Come over here Lily
You were forgetting werent you?
What?
That you invited the family over here for tea this afternoon. I'm the advance guard.
So I was! How stupid!
Do you like Bigelow?
Yes very much and curt thinks the world of him.
Oh curt is the last person 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 down. You either
I think it's very fine of him
His reform is too sudden. He's joined the hypocrites I think.
I'm sure he's no hypocrite-when you see him with the kids
Oh I know he's a good actor. A lot of women have been in love with him. You won't be furious with me if I'm very very frank will you Martha?
No, of course not lily.
Well, I'm the bearer of a message from the jayson family.
A message? For me?
Don't think that I have anything to do with it. I'm just the victor record of their misgivings. Shall I switch it going? Well father thinks, brother John and wife, sister ester and husband think that you are unwisely intimate with Bigelow.
I? Unwisely intimate-well you sure are funny people
No were not funny. We'd be alright if we were. On the contrary were very dull and deadly. Bigelow really has a villainous rep for philandering. But of course you didn't know that.
No I didn't and don't care to know it now.
I told them you wouldn't relish in their silly advice. Oh I hate their narrow small town ethics as much as you do, Martha. I sympathize with you indeed I do. But I have to live with them, so for comforts sake I've had to make compromises. And you're going
But compromises about what? I refuse to take it seriously. How could anyone think! It's too absurd.
What set them going was bugs being around such an awful lot while curt was in NY just after you'd settled down here. You must acknowledge he was very much present here then, Martha.
But it was on account of his children. They were always with him.
The town doesn't trust this sudden fond parenthood Martha. We've known him too long you see.
But he's Curt's oldest and best friend
We've found they always are
It's a case of evil minds it seems to me-and it would be extremely insulting if I didn't have a sense of humor. You can tell your family that as far as I'm concerned this town may-
Go to the devil! I knew you'd say that. We'll fight the good fight, you have my best wishes. I wish I had something worth fighting for. Now that I'm through with college, my occupation is gone. All I do is read book after book. The only live people are th
You're lonely,that's what lily
Don't pity me Martha. Or I'll join the enemy.
I'm not. But I'd like to help you if I could. Have you ever though of marrying?
Martha! How banal! The men I see are enough to banish the thought if I ever had it.
Marriage isn't only the man. It's the about the children. Wouldn't you like to have children?
Wouldn't you?
But-Lily
Oh I know it wasn't practicable as long as you elected to wonder with Curt. But why not now when you've definitely settled down here. I think it would solve things all around. If you could present father with a grandson I'm sure he'd fall on your neck. He
Yes
Well then why don't you? Before it's too late. You won't want to tag along with curt to the ends of the earth for forever will you? Is that queer life like any other. Didn't it get to pall on you?
Well yes perhaps in the last two years
It's time for both of you to rest on your laurels. Why doesn't curt keep on with what he's doing now. Stay home and write his books.
Curt isn't that kind. The actual work-the romance of it thats his life
But if he goes and you have to stay you'll be terribly lonesome. Alone.
Horribly. I don't know what I'll do
Then why why? Think Martha. If curt knew that was to happen- he'd want to stay here with you. I'm sure he would.
No curt has grown to dislike children they remind him of ours that were taken from us. He's never become reconciled.
If you confronted curt with the actual fact he'd be reconciled soon enough. And happy in the bargain.
Do you really think so?
And you Martha! I can tell by the way youve talked you'd like it too
...saw all around me homes and children i
I know. You must! That's all there is to it. If you want my advice you go right ahead and don't tell curt until it's a fact he'll have to learn to like willy nilly. You'll find in his inmost heart he'll be tickled to death.
Yes I'll confess I thought if it in spite of my fear. I mean I ive
Why Martha what? Martha I know! It is t so is it?
Yes
Dear you! How long have you known?