[A more distant outbreak of the mob is heard, brief but fierce, and just a moment before it ceases MIFFLIN enters, beaming.  He is dressed as usual, with his umbrella and the same old magazines and newspapers under his arm.]

MIFFLIN:  Everything is lovely!  How do you do, Miss Gorodna!  Carter, old fellow!  It’s a great morning, a great morning!  Mr. Gibson drove me down in his car.  It’s wonderful to feel the inspiration it’s going to be for an ex-capitalist to see this place and its harmony.  My phrase for it is “harmonized industry.”  It will mark an epoch for him.

     [GIBSON comes in. MIFFLIN greets him.]

MIFFLIN:  Ah, Mr. Gibson!  You’ll see a difference!  You’ll see a difference!

GIBSON:  Yes, I do.  Good morning, Miss Gorodna!

NORA [just barely looking round]:  Good morning, Mr. Gibson.

MIFFLIN:  I was just saying what an inspiration it’s going to be for you to see what we’re doing down here. [Pats CARTER’S shoulder.] These noble fellows are teaching us intellectuals a lesson.  I keep going among them; what they’re doing here keeps flowing into me.  You’ll get it, Mr. Gibson.  You’ll get it, too!

     [Beamingly he goes out into the factory.]

CARTER [cordially]:  Take a chair, Mr. Gibson.  Make yourself right at home!

GIBSON:  Thanks!

[He makes a grave tour of inspection of the place, his expression noncommittal; goes about casually without making a point of it; he writes his initials in the dust on a filing case.  He turns and looks at NORA thoughtfully; she has not seemed to notice him.]

Do you think I will, Miss Gorodna?

NORA [not looking up]:  Do I think you will what?

GIBSON:  That I’ll get what Mifflin meant?  That it will be an inspiration to me to see this meeting?

NORA:  I don’t know what will be an inspiration to you.

GIBSON:  I know one thing that is—­a brave woman!

     [The only sign she gives is that her head bends over her work
     just a little more.]

Carter, do you think this meeting is going to be an inspiration to me?

CARTER:  Well, Mr. Gibson, since the time you give up our rights to us, as Mr. Mifflin says, we’re an inspiration to the whole world.  All the time!  Yes, sir; and we would be, too, if we could jest git these dog-goned inequalities straightened out.  We got this Frankel trouble on our hands, and them wives, and one thing and another, though they ain’t botherin’ me so much as my own rights.  But they’re goin’ to git brought up in the meeting.  You’ll see!

GIBSON:  Is the safe usually kept open?

CARTER [heartily]:  Why, yes, sir; open to each and all alike.

GIBSON:  Oh, yes, of course!  Seems to be some business mail left over here.