MARTHA--[With a wan smile.] Well, I've helped--all I could. His
work has me in it, I like to think--and I have him.

BIGELOW--[Shaking his head.] I think people are foolish to stand
by such an oath as you took--forever. [With a smile.] Children are
a great comfort in one's old age, I've tritely found.

MARTHA--[Smiling.] Old age!

BIGELOW--I'm knocking at the door of fatal forty.

MARTHA--[With forced gaiety.] You're not very tactful, I must say.
Don't you know I'm thirty-eight?

BIGELOW--[Gallantly.] A woman is as old as she looks. You're not
thirty yet.

MARTHA--[Laughing.] After that nice remark I'll have to forgive
you everything, won't I? [LILY JAYSON comes in from the rear. She
is a slender, rather pretty girl of twenty-five. The stamp of
college student is still very much about her. She rather insists
on a superior, intellectual air, is full of nervous, thwarted
energy. At the sight of them sitting on the couch together, her
eyebrows are raised.]

LILY--[Coming into the room--breezily.] Hello, Martha. Hello, Big.
[They both get up with answering "Hellos."] I walked right in
regardless. Hope I'm not interrupting.