STANTON. Miss Carmody.
(Eileen _starts nervously._)
MURRAY (_as she leaves him_). Remember now! Break the scales!
(_She walks quickly to the scales, trying to assume an air of
defiant indifference. The balance stays down as she steps up._
Eileen's _face shows her despair at this._ Simms _weighs her and
gives the poundage in a low voice to_ Stanton. Eileen _steps down
mechanically, then hesitates as if not knowing where to turn, her
anguished eyes flitting from one group to another._)
MURRAY (_savagely_). Damn!
(Doctor Stanton _writes the figures in his book, glances sharply
at_ Eileen, _and then nods significantly to_ Mrs. Turner _who is
standing beside him._)
STANTON (_calling the next_). Miss Doeffler.
(_Another woman comes to be weighed._)
MRS. TURNER. Miss Carmody! Will you come here a moment, please?
EILEEN (_her face growing very pale_). Yes, Mrs. Turner.
(_The heads of the different groups bend together. Their eyes
follow_ Eileen _as they whisper._ Mrs. Turner _leads her down
front, left. Behind them the weighing of the women continues
briskly. The great majority have gained. Those who have not have
either remained stationary or lost a negligible fraction of a
pound. So, as the weighing proceeds, the general air of smiling
satisfaction rises among the groups of women. Some of them, their
ordeal over, go out through the hall doorway by twos and threes
with suppressed laughter and chatter. As they pass behind_ Eileen
_they glance at her with pitying curiosity._ Doctor Stanton's
_voice is heard at regular intervals calling the names in
alphabetical order: Mrs. Elbing, Miss Finch, Miss Grimes, Miss
Haines, Miss Hayes, Miss Jutner, Miss Linowski, Mrs. Marini, Mrs.
McCoy, Miss McElroy, Miss Nelson, Mrs. Nott, Mrs. O'Brien, Mrs.
Olson, Miss Paul, Miss Petrovski, Mrs. Quinn, Miss Robersi, Mrs.
Stattler, Miss Unger._)
MRS. TURNER (_putting her hand on_ Eileen's _shoulder--kindly_). You're
not looking so well lately, my dear, do you know it?
EILEEN (_bravely_). I feel--fine. (_Her eyes, as if looking for
encouragement, seek_ Murray, _who is staring at her worriedly._)
MRS. TURNER (_gently_). You lost weight again, you know.