MARTHA-[Displeased but forcing a smile.]You make me feel terribly ill at ease when you put it that way, Lily.[She rises now and goes to greet the visitors, who enter. MRS. DAVIDSON is seventy-five years old-a thin, sinewy old lady, old-fashioned, unbending and rigorous in manner. She is dressed aggressively in the fashion of a bygone age. ESTHER is a stout, middle-aged woman with the round, unmarked, sentimentally-contented face of one who lives unthinkingly from day to day, sheltered in an assured position in her little world. MARK, her husband, is a lean, tall, stooping man of about forty-five. His long face is alert, shrewd, cautious, full of the superficial craftiness of the lawyer mind.MARTHA kisses the two women, shakes hands with MARK, uttering the usual meaningless greetings in a forced tone. They reply in much the same spirit. There is the buzz of this empty chatter whileMARTHA gets them seated. LILY stands looking on with a cynical smile of amusement. MRS. DAVIDSON is in the chair at the end of table, Ieft, ESTHER sits by MARTHA on couch, MARK in chair at front of table.] Will you have tea now or shall we wait for the others?
ESTHER-Let's wait. They ought to be here any moment.
LILY-[Maliciously.]Just think, Martha had forgotten you were coming. She was going motoring with Bigelow.[There is a dead silence at this-broken diplomatically by SHEFFIELD.]
SHEFFIELD-Where is Curt, Martha?
MARTHA-Hard at work in his study. I'm afraid he's there for the day. SHEFFIELD-[Condescendingly.]Still plugging away at his book, I suppose. Well, I hope it will be a big success.
LILY-[Irritated by his smugness.]As big a success as the brief you're writing to restrain the citizens from preventing the Traction Company robbing them, eh Mark?[Before anyone can reply, she turns suddenly on her aunt who is sitting rigidly on her chair, staring before her stonily like some old lady in a daguerreotype-in a loud challenging tone.] You don't mind if I smoke, Aunt?[She takes a cigarette out of case and lights it.]
ESTHER-[Smiling.]Lily!
MRS. DAVIDSON-[Fixes LILY with her stare-in a tone of irrevocable decision.]We'll get you married, young lady, and that very soon. What you need to bring you down to earth is a husband and the responsibility of children.[Turning her glance to MARTHA, a challenge in her question.] Every woman who is able should have children. Don't you believe that, Martha Jayson?[She accentuates the full name.]
MARTHA-[Taken aback for a moment but restraining her resentment- gently.]Yes, I do, Mrs. Davidson.
MES. DAVIDSON-[Seemingly placated by this reply-in a milder tone.]You must call me aunt, my dear.[Meaningly.] All the Jaysons do.
MARTHA-[Simply.]Thank you, aunt.
LILY-[As if all of this aroused her irritation-in a nervous fuming.]Why don't the others come, darn 'em? I'm dying for my tea.[The door from the study is opened and CURT appears. They all greet him.]
CURTIS-[Absent-mindedly.]Hello, everybody.[Then with a preoccupied air to MARTHA.] Martha, I don't want to interrupt you- but-
MARTHA-[Getting up briskly.]You want my help?
CURTIS-[With the same absent-minded air.]Yes-not for long-just a few notes before I forget them.[He goes back into the study.]
MARTHA-[Seemingly relieved by this interruption and glad of the chance it gives to show them her importance to CURT.]You'll excuse me for a few moments, all of you, won't you?[They all nod.]
MRS. DAVIDSON-[Rather harshly.]Why doesn't Curt hire a secretary? That is no work for his wife.
MARTHA-[Quietly.]A paid secretary could hardly give the sympathy and understanding Curt needs, Mrs. Davidson.[Proudly.] And she would have to study for years, as I have done, in order to take my place.[To LILY.] If I am not here by the time the others arrive, will you see about the tea, Lily-?
LILY-[Eagerly.]Sure. I love to serve drinks. If I were a man, I'd be a bartender-in Mexico or Canada.
MARTHA-[Going toward the study.]I'll be with you again in a minute, I hope.[She goes in and shuts the door behind her.]
ESTHER-[Pettishly.]Even people touched by a smattering of science seem to get rude, don't they?
MRS. DAVIDSON-[Harshly.]I have heard much silly talk of this being an age of free women, and I have always said it was tommyrot.[Pointing to the study.] She is an example. She is more of a slave to Curt's hobbies than any of my generation were to anything but their children.[Still more harshly.] Where are her children?
LILY-They died, Aunt, as children have a bad habit of doing.[Then meaningly.] However, I wouldn't despair if I were you.[MRS. DAVIDSON stares at her fixedly.]
ESTHER-[Betraying a sudden frightened jealousy.]What do you mean, Lily? What are you so mysterious about? What did she say? What-?
LILY-[Mockingly.]Mark, your frau seems to have me on the stand. Can I refuse to answer?[There is a ring at the bell. LILY jumps to her feet excitedly.] Here comes the rest of our Grand Fleet. Now I'll have my tea.[She darts out to the hallway.]
ESTHER-[Shaking her head.]Goodness, Lily is trying on the nerves.[JAYSON, his two sons, JOHN and DICK, and JOHN's wife, EMILY, enter from hallway in rear. JAYSON, the father, is a short, stout, bald-headed man of sixty. A typical, small-town, New England best-family banker, reserved in pose, unobtrusively important-a placid exterior hiding querulousness and a fussy temper. JOHN JUNIOR is his father over again in appearance, but pompous, obtrusive, purse-and-family-proud, extremely irritating in his self-complacent air of authority, emptily assertive and loud. He is about forty. RICHARD, the other brother, is a typical young Casino and country club member, college-bred, good looking, not unlikable. He has been an officer in the war and has not forgotten it. EMILY, JOHN JR.'s wife, is one of those small, mouse-like women who conceal beneath an outward aspect of gentle, unprotected innocence a very active envy, a silly pride, and a mean malice. The people in the room with the exception of MRS. DAVIDSON rise to greet them. All exchange familiar, perfunctory greetings. SHEFFIELD relinquishes his seat in front of the table to JAYSON, going to the chair, right front, himself. JOHN and DICK take the two chairs to the rear of table. EMILY joins ESTHER on the couch and they whisper together excitedly, ESTHER doing most of the talking. The men remain in uncomfortable silence for a moment.]