EMILY--[Insane with rage--shrilly.] But we know--and the whole town knows--and you needn't pretend you've been blind. You've given the whole thing away yourself--the silly way you've acted--telling everyone how you hated that baby--letting everyone see-- JAYSON--Emily! [The others are all frightened, try to interrupt her. CURT stares at her in a stunned bewilderment] EMILY--[Pouring forth all her venom regardless.] But you might as well leave off your idiotic pretending. It doesn't fool us--or anyone else--your sending for Bigelow that night--your hobnobbing with him ever since--your pretending he's as much your friend as ever. They're all afraid of you--but I'm not! I tell you to your face--it's all acting you're doing--just cheap acting to try and pull the wool over our eyes until you've run away like a coward--and left us to face the disgrace for you with this child on our hands! ESTHER--[Trying to silence her--excitedly.] Emily! Keep still, for Heaven's sake! [The others all utter exclamations of caution, with fearful glances at CURT.] EMILY--[Becoming exhausted by her outburst--more faintly.] Well, someone had to show him his place. He thinks he's so superior to us just because--telling us how much better she was than--But I won't stand for that. I've always had a clean name--and always will--and my children, too, thank God! [She sinks down on the couch exhausted, panting but still glaring defiantly at CURT.] CURTIS--[An awareness of her meaning gradually forcing itself on his mind.] Bigelow! Big? Pretending he's as much my friend--[With a sudden gasp of sickened understanding.] Oh! [He sways as if he were about to fall, shrinking away from EMILY, all horror.] Oh, you--you--you-filth! JOHN--[His fists clenched, tries to advance on his brother.] How dare you insult my wife! [He is restrained, held bake by his remonstrating father and DICK.] MRS. DAVIDSON--[As if suddenly coming out of a dream--frightenedly.] What is the matter? Why is John mad at Curt? CURTIS--[His hands over his eyes, acting like a person stricken with a sudden attack of nausea, weakly.] So--that's--what has been in your minds. Oh, this is bestial--disgusting! And there is nothing to be done. I feel defenseless. One would have to be as low as you are--She would have been defenseless, too. It is better she is dead. [He stares about him--wildly.] And you think--you all think-- ESTHER--[Pityingly.] Curt, dear, we don't think anything except what you've made us think with your crazy carrying-on. CURTIS--[Looking from one to the other of them.] Yes--all of you--it's on your faces. [His eyes fix themselves on his aunt.] No, you don't--you don't-- MRS. DAVIDSON--I? Don't what, Curtis? My, how sick you look, poor boy! CURTIS--You--don't believe--this child-- MRS. DAVIDSON--He's the sweetest baby I ever saw [proudly] and Jayson right to the tips of his toes.