JAYSON--[After a pause.] Where is Curt? RICHARD--[Harshly.] Still out in the garden, walking around bareheaded in the cold like a lunatic. JAYSON--Why didn't you make him come in? RICHARD--Make him! It's easy to say. He's in a queer state, Dad, I can tell you! There's something torturing him besides her pain-- JAYSON--[After a pause.] Yes, there's a lot in all this we don't know about. RICHARD--I suppose the reason he's so down on the family is because we've rather cut her since that tea affair. JAYSON--He shouldn't blame us. She acted abominably and has certainly caused enough talk since then--always about with Bigelow-- RICHARD--[With a sardonic laugh.] And yet he keeps asking everyone to send for Bigelow--says he wants to talk to him--not us. WE can't understand! [He laughs bitterly.] JAYSON--I'm afraid Curt knows we understand too much. [Agitatedly.] But why does he want Bigelow, in God's name? In his present state--with the suspicions he must have--there's liable to be a frightful scene. RICHARD--Don't be afraid of a scene. [With pitying scorn.] The hell of it is he seems to regard Bigelow as his best friend. Damned if I can make it out. JAYSON--I gave orders that they were always to tell Curt Bigelow was out of town and couldn't be reached. [With a sigh.] What a frightful situation for all of us! [After a pause.] It may sound cruel of me--but--I can't help wishing for all our sakes that this child will never-- RICHARD--Yes, Dad, I know what you're thinking. It would be the best thing for it, too--although I hate myself for saying it. [There is a pause. Then the door in rear is opened and LILY appears. She is pale and agitated. Leaving the door open behind her she comes forward and flings herself on the lounge.] JAYSON--[Anxiously.] Well? LILY--[Irritably, getting up and switching on the lights.] Isn't everything gloomy enough? [Sits down.] I couldn't bear it upstairs one second longer. Esther and Emily are coming down, too. It's too much for them--and they've had personal experience. [Trying to mask her agitation by a pretense at flippancy.] I hereby become a life-member of the birth-control league. Let's let humanity cease--if God can't manage its continuance any better than that! RICHARD--[Seriously.] Second the motion. JAYSON--[Peevishly.] You're young idiots. Keep your blasphemous nonsense to yourself, Lily! LILY--[Jumping up and stamping her foot--hysterically.] I can't stand it. Take me home, Dick, won't you? We're doing no good waiting here. I'll have a fit--or something--if I stay. RICHARD--[Glad of the excuse to go himself--briskly.] That's how I feel. I'll drive you home. Come along. [ESTHER and EMILY enter, followed by JOHN.] LILY--[Excitedly.] I'll never marry or have a child! Never, never! I'll go into Mark's office to-morrow and make myself independent of marriage. ESTHER--Sssh! Lily! Don't you know you're shouting? And what silly talk! LILY--I'll show you whether it's silly! I'll--