EMILY—[With a lift of her eyebrows.] Impossible? Why, what a funny thing to say.
SHEFFIELD—[Keenly lawyer-like.] And why is Martha afraid to tell him, Lily?
LILY—It's all very simple. When the two died years ago, they said they would never have one again. Martha thinks Curt is still haunted by their memory and is afraid he will resent another as an intruder. I told her that was all foolishness—that a child was the one thing to make Curt settle down for good at home here and write his books.
JAYSON—[Eagerly.] Yes, I believe that myself. [Pleased.] Well, this is fine news.
EMILY—Still it was her duty to tell Curt, don't you think? I don't see how she could be afraid of Curt—for those reasons. [They all stare at her.]
ESTHER—[Resentfully.] I don't, either. Why, Curt's the biggest-hearted and kindest—
EMILY—I wonder how long she's known—this?
LILY—[Sharply.] Two months, she said.
EMILY—Two months? [She lets this sink in.]
JOHN—[Quickly scenting something—eagerly.] What do you mean, Emily? [Then as if he read her mind.] Two months? But before that—Curt was away in New York almost a month!