LILY--[Mockingly.] Mark, your frau seems to have me on the stand.
Can I refuse to answer? [There is a ring at the bell. LILY jumps
to her feet excitedly.] Here comes the rest of our Grand Fleet.
Now I'll have my tea. [She darts out to the hallway.]

ESTHER--[Shaking her head.] Goodness, Lily is trying on the
nerves. [JAYSON, his two sons, JOHN and DICK, and JOHN's wife,
EMILY, enter from hallway in rear. JAYSON, the father, is a short,
stout, bald-headed man of sixty. A typical, small-town, New
England best-family banker, reserved in pose, unobtrusively
important--a placid exterior hiding querulousness and a fussy
temper. JOHN JUNIOR is his father over again in appearance, but
pompous, obtrusive, purse-and-family-proud, extremely irritating
in his self-complacent air of authority, emptily assertive and
loud. He is about forty. RICHARD, the other brother, is a typical
young Casino and country club member, college-bred, good looking,
not unlikable. He has been an officer in the war and has not
forgotten it. EMILY, JOHN JR.'s wife, is one of those small,
mouse-like women who conceal beneath an outward aspect of gentle,
unprotected innocence a very active envy, a silly pride, and a
mean malice. The people in the room with the exception of MRS.
DAVIDSON rise to greet them. All exchange familiar, perfunctory
greetings. SHEFFIELD relinquishes his seat in front of the table
to JAYSON, going to the chair, right front, himself. JOHN and DICK
take the two chairs to the rear of table. EMILY joins ESTHER on
the couch and they whisper together excitedly, ESTHER doing most
of the talking. The men remain in uncomfortable silence for a
moment.]