my occupation's gone. All I do is read book after book. The only
live people are the ones in books, I find, and the only live life.

MARTHA--[Immediately sympathetic.] You're lonely, that's what,
Lily.

LILY--[Drily.] Don't pity me, Martha--or I'll join the enemy.

MARTHA--I'm not. But I'd like to help you if I could. [After a
pause.] Have you ever thought of marrying?

LILY--[With a laugh.] Martha! How banal! The men I see are enough
to banish that thought if I ever had it.

MARTHA--Marriage isn't only the man. It's children. Wouldn't you
like to have children?

LILY--[Turning to her bluntly.] Wouldn't you?

MARTHA--[ Confused. ] But--Lily--

LILY--Oh, I know it wasn't practicable as long as you elected to
wander with Curt--but why not now when you've definitely settled
down here? I think that would solve things all round. If you could
present Father with a grandson, I'm sure he'd fall on your neck.
He feels piqued at the John and Esther families because they've
had a run of girls. A male Jayson! Aunt Davidson would weep with
joy. [Suddenly.] You're thirty-eight, aren't you, Martha?

MARTHA--Yes. LILY--Then why don't you--before it's too late?