MURRAY. He'll let me go. Yes, I know he will. I'm going to insist on
it.
EILEEN. Then--you'll leave----?
MURRAY. Right away. The minute I can get packed.
EILEEN (_trying to force a smile_). Oh, I'm so glad--for your sake;
but--I'm selfish--it'll be so lonely here without you.
MURRAY (_consolingly_). You'll be going away yourself before long.
(Eileen _shakes her head. He goes on without noticing, wrapped in his
own success._) Oh, Eileen, you can't imagine all it opens up for
me--selling that story. I don't have to go back home to stagnate. I can
go straight to New York, and live, and meet real people who are doing
things. I can take my time, and try and do the work I hope to.
(_Feelingly._) You don't know how grateful I am to you, Eileen--how
you've helped me. Oh, I don't mean just the typing, I mean your
encouragement, your faith! I'd never have had guts enough to stick to
it myself. The stories would never have been written if it hadn't been
for you.
EILEEN (_choking back a sob_). I didn't do--anything.
MURRAY (_staring down at her--with rough kindliness_). Here, here,
that'll never do! You're not weeping about it, are you, silly? (_He
pats her on the shoulder._) What's the matter, Eileen? You didn't eat a
thing this morning. I was watching you. (_With kindly severity._)
That's no way to gain weight, you know. You'll have to feed up. Do you
hear what your guardian commands, eh?
EILEEN (_with dull hopelessness_). I know I'll lose again. I've been
losing steadily the past three weeks.
MURRAY. Here! Don't you dare talk that way! I won't stand for it. Why,
you've been picking up wonderfully--until just lately. You've made such
a game fight for four months. Even the old Doc has told you how much he
admired your pluck, and how much better you were getting. You're not
going to quit now, are you?
EILEEN (_despairingly_). Oh, I don't care! I don't care--now.
MURRAY. Now? What do you mean by that? What's happened to make things
any different?
EILEEN (_evasively_). Oh--nothing. Don't ask me, Stephen.
MURRAY (_with sudden anger_). I don't have to ask you. I can guess.
Another letter from home--or from that ass, eh?
EILEEN (_shaking her head_). No, it isn't that. (_She looks at him as
if imploring him to comprehend._)
MURRAY (_furiously_). Of course, you'd deny it. You always do. But
don't you suppose I've got eyes? It's been the same damn thing all the
time you've been here. After every nagging letter--thank God they don't
write often any more!--you've been all in; and after their Sunday
visits--you can thank God they've been few, too--you're utterly knocked
out. It's a shame! The selfish swine!
EILEEN. Stephen!
MURRAY (_relentlessly._) Don't be sentimental, Eileen. You know it's
true. From what you've told me of their letters, their visits--from
what I've seen and suspected--they've done nothing but worry and
torment you and do their best to keep you from getting well.
EILEEN (_faintly_). You're not fair, Stephen.
MURRAY. Rot! When it isn't your father grumbling about expense, it's
the kids, or that stupid housekeeper, or that slick Aleck, Nicholls,
with his cowardly lies. Which is it this time?
EILEEN (_pitifully_). None of them.
MURRAY (_explosively_). But him, especially--the dirty cad! Oh, I've
got a rich notion to pay a call on that gentleman when I leave and tell
him what I think of him.
EILEEN (_quickly_). No--you mustn't ever! He's not to blame. If you
knew---- (_She stops, lowering her eyes in confusion._)
MURRAY (_roughly_). Knew what? You make me sick, Eileen--always finding
excuses for him. I never could understand what a girl like you could
see---- But what's the use? I've said all this before. You're wasting
yourself on a---- (_Rudely._) Love must be blind. And yet you say you
don't love him, really?
EILEEN (_shaking her head--helplessly_). But I do--like Fred. We've
been good friends so many years. I don't want to hurt him--his
pride----
MURRAY. That's the same as answering no to my question. Then, if you
don't love him, why don't you write and tell him to go to--break it
off? (Eileen _bows her head, but doesn't reply. Irritated,_ Murray
_continues brutally._) Are you afraid it would break his heart? Don't
be a fool! The only way you could do that would be to deprive him of
his meals.
EILEEN (_springing to her feet--distractedly_). Please stop, Stephen!
You're cruel! And you've been so kind--the only real friend I've had up
here. Don't spoil it all now.
MURRAY (_remorsefully_). I'm sorry, Eileen. I was only talking. I won't
say another word. (_Irritably._) Still, someone ought to say or do
something to put a stop to----
EILEEN (_with a broken laugh_). Never mind. Everything will stop--soon,
now!
MURRAY (_suspiciously_). What do you mean?
EILEEN (_with an attempt at a careless tone_). Nothing. If you can't
see---- (_She turns to him with sudden intensity._) Oh, Stephen, if you
only knew how wrong you are about everything you've said. It's all
true; but it isn't that--any of it--any more--that's---- Oh, I can't
tell you!
MURRAY (_with great interest_). Please do, Eileen!
EILEEN (_with a helpless laugh_). No.
MURRAY. Please tell me what it is! Let me help you.
EILEEN. No. It wouldn't be any use, Stephen.
MURRAY (_offended_). Why do you say that? Haven't I helped before?