CURTIS--[Distractedly.] I'll give it this home. And someone--anyone--Esther, Lily--can appoint a nurse to live here and-- [Breaking down.] Oh, don't bother me! SHEFFIELD--[Sharply.] In the world's eyes, it will appear precious like a desertion on your part. CURTIS--Oh, arrange it to suit yourselves--anything you wish-- SHEFFIELD--[Quickly. ] I'll take you at your word. Then let us arrange it this way. You will remain here a month longer at least-- CURTIS--No! SHEFFIELD--[Ignoring the interruption.] You can make plans for the child's future in that time, become reconciled to it-- CURTIS--No! JAYSON--[Pleadingly.] Curt--please--for all our sakes--when the honor of the family is at stake. DICK--Yes, old man, there's that about it, you know. CURTIS--No! EMILY--Oh, he's impossible! SHEFFIELD--Perhaps Curt misunderstood me. [Meaningly.] Be reconciled to it in the eyes of the public, Curt. That's what I meant. Your own private feelings in the matter--are no one's business but your own, of course. CURTIS--[Bewilderedly.] But--I don't see--Oh, damn your eyes of the public! EMILY--[Breaking in.] It's all very well for you to ignore what people in town think--you'll be in China or heaven knows where. The scandal won't touch you--but we've got to live here and have our position to consider. CURTIS--[Mystified.] Scandal? What scandal? [Then with a harsh laugh.] Oh, you mean the imbecile busy-bodies will call me an unnatural father. Well, let them! I suppose I am. But they don't know-- EMILY--[Spitefully.] Perhaps they know more than you think they do. CURTIS--[Turning on her--sharply.] Just what do you mean by that, eh? ESTHER--Emily! Shhh! JAYSON--[Flurriedly.] Be still, Emily. Let Mark do the talking. SHEFFIELD--[Interposing placatingly.] What Emily means is simply this, Curt: You haven't even been to look at this child since it has been born--not once, have you? CURTIS--No, and I never intend-- SHEFFIELD--[Insinuatingly.] And don't you suppose the doctors and nurses--and the servants--have noticed this? It is not the usual procedure, you must acknowledge, and they wouldn't be human if they didn't think your action--or lack of action--peculiar and comment on it outside. CURTIS--Well, let them! Do you think I care a fiddler's curse how people judge me? SHEFFIELD--It is hardly a case of their judging--you. [Breaking off as he catches CURT'S tortured eyes fixed on him wildly.] This is a small town, Curt, and you know as well as I do, gossip is not the least of its faults. It doesn't take long for such things to get started. [Persuasively.] Now I ask you frankly, is it wise to provoke deliberately what may easily be set at rest by a little--I'll be frank--a little pretense on your part? JAYSON--Yes, my boy. As a Jayson, I know you don't wish-- ESTHEE--[With a sigh.] Yes, you really must think of us, Curt.