MISS GILPIN (_smiling_). Of course you didn't. And now if you'll come
with me I'll show you your room. We'll have a little chat there and I
can explain all the other important rules in a second. The gentlemen
can make themselves comfortable in the meantime. We won't be gone more
than a moment.
NICHOLLS (_feeling called upon to say something_). Yes--we'll
wait--certainly, we're all right.
(Carmody _remains silent, glowering at the fire._ Nicholls _sits
down beside him._ Miss Gilpin _and_ Eileen _go out._ Murray
_switches his chair so that he can observe the two men out of the
corner of his eye while pretending to be absorbed in his book._)
CARMODY (_looking about shiftily and reaching for the inside pocket of
his overcoat_). I'll be havin' a nip now we're alone, and that cacklin'
hen gone. I'm feelin' sick in the pit of the stomach. (_He pulls out a
pint flask, half full._)
NICHOLLS (_excitedly_). For God's sake, don't! Put that bottle away!
(_In a whisper._) Don't you see that fellow in the chair there?
CARMODY (_taking a big drink_). Ah, I'm not mindin' a man at all. Sure
I'll bet it's himself would be likin' a taste of the same. (_He appears
about to get up and invite_ Murray _to join him, but_ Nicholls _grabs
his arm._)
NICHOLLS (_with a frightened look at_ Murray _who appears buried in his
book_). Stop it, you---- Don't you know he's probably a patient and
they don't allow them----
CARMODY (_scornfully_). A sick one, and him readin' a book like a dead
man without a civil word out of him! It's queer they'd be allowin' the
sick ones to read books, when I'll bet it's the same lazy readin' in
the house brought the half of them down with the consumption itself.
(_Raising his voice._) I'm thinking this whole shebang is a big,
thievin' fake--and I've always thought so.
NICHOLLS (_furiously_). Put that bottle away, damn it! And don't shout.
You're not in a public-house.
CARMODY (_with provoking calm_). I'll put it back when I'm ready, not
before, and no lip from you!
NICHOLLS (_with fierce disgust_). You're drunk now. It's disgusting.
CARMODY (_raging_). Drunk, am I? Is it the like of a young jackass like
you that's still wet behind the ears to be tellin' me I'm drunk?
NICHOLLS (_half-rising from his chair--pleadingly_). For heaven's sake,
Mr. Carmody, remember where we are and don't raise any rumpus. What'll
Eileen say? Do you want to make trouble for her at the start?
CARMODY (_puts the bottle away hastily, mumbling to himself--then
glowers about the room scornfully with blinking eyes_). It's a grand
hotel this is, I'm thinkin', for the rich to be takin' their ease, and
not a hospital for the poor, but the poor has to pay for it.
NICHOLLS (_fearful of another outbreak_). Sssh!
CARMODY. Don't be shshin' at me? I'm tellin' you the truth. I'd make
Eileen come back out of this to-night if that divil of a doctor didn't
have me by the throat.
NICHOLLS (_glancing at him nervously_). I wonder how soon she'll be
back? The carriage is waiting for us. We'll have to hurry to make that
last train back. If we miss it--it means two hours on the damn tram.
CARMODY (_angrily_). Is it anxious to get out of her sight you are, and
you engaged to marry and pretendin' to love her? (Nicholls _flushes
guiltily._ Murray _pricks up his ears and stares over at_ Nicholls.
_The latter meets his glance, scowls, and hurriedly averts his eyes._
Carmody _goes on accusingly._) Sure, it's no heart at all you have--and
her your sweetheart for years--and her sick with the consumption--and
you wild to run away from her and leave her alone.
NICHOLLS (_springing to his feet--furiously_). That's a----! (_He
controls himself with an effort. His voice trembles._) You're not
responsible for the idiotic things you're saying or I'd---- (_He turns
away, seeking some escape from the old man's tongue._) I'll see if the
man is still there with the carriage. (_He walks to the door on left
and goes out._)
CARMODY (_following him with his eyes_). Go to hell, for all I'm
preventin'. You've got no guts of a man in you. (_He addresses_ Murray
_with the good nature inspired by the flight of_ Nicholls.) Is it true
you're one of the consumptives, young fellow?
MURRAY (_delighted by this speech--with a grin_). Yes, I'm one of them.
CARMODY. My name's Carmody. What's yours, then?
MURRAY. Murray.
CARMODY (_slapping his thigh_). Irish as Paddy's pig! (Murray _nods._
Carmody _brightens and grows confidential._) I'm glad to be knowin'
you're one of us. You can keep an eye on Eileen. That's my daughter
that came with us. She's got consumption like yourself.
