NURSE--[Looking at CURTIS, in a low voice.] Mr. Jayson, your wife is asking for you. BIGELOW--[Promptly slapping CURT on the back.] There! What did I tell you? Run, you chump! CURTIS--[With a gasp of joy.] Martha! Darling, I'm coming--[He rushes out after the NURSE.] BIGELOW--[Comes forward to get his hat and coat from the sofa--coldly.] Pardon me, please. [They shrink away from him.] EMILY--[As he goes to the door--cuttingly.] Some people seem to have no sense of decency! BIGELOW--[Stung, stops at the door and looks from one to the other of them--bitingly.] No, I quite agree with you. [He goes out, shutting the door. They all gasp angrily.] JOHN--Scoundrel! JAYSON--[Testily--going to MRS. D., who is still on her knees praying.] Do get up, Aunt Elizabeth! How ridiculous! What a scene if anyone should see you like that. [He raises her to her feet and leads her to a chair by the fire. She obeys unresistingly, seemingly unaware of what she is doing.] ESTHER--[Unable to restrain her jealousy.] So it's a boy. EMILY--Did you hear Curt--how he yelled out "No"? It's plain as the nose on your face he didn't want-- ESTHER--How awful! JOHN--Well, can you blame him? EMILY--And the awful cheek of that Bigelow person--coming here-- ESTHER--They appeared as friendly as ever when we came in. JOHN--[Scornfully.] Curt is a blind simpleton--and that man is a dyed-in-the-wool scoundrel. JAYSON--[Frightenedly.] Shhh! Suppose we were overheard! EMILY--When Curt leaves we can put her in her proper place. I'll soon let her know she hasn't fooled me, for one. [While she is speaking MRS. D. has gotten up and is going silently toward the door.] JAYSON--[Testily.] Aunt Elizabeth, where are you going? MRS. D.--[Tenderly.] I must see him again, the dear! [She goes out.] ESTHER--[Devoured by curiosity--hesitatingly.] I think I--come on, Emily. Let's go up and see-- EMILY--Not I! I never want to lay eyes on it. JOHN--Nor I. ESTHER--I was only thinking--everyone will think it funny if we don't. JAYSON--[Hastily.] Yes, yes. We must keep up appearances. [Getting to his feet.] Yes, I think we had better all go up--make some sort of inquiry about Martha, you know. It's expected of us and--[They are all standing, hesitating, when the door in the rear is opened and the NURSE appears, supporting CURT. The latter is like a corpse. His face is petrified with grief, his body seems limp and half-paralyzed.] NURSE--[Her eyes flashing, indignantly.] It's a wonder some of you wouldn't come up--here, help me! Take him, can't you? I've got to run back! [JAYSON and SHEFFIELD spring forward and lead CURT to a chair by the fire.] JAYSON--[Anxious.] Curt! Curt, my boy! What is it, son? EMILY--[Catching the NURSE as she tries to go.] Nurse! What is the matter? NURSE--[Slowly.] His wife is dead. [They are all still, stunned.] She lived just long enough to recognize him. EMILY--And--the baby?