Bridgetown gossip.

BIGELOW--I know, old man, forgive me. [In spite of the closed door one
of MARTHA's agonized moans is heard. They both shudder.]

CURTIS--[In a dead, monotonous tone.] She has been moaning like that
hour after hour. I shall have those sounds in my ears until the day I
die. Nothing can ever make me forget--nothing.

BIGELOW--[Trying to distract him.] Deuce take it, Curt, what's the
matter with you? I never thought you'd turn morbid.

CURTIS--[Darkly.] I've changed, Big--I hardly know myself any more.

BIGELOW--Once you're back on the job again, you'll be all right. You're
still determined to go on this expedition, aren't you?

CURTIS--Yes. I was supposed to join them this week in New York but I've
arranged to catch up with them in China--as soon as it's possible for
us to go.

BIGELOW--Us? You mean you still plan to take--

CURTIS--[Angrily aggressive.] Yes, certainly! Why not? Martha ought to
be able to travel in a month or so.

BIGELOW--Yes, but--do you think it would be safe to take the child?

CURTIS--[With a bitter laugh.] Yes--I was forgetting the child, wasn't
I? [Viciously.] But perhaps--[Then catching himself with a groan.] Oh,
damn all children, Big!

BIGELOW--[Astonished.] Curt!

CURTIS--[In anguish.] I can't help it--I've fought against it. But it's
there--deep down in me--and I can't drive it out. I can't!

BIGELOW--[Bewildered.] What, Curt?

CURTIS--Hatred! Yes, hatred! What's the use of denying it? I must tell
someone and you're the only one who might understand. [With a wild
laugh.] For you--hated your wife, didn't you?

BIGELOW--[Stunned.] Good God, you don't mean you hate--Martha?

CURTIS--[Raging.] Hate Martha? How dare you, you fool! I love
Martha--love her with every miserable drop of blood in me--with all my
life--all my soul! She is my whole world--everything! Hate Martha! God,
man, have you gone crazy to say such a mad thing? [Savagely.] No. I
hate it. It!

BIGELOW--[Shocked.] Curt! Don't you know you can't talk like
that--now--when--CURTIS-- [Harshly.] It has made us both suffer
torments--not only now--every day, every hour, for months and months.
Why shouldn't I hate it, eh?

BIGELOW--[Staring at his friend's wild, distorted face with growing
horror.] Curt! Can't you realize how horrible--

CURTIS--Yes, it's horrible. I've told myself that a million times.
[With emphasis.] But it's true!

BIGELOW--[Severely.] Shut up! You're not yourself. Come, think f