark type of a Southerner.] I'm a trifle late. [Sees LAURA; starts.] Miss Hegan! You! [Recovers himself.] Why... an unexpected pleasure!
LAURA. Unexpected on both sides, Mr. Montague.