MARTHA--[Displeased but forcing a smile.] You make me feel terribly ill at ease when you put it that way, Lily. [She rises now and goes to greet the visitors, who enter. MRS. DAVIDSON is seventy-five years old--a thin, sinewy old lady, old-fashioned, unbending and rigorous in manner. She is dressed aggressively in the fashion of a bygone age. ESTHER is a stout, middle-aged woman with the round, unmarked, sentimentally--contented face of one who lives unthinkingly from day to day, sheltered in an assured position in her little world. MARK, her husband, is a lean, tall, stooping man of about forty-five. His long face is alert, shrewd, cautious, full of the superficial craftiness of the lawyer mind. MARTHA kisses the two women, shakes hands with MARK, uttering the usual meaningless greetings in a forced tone. They reply in much the same spirit. There is the buzz of this empty chatter while MARTHA gets them seated. LILY stands looking on with a cynical smile of amusement. MRS. DAVIDSON is in the chair at the end of table, left, ESTHER sits by MARTHA on couch, MARK in chair at front of table.] Will you have tea now or shall we wait for the others? ESTHER--Let's wait. They ought to be here any moment. LILY--[Maliciously.] Just think, Martha had forgotten you were coming. She was going motoring with Bigelow. [There is a dead silence at this--broken diplomatically by SHEFFIELD.] SHEFFIELD--Where is Curt, Martha? MARTHA--Hard at work in his study. I'm afraid he's there for the day. SHEFFIELD--[Condescendingly.] Still plugging away at his book, I suppose. Well, I hope it will be a big success. LILY--[Irritated by his smugness.] As big a success as the brief you're writing to restrain the citizens from preventing the Traction Company robbing them, eh Mark? [Before anyone can reply, she turns suddenly on her aunt who is sitting rigidly on her chair, staring before her stonily like some old lady in a daguerreotype--in a loud challenging tone.] You don't mind if I smoke, Aunt? [She takes a cigarette out of case and lights it.] ESTHER--[Smiling.] Lily! MRS. DAVIDSON--[Fixes LILY with her stare--in a tone of irrevocable decision.] We'll get you married, young lady, and that very soon. What you need to bring you down to earth is a husband and the responsibility of children. [Turning her glance to MARTHA, a challenge in her question.] Every woman who is able should have children. Don't you believe that, Martha Jayson? [She accentuates the full name.] MARTHA--[Taken aback for a moment but restraining her resentment--gently.] Yes, I do, Mrs. Davidson. MRS. DAVIDSON--[Seemingly placated by this reply--in a milder tone.] You must call me aunt, my dear. [Meaningly.] All the Jaysons do. MARTHA--[Simply.] Thank you, aunt. LILY--[As if all of this aroused her irritation--in a nervous fuming.] Why don't the others come, darn 'em? I'm dying for my tea. [The door from the study is opened and CURT appears. They all greet him.]