CURTIS-You bet she has.[He goes over and puts his hand on his wife's shoulder affectionately.] Martha's more efficient than a whole staff of assistants and secretaries. She knows more about what I'm doing than I do half the time.[He turns toward his study.] Well, I guess I'll go in and work some.
MARTHA-[Quietly.]Do you need me now, Curt?
BIGELOW-[Starting up.]Yes, if you two want to work together, why just shoo me-
CURTIS-[Puts both hands on his shoulders and forces him to his seat again.]No. Sit down, Big. I don't need Martha now.[Coming over to her, bends down and kisses her-rather mockingly.] I couldn't deprive Big of an audience for his confessions of a fond parent.
BIGELOW-Aha! Now it's you who are mocking at something you know nothing about.[An awkward silence follows this remark.]
CURTIS-[Frowning.]I guess you're forgetting, aren't you, Big?[He turns and walks into his study, closing the door gently behind him.]
MARTHA-[After a pause-sadly.]Poor Curt.
BIGELOW-[Ashamed and confused.]I had forgotten-
MARTHA-The years have made me reconciled. They haven't Curt.[She sighs-then turns to BIGELOW with a forced smile.] I suppose it's hard for any of you back here to realize that Curt and I ever had any children.
BIGELOW-[After a pause.]How old were they when-?
MARTHA-Three years and two-both girls.[She goes on sadly.] We had a nice little house in Goldfield.[Forcing a smile.] We were very respectable home folks then. The wandering came later, after- It was a Sunday in winter when Curt and I had gone visiting some friends. The nurse girl fell asleep-or something-and the children sneaked out in their underclothes and played in the snow. Pneumonia set in-and a week later they were both dead.
BIGELOW-[Shocked.]Good heavens!
MARTHA-We were real lunatics for a time. And then when we'd calmed down enough to realize-how things stood with us-we swore we'd never have children again-to steal away their memory. It wasn't what you thought-romanticism-that set Curt wandering- and me with him. It was a longing to lose ourselves-to forget. He flung himself with all his power into every new study that interested him. He couldn't keep still, mentally or bodily-and I followed. He needed me-then-so dreadfully!
BIGELOW-And is it that keeps driving him on now?
MARTHA-Oh, no. He's found himself. His work has taken the place of the children.
BIGELOW-And with you, too?
MARTHA-[With a wan smile.]Well, I've helped-all I could. His work has me in it, I like to think-and I have him.
BIGELOW-[Shaking his head.]I think people are foolish to stand by such an oath as you took-forever.[With a smile.] Children are a great comfort in one's old age, I've tritely found.
MARTHA-[Smiling.]Old age!
BIGELOW-I'm knocking at the door of fatal forty.
MARTHA-[With forced gaiety.]You're not very tactful, I must say. Don't you know I'm thirty-eight?
BIGELOW-[Gallantly.]A woman is as old as she looks. You're not thirty yet.
MARTHA-[Laughing.]After that nice remark I'll have to forgive you everything, won't I?[LILY JAYSON comes in from the rear. She is a slender, rather pretty girl of twenty-five. The stamp of college student is still very much about her. She rather insists on a superior, intellectual air, is full of nervous, thwarted energy. At the sight of them sitting on the couch together, her eyebrows are raised.]
LILY-[Coming into the room-breezily.]Hello, Martha. Hello, Big.[They both get up with answering "Hellos."] I walked right in regardless. Hope I'm not interrupting.
MARTHA-Not at all.
LILY-[Sitting down by the table as MARTHA and BIGELOW resume their seats on the lounge.]I must say it sounded serious. I heard you tell Big you'd forgive him everything, Martha.[Dryly-with a mocking glance at BIGELOW.] You're letting yourself in for a large proposition.
BIGELOW-[Displeased but trying to smile it off.]The past is never past for a dog with a bad name, eh, Lily?[LILY laughs.BIGELOW gets up.] If you want to reward me for my truthfulness, Mrs. Jayson, help me take the kids for an airing in the car. I know it's an imposition but they've grown to expect you.[Glancing at his watch.] By Jove, I'll have to run along. I'll get them and then pick you up here. Is that all right?
MARTHA-Fine.
BIGELOW-I'll run, then. Good-by, Lily.[She nods. BIGELOW goes out rear.]
MARTHA-[Cordially.]Come on over here, Lily.
LILY-[Sits on couch with MARTHA-after a pause-with a smile.]You were forgetting, weren't you?
MARTHA-What?
LILY-That you'd invited all the family over here to tea this afternoon. I'm the advance guard.
MARTHA-[Embarrassed.]So I was! How stupid!
LILY-[With an inquisitive glance at MARTHA'S face but with studied carelessness.]Do you like Bigelow?
MARTHA-Yes, very much. And Curt thinks the world of him.
LILY-Oh, Curt is the last one to be bothered by anyone's morals. Curt and I are the unconventional ones of the family. The trouble with Bigelow, Martha, is that he was too careless to conceal his sins-and that won't go down in this Philistine small town. You have to hide and be a fellow hypocrite or they revenge themselves on you. Bigelow didn't. He flaunted his love-affairs in everyone's face. I used to admire him for it. No one exactly blamed him, in their secret hearts. His wife was a terrible, straitlaced creature. No man could have endured her.[Disgustedly.] After her death he suddenly acquired a bad conscience. He'd never noticed the children before. I'll bet he didn't even know their names. And then, presto, he's about in our midst giving an imitation of a wet hen with a brood of ducks. It's a bore, if you ask me.
MARTHA-[Flushing.]I think it's very fine of him.
LILY-[Shaking her head.]His reform is too sudden. He's joined the hypocrites, I think.
MARTHA-I'm sure he's no hypocrite. When you see him with the children-
LILY-Oh, I know he's a good actor. Lots of women have been in love with him.[Then suddenly.] You won't be furious if I'm very, very frank, will you, Martha?