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?