MURRAY. I'll be glad to do all I can.
CARMODY. Thanks to you--though it's a grand life she'll be havin' here
from the fine look of the place. (_With whining self-pity._) It's me
it's hard on, God help me, with four small children and me widowed, and
havin' to hire a woman to come in and look after them and the house now
that Eileen's sick; and payin' for her curin' in this place, and me
with only a bit of money in the bank for my old age. That's hard, now,
on a man, and who'll say it isn't?
MURRAY (_made uncomfortable by this confidence_). Hard luck always
comes in bunches. (_To head off_ Carmody _who is about to give vent to
more woe--quickly, with a glance towards the door from the hall._) If
I'm not mistaken, here comes your daughter now.
CARMODY (_as_ Eileen _comes into the room_). I'll make you acquainted.
Eileen! (_She comes over to them, embarrassed to find her father in his
condition so chummy with a stranger._ Murray _rises to his feet._) This
is Mr. Murray, Eileen. I want you to meet. He's Irish and he'll put you
on to the ropes of the place. He's got the consumption, too, God pity
him.
EILEEN (_distressed_). Oh, Father, how can you---- (_With a look at_
Murray _which pleads for her father._) I'm glad to meet you, Mr.
Murray.
MURRAY (_with a straight glance at her which is so frankly admiring
that she flushes and drops her eyes_). I'm glad to meet you. (_The
front door is opened and_ Nicholls _re-appears, shivering with the
cold. He stares over at the others with ill-concealed irritation._)
CARMODY (_noticing him--with malicious satisfaction_). Oho, here you
are again. (Nicholls _scowls and turns away._ Carmody _addresses his
daughter with a sly wink at_ Murray.) I thought Fred was slidin' down
hill to the train with his head bare to the frost, and him so desperate
hurried to get away from here. Look at the knees on him clappin'
together with the cold, and with the great fear that's in him he'll be
catchin' a sickness in this place! (Nicholls, _his guilty conscience
stabbed to the quick, turns pale with impotent rage._)
EILEEN (_remonstrating pitifully_). Father! Please! (_She hurries over
to_ Nicholls.) Oh, please don't mind him, Fred. You know what he is
when he's drinking. He doesn't mean a word he's saying.
NICHOLLS (_thickly_). That's all right--for you to say. But I won't
forget--I'm sick and tired standing for--I'm not used to--such people.
EILEEN (_shrinking from him_). Fred!
NICHOLLS (_with a furious glance at_ Murray). Before that cheap slob,
too--letting him know everything!
EILEEN (_faintly_). He seems--very nice.
NICHOLLS. You've got your eyes set on him already, have you? Leave it
to you! No fear of your not having a good time of it out here!
EILEEN. Fred!
NICHOLLS. Well, go ahead if you want to. I don't care. I'll----
(_Startled by the look of anguish which comes over her face, he hastily
swallows his words. He takes out his watch--fiercely._) We'll miss that
train, damn it!
EILEEN (_in a stricken tone_). Oh, Fred! (_Then forcing back her tears
she calls to_ Carmody _in a strained voice._) Father! You'll have to go
now. Miss Gilpin told me to tell you you'd have to go right away to
catch the train.
CARMODY (_shaking hands with_ Murray). I'll be goin'. Keep your eye on
her. I'll be out soon to see her and you and me'll have another talk.
MURRAY. Glad to. Good-bye for the present. (_He walks to windows on the
far right, turning his back considerately on their leave-taking._)
EILEEN (_comes to_ Carmody _and hangs on his arm as they proceed to the
door_). Be sure and kiss them all for me--Billy and Tom and Nora and
little Mary--and bring them out to see me as soon as you can, father,
please! And you come often, too, won't you? And don't forget to tell
Mrs. Brennan all the directions I gave you coming out on the train. I
told her, but she mightn't remember--about Mary's bath--and to give Tom
his----
CARMODY (_impatiently_). Hasn't she brought up brats of her own, and
doesn't she know the way of it? Don't be worryin' now, like a fool.
EILEEN (_helplessly_). Never mind telling her, then. I'll write to her.
CARMODY. You'd better not. Leave her alone. She'll not wish you mixin'
in with her work and tellin' her how to do it.
EILEEN (_aghast_). Her work! (_She seems at the end of her
tether--wrung too dry for any further emotion. She kisses her father at
the door with indifference and speaks calmly._) Good-bye, father.
