The Machine | Page 5

[Grumbling.] All right, I'll meet her. But let me tell you, I don't
propose to spare her feelings. She'll get things straight from me.
JULIA. That's all right, my boy. Give her the class war and the
Revolution with a capital R ! Tell her you're the only original
representative of the disinherited proletariat, and that some day, before
long, you intend to plant the red flag over her daddy's palace.
[Seriously.] Of course, what you'll actually do is meet her like a
gentleman, and tell her of some of your adventures in Russia, and give
her some idea of what's going on outside of her little Fifth avenue set. J
ACK. Where did you run on to her?
JULIA. I met her at the settlement.
JACK. Good Lord! Jim Hegan's daughter! [Laughs.] They were
toadying to her there, I'll wager.
JULIA. Well, you know what settlement people are. She's been coming
there for quite a while, and seems to be interested. She's given them
quite a lot of money.

JACK. No doubt.
JULIA. I had a little talk with her one afternoon. She's a quiet,
self-contained girl, but she gave me a peculiar impression. She seemed
to be unhappy; there was a kind of troubled note in what she said. I had
felt uncomfortable about meeting her . . . you can imagine, after my
study of "Tammany and the Traction Trust."
JACK. Did she mention that?
JULIA. No, she never has. But I've several times had the feeling that
she was trying to get up the courage to do it. I've thought, somehow,
that she must be suffering about her father.
JACK. My God! Wouldn't it be a joke if Nemesis were to get at Jim
Hegan through his daughter?
JULIA. Yes; wouldn't it!
JACK. How do you suppose he takes her reform activities?
JULIA. I don't know, but I fancy they must have had it out. She's not
the sort of person to let herself be turned back when her mind's made
up.
JACK. A sort of chip of the old block. [After a pause.] If I'd known
what was up, I wouldn't have suggested asking anybody else to
come . . .
JULIA. Oh, that's all right; it won't make any difference.
JACK. This chap, Montague, that I 'phoned to you about . . . he's a sort
of a convert of my own.
JULIA. I see. We'll reciprocate.
JACK. I think I've got Montague pretty well landed. You'll be
interested in him . . . it's quite a story. It was last election day. . .

[The bell rings.]
JULIA. Ah, there's somebody. [She goes to the door; calls.] Is that you,
Miss Hegan?
LAURA. [Off.] Yes, it's I.
JULIA. You found your way, did you?
LAURA. Oh, no trouble at all. [Enters, a tall, stately girl, about
twenty-three; simply but elegantly clad.] How do you do?
JULIA. I am so glad to see you. Jack, this is Miss Hegan. Mr. Bullen.
LAURA. How do you do, Mr. Bullen?
JACK. I am very glad to meet you, Miss Hegan.
JULIA. Let me take your things.
LAURA. [Looking about.] Oh, what a cozy place! I think these model
tenements are delightful.
JULIA. They're indispensable to us agitators . . . an oasis in a desert.
JACK. Built for the proletariat, and inhabited by cranks.
LAURA. Is that the truth?
JULIA. It's certainly the truth about this one. Below me are two
painters and a settlement worker, and next door is a blind Anarchist and
a Yiddish poet.
LAURA. What's the reason for it?
JULIA. [Going to room off left with LAURA's things.] The places are
clean and cheap; and whenever the poor can't pay their rent, we take
their homes.

JACK. The elimination of the unfit.
LAURA. It sounds like a tragic explanation; but I guess it's true.
[Looking at Jack.] And so this is Mr. Bullen. For such a famous
revolutionist, I expected to find some one more dangerous-looking.
JULIA. [Returning.] Don't make up your mind too soon about Jack.
He's liable to startle you.
LAURA. I'm not easily startled any more. I'm getting quite used to
meeting revolutionists.
JACK. You don't call them revolutionists that you meet at the
settlement, I hope?
LAURA. No; but all sorts of people come there.
JULIA. By the way, Jack 'phoned me this afternoon, and said he'd
invited a friend here. I hope you don't mind.
LAURA. Why, no; not at all. Is it one of your Russian friends?
JACK. Oh, no; he's an American. His name is Montague. I was just
starting to tell Julia about him when you came in.
LAURA. Go ahead.
JACK. It was quite an adventure. I don't know that I've ever had one
that was more exciting. And I've had quite some, you know.
LAURA.