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?
MARTHA-[Surprised.]No, of course not, Lily.
LILY-Well, I'm the bearer of a message from the Jayson family.
MARTHA-[Astonished.]A message? For me?
LILY-Don't think that I have anything to do with it. I'm only a Victor record of their misgivings. Shall I switch it going? Well, then, father thinks, brother John and wife, sister Esther and husband all think that you are unwisely intimate with this same Bigelow.
MARTHA-[Stunned.]I? Unwisely intimate-?[Suddenly laughing with amusement.] Well, you sure are funny people!
LILY-No, we're not funny. We'd be all right if we were. On the contrary, we're very dull and deadly. Bigelow really has a villainous rep. for philandering. But, of course, you didn't know that.
MARTHA-[Beginning to feel resentful-coldly.]No, I didn't-and I don't care to know it now.
LILY-[Calmly.]I told them you wouldn't relish their silly advice.[In a very confidential, friendly tone.] 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 and so, for comfort's sake, I've had to make compromises. And you're going to live in our midst from now on, aren't you? Well then, you'll have to make compromises, too-if you want any peace.
MARTHA-But-compromises about what?[Forcing a laugh.] I refuse to take it seriously. How anyone could think-it's too absurd.
LILY-What set them going was Big's being around such an awful lot the weeks Curt was in New York, just after you'd settled down here. You must acknowledge he was-very much present then, Martha.
MARTHA-But it was on account of his children. They were always with him.
LILY-The town doesn't trust this sudden fond parenthood, Martha. We've known him too long, you see.
MARTHA-But he's Curt's oldest and best friend.
LILY-We've found they always are.
MARTHA-[Springing to her feet-indignantly.]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.[Resentfully.] You can tell your family, that as far as I'm concerned, the town may-
LILY-Go to the devil. I knew you'd say that. Well, fight the good fight. You have all my best wishes.[With a sigh.] I wish I had something worth fighting for. Now that I'm through with college, my occupation's gone. All I do is read book after book. The only live people are the ones in books, I find, and the only live life.
MARTHA-[Immediately sympathetic.]You're lonely, that's what, Lily.
LILY-[Drily.]Don't pity me, Martha-or I'll join the enemy.
MARTHA-I'm not. But I'd like to help you if I could.[After a pause.] Have you ever thought of marrying?
LILY-[With a laugh.]Martha! How banal! The men I see are enough to banish that thought if I ever had it.
MARTHA-Marriage isn't only the man. It's children. Wouldn't you like to have children?
LILY-[Turning to her bluntly.]Wouldn't you?
MARTHA-[Confused.]But-Lily-
LILY-Oh, I know it wasn't practicable as long as you elected to wander with Curt-but why not now when you've definitely settled down here? I think that would solve things all round. If you could present Father with a grandson, I'm sure he'd fall on your neck. He feels piqued at the John and Esther families because they've had a run of girls. A male Jayson! Aunt Davidson would weep with joy.[Suddenly.] You're thirty-eight, aren't you, Martha?
MARTHA-Yes. LILY-Then why don't you-before it's too late?[MARTHA, struggling with herself, does not answer. LILY goes on slowly.] You won't want to tag along with Curt to the ends of the earth forever, will you?[Curiously.] Wasn't that queer life like any other? I mean, didn't it get to pall on you?
MARTHA-[As if confessing it reluctantly.]Yes-perhaps-in the last two years.
LILY-[Decisively.]It's time for both of you to rest on your laurels. Why can't Curt keep on with what he's doing now-stay home and write his books?
MARTHA-Curt isn't that kind. The actual work-the romance of it- that's his life.
LILY-But if he goes and you have to stay, you'll be lonesome-[meaningly] alone.
MARTHA-Horribly. I don't know what I'll do.
LILY-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.
MARTHA-[Shaking her head sadly.]No. Curt has grown to dislike children. They remind him of-ours that were taken. He adored them so-he's never become reconciled.
LILY-If you confronted Curt with the actual fact, he'd be reconciled soon enough, and happy in the bargain.
MARTHA-[Eagerly.]Do you really think so?
LILY-And you, Martha-I can tell from the way you've talked that you'd like to.
MARTHA-[Excitedly.]Yes, I-I never thought I'd ever want to again. For many years after they died I never once dreamed of it- But lately-the last years-I've felt-and when we came to live here-and I saw all around me-homes-and children, I-[She hesitates as if ashamed at having confessed so much.]
LILY-[Putting an arm around her-affectionately.]I know.[Vigorously.] 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.
MARTHA-[Forcing a smile.]Yes, I-I'll confess I thought of that. In spite of my fear, I-I've-I mean-I-[She flushes in a shamed confusion.]
LILY-[Looking at her searchingly.]Why, Martha, what-[Then suddenly understanding-with excited pleasure.]Martha! I know! It is so, isn't it? It is!
MARTHA-[In a whisper.]Yes.
LILY-[Kissing her affectionately.]You dear, you![Then after a pause.] How long have you known?