JAYSON-[Tremblingly.]Sh-h-h, they say this is the crisis.[Puts his arm around CURT.] Bear up, my boy, it will soon be over now.[He sits down in the chair BIGELOW has vacated, pointedly ignoring the latter. The door is opened again and EMILY, ESTHER, JOHN andSHEFFIELD file in quickly as if escaping from the cries of the woman upstairs. They are all greatly agitated. CURT groans, pressing his clenched fists against his ears. The two women sit on the lounge. MARK comes forward and stands by JAYSON'S chair, JOHN sits by the door as before. BIGELOW retreats behind CURT's chair, aware of their hostility. There is a long pause.]
ESTHER-[Suddenly.]She has stopped-[They all listen.]
JAYSON-[Huskily.]Thank God, it's over at last.[The door is opened and MRS. DAVIDSON enters. The old lady is radiant, weeping tears of joy.]
MRS. DAVIDSON-[Calls out exultantly between sobs.]A son, Curt-a son.[With rapt fervor-falling on her knees.] Let us all give thanks to God!
CURTIS-[In a horrible cry of rage and anguish.]No! No! You lie! [They all cry out in fright and amazement: 'CURT!' The door is opened and the NURSE appears.]
NURSE-[Looking at CURTIS, in a low voice.]Mr. Jayson, your wife is asking for you.
BIGELOW-[Promptly slapping CURT on the back.]There! What did I tell you? Run, you chump!
CURTIS-[With a gasp of joy.]Martha! Darling, I'm coming- [He rushes out after the NURSE.]
BIGELOW-[Comes forward to get his hat and coat from the sofa- coldly.] Pardon me, please.[They shrink away from him.]
EMILY-[As he goes to the door-cuttingly.]Some people seem to have no sense of decency!
BIGELOW-[Stung, stops at the door and looks from one to the other of them- bitingly.]No, I quite agree with you.[He goes out, shutting the door. They all gasp angrily.]
JOHN-Scoundrel!
JAYSON-[Testily-going to MRS. D., who is still on her knees praying.] Do get up, Aunt Elizabeth! How ridiculous! What a scene if anyone should see you like that.[He raises her to her feet and leads her to a chair by the fire. She obeys unresistingly, seemingly unaware of what she is doing.]
ESTHER-[Unable to restrain her jealousy.]So it's a boy.
EMILY-Did you hear Curt-how he yelled out 'No'? It's plain as the nose on your face he didn't want-
ESTHER-How awful!
JOHN-Well, can you blame him?
EMILY-And the awful cheek of that Bigelow person-coming here-
ESTHER-They appeared as friendly as ever when we came in.
JOHN-[Scornfully.]Curt is a blind simpleton-and that man is a dyed-in-the-wool scoundrel.
JAYSON-[Frightenedly.]Shhh! Suppose we were overheard!
EMILY-When Curt leaves we can put her in her proper place. I'll soon let her know she hasn't fooled me, for one.[While she is speaking MRS. D. has gotten up and is going silently toward the door.]
JAYSON-[Testily.]Aunt Elizabeth, where are you going?
MRS. D.-[Tenderly.]I must see him again, the dear![She goes out.]
ESTHER-[Devoured by curiosity-hesitatingly.]I think I-come on, Emily. Let's go up and see-
EMILY-Not I! I never want to lay eyes on it.
JOHN-Nor I.
ESTHER-I was only thinking-everyone will think it funny if we don't.
JAYSON-[Hastily.]Yes, yes. We must keep up appearances.[Getting to his feet.] Yes, I think we had better all go up-make some sort of inquiry about Martha, you know. It's expected of us and-[They are all standing, hesitating, when the door in the rear is opened and the NURSE appears, supporting CURT. The latter is like a corpse. His face is petrified with grief, his body seems limp and half-paralyzed.]
NURSE-[Her eyes flashing, indignantly.]It's a wonder some of you wouldn't come up-here, help me! Take him, can't you? I've got to run back!
[JAYSON and SHEFFIELD spring forward and lead CURT to a chair by the fire.]
JAYSON-[Anxious.]Curt! Curt, my boy! What is it, son?
EMILY-[Catching the NURSE as she tries to go.]Nurse! What is the matter?
