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Since college Jack has been in love with Anne. The two grew up together and planned to be married. But when Jack actually got around to proposing, Anne put him off. She was waiting for him to find direction--a career or a social cause or whatever her \"Jackie-Bird\" wanted to do. Jack, however, had no ambitions. Thus, in contrast to Anne\'s highly respected father, Governor Stanton, and to her brother, Adam, the famous surgeon, Jack was a poor marriage risk. What do Anne\'s expectations in a husband reveal about her character?
When you first meet Anne, she is an unmarried woman approaching middle age, a volunteer charity worker. Her life seems empty, and she relies upon the traditions of her aristocratic upbringing to give her support. Jack still regards her as an unblemished, highly desirable woman; he is fascinated by her graceful movements and her \"woman\'s laugh\"--until he learns she has become Willie\'s mistress. He can\'t understand her actions and blames himself. Why has Anne gravitated toward Willie? What does Willie do for her that Jack can\'t?
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