et us arrange
it this way. You will remain here a month longer at least--

CURTIS--No!

SHEFFIELD--[Ignoring the interruption.] You can make plans for the
child's future in that time, become reconciled to it--

CURTIS--No!

JAYSON--[Pleadingly.] Curt--please--for all our sakes--when the honor
of the family is at stake.

DICK--Yes, old man, there's that about it, you know.

CURTIS--No!

EMILY--Oh, he's impossible!

SHEFFIELD--Perhaps Curt misunderstood me. [Meaningly.] Be reconciled to
it in the eyes of the public, Curt. That's what I meant. Your own
private feelings in the matter--are no one's business but your own, of
course.

CURTIS--[Bewilderedly.] But--I don't see--Oh, damn your eyes of the
public!

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?

SHEFFIELD--It is hardly a case of their judging--you. [Breaking off as
he catches CURT'S tortured eyes fixed on him wildly.] This is a small
town, Curt, and you know as well as I do, gossip is not the least of
its faults. It doesn't take long for such things to get started.
[Persuasively.] Now I ask you frankly, is it wise to provoke
deliberately what may easily be set at rest by a little--I'll be
frank--a little pretense on your part?

JAYSON--Yes, my boy. As a Jayson, I know you don't wish--

ESTHEE--