Act 1, Scene 2 Summary

Margaret is meeting Billy at his office where it is clear that he is quite successful. Since the deaths of Mr. Brown and Mr. Anthony, Billy has operated the company on his own and has established himself as a fine architect. It is clear that Billy is still smitten with Margaret and he tries to spare her dignity during their discussion of the dire financial situation in the Anthony household. Margaret confides that she intends to take a job at the library, at which point Billy strongly suggests that Dion be convinced to come to work at Billy's firm. Margaret is visibly relieved and leaves with Billy vowing to himself to reprimand Dion very soon.

Act 1, Scene 2 Analysis

Even though Margaret's mask has not changed, she has personally transformed into a weary mother and wife exhausted from propping up an emotionally...