CARMODY (_in a whining tone of injury_). A cold kiss! And never a small
tear out of her! Is your heart a stone? (_Drunken tears well from his
eyes and he blubbers._) And your own father going back to a lone house
with a stranger in it!
EILEEN (_wearily, in a dead voice_). You'll miss your train, father.
CARMODY (_raging in a second_). I'm off, then! Come on, Fred. It's no
welcome we have with her here in this place--and a great curse on this
day I brought her to it! (_He stamps out._)
EILEEN (_in the same dead tone_). Good-bye, Fred.
NICHOLLS (_repenting his words of a moment ago--confusedly_). I'm
sorry, Eileen--for what I said. I didn't mean--you know what your
father is--excuse me, won't you?
EILEEN (_without feeling_). Yes.
NICHOLLS. And I'll be out soon--in a week if I can make it. Well
then,--good-bye for the present. (_He bends down as if to kiss her, but
she shrinks back out of his reach._)
EILEEN (_a faint trace of mockery in her weary voice_). No, Fred.
Remember you mustn't now.
NICHOLLS (_in an instant huff_). Oh, if that's the way you feel
about----
(_He strides out and slams the door viciously behind him._ Eileen
_walks slowly back towards the fire-place, her face fixed in a
dead calm of despair. As she sinks into one of the armchairs, the
strain becomes too much. She breaks down, hiding her face in her
hands, her frail shoulders heaving with the violence of her sobs.
At this sound,_ Murray _turns from the windows and comes over
near her chair._)
MURRAY (_after watching her for a moment--in an embarrassed tone of
sympathy_). Come on, Miss Carmody, that'll never do. I know it's hard
at first--but--getting yourself all worked up is bad for you. You'll
run a temperature and then they'll keep you in bed--which isn't
pleasant. Take hold of yourself! It isn't so bad up here--really--once
you get used to it! (_The shame she feels at giving way in the presence
of a stranger only adds to her loss of control and she sobs
heartbrokenly._ Murray _walks up and down nervously, visibly nonplussed
and upset. Finally he hits upon something._) One of the nurses will be
in any minute. You don't want them to see you like this.
EILEEN (_chokes back her sobs and finally raises her face and attempts
a smile_). I'm sorry--to make such a sight of myself. I just couldn't
help it.
MURRAY (_jocularly_). Well, they say a good cry does you a lot of good.
EILEEN (_forcing a smile_). I do feel--better.
MURRAY (_staring at her with a quizzical smile--cynically_). You
shouldn't take those lovers' squabbles so seriously. To-morrow he'll be
sorry--you'll be sorry. He'll write begging forgiveness--you'll do
ditto. Result--all serene again.
EILEEN (_a shadow of pain on her face--with dignity_). Don't--please.
MURRAY (_angry at himself--hanging his head contritely_). I'm a fool.
Pardon me. I'm rude sometimes--before I know it. (_He shakes off his
confusion with a renewed attempt at a joking tone._) You can blame your
father for any breaks I make. He made me your guardian, you know--told
me to see that you behaved.
EILEEN (_with a genuine smile_). Oh, father! (_Flushing._) You mustn't
mind anything he said to-night.
MURRAY (_thoughtlessly_). Yes, he was well lit up. I envied him.
(Eileen _looks very shame-faced._ Murray _sees it and exclaims in
exasperation at himself._) Darn! There I go again putting my foot in
it! (_With an irrepressible grin._) I ought to have my tongue operated
on--that's what's the matter with me. (_He laughs and throws himself in
a chair._)
EILEEN (_forced in spite of herself to smile with him_). You're candid,
at any rate, Mr. Murray.
MURRAY. Don't misunderstand me. Far be it from me to cast slurs at your
father's high spirits. I said I envied him his jag and that's the
truth. The same candour compels me to confess that I was pickled to the
gills myself when I arrived here. Fact! I made love to all the nurses
and generally disgraced myself--and had a wonderful time.
EILEEN. I suppose it does make you forget your troubles--for a while.
MURRAY (_waving this aside_). I didn't want to forget--not for a
second. I wasn't drowning my sorrow. I was hilariously celebrating.
EILEEN (_astonished--by this time quite interested in this queer fellow
to the momentary forgetfulness of her own grief_). Celebrating--coming
here? But--aren't you sick?
MURRAY. T.B.? Yes, of course. (_Confidentially._) But it's only a
matter of time when I'll be all right again. I hope it won't be too
soon. I was dying for a rest--a good, long rest with time to think
about things. I'm due to get what I wanted here. That's why I
celebrated.