MRS. TURNER. I've been keeping my eye on you. You seem--worried. Are
you upset about--something we don't know?
EILEEN (_quickly_). No, no! I haven't slept much lately. That must be
it.
MRS. TURNER. Are you worrying about your condition? Is that what keeps
you awake?
EILEEN. No.
MRS. TURNER. You're sure it's not that?
EILEEN. Yes, I'm sure it's not, Mrs. Turner.
MRS. TURNER. I was going to tell you if you were: Don't do it! You
can't expect it to be all smooth sailing. Even the most favourable
cases have to expect these little setbacks. A few days' rest in bed
will start you on the right trail again.
EILEEN (_in anguish, although she had realised this was coming_). Bed?
Go back to bed? Oh, Mrs. Turner!
MRS. TURNER (_gently_). Yes, my dear, Doctor Stanton thinks it best. So
when you go back to your cottage----
EILEEN. Oh, please--not to-day--not right away!
MRS. TURNER. You had a temperature and a high pulse yesterday, didn't
you realise it? And this morning you look quite feverish. (_She tries
to put her hand on_ Eileen's _forehead, but the latter steps away
defensively._)
EILEEN. It's only--not sleeping last night. I was nervous. Oh, I'm sure
it'll go away.
MRS. TURNER (_consolingly_). When you lie still and have perfect rest,
of course it will.
EILEEN (_with a longing look over at_ Murray). But not to-day--please,
Mrs. Turner.
MRS. TURNER (_looking at her keenly_). There is something upsetting
you. You've something on your mind that you can't tell me, is that it?
(Eileen _maintains a stubborn silence._) But think--_can't_ you tell
me? (_With a kindly smile._) I'm used to other people's troubles. I've
been playing mother-confessor to the patients for years now, and I
think I've usually been able to help them. Can't you confide in me,
child? (Eileen _drops her eyes, but remains silent._ Mrs. Turner
_glances meaningly over at_ Murray, _who is watching them whenever he
thinks the matron is not aware of it--a note of sharp rebuke in her
voice._) I think I can guess your secret, my dear, even if you're too
stubborn to tell. This setback is your own fault. You've let other
notions become more important to you than the idea of getting well. And
you've no excuse for it. After I had to warn you a month ago, I
expected _that_ silliness to stop instantly.
EILEEN (_her face flushed--protesting_). There never was anything.
Nothing like that has anything to do with it.
MRS. TURNER (_sceptically_). What is it that has, then?
EILEEN (_lying determinedly_). It's my family. They keep writing--and
worrying me--and---- That's what it is, Mrs. Turner.
MRS. TURNER (_not exactly knowing whether to believe this or
not--probing the girl with her eyes_). Your father?
EILEEN. Yes, all of them. (_Suddenly seeing a way to discredit all of
the matron's suspicions--excitedly._) And principally the young man I'm
engaged to--the one who came to visit me several times----
MRS. TURNER (_surprised_). So--you're engaged? (Eileen _nods._ Mrs.
Turner _immediately dismisses her suspicions._) Oh, pardon me. I didn't
know that, you see, or I wouldn't---- (_She pats_ Eileen _on the
shoulder comfortingly._) Never mind. You'll tell me all about it, won't
you?
EILEEN (_desperately_). Yes. (_She seems about to go on, but the matron
interrupts her._)
MRS. TURNER. Oh, not here, my dear. Now now. Come to my room--let me
see--I'll be busy all the morning--some time this afternoon. Will you
do that?
EILEEN. Yes. (_Joyfully._) Then I needn't go to bed right away?
MRS. TURNER. No--on one condition. You mustn't take any exercise. Stay
in your recliner all day and rest and remain in bed to-morrow morning.
And promise me you will rest and not worry any more about things we can
easily fix up between us.
EILEEN. I promise, Mrs. Turner.
MRS. TURNER (_smiling in dismissal_). Very well, then. I must speak to
Miss Bailey. I'll see you this afternoon.
EILEEN. Yes, Mrs. Turner.
(_The matron goes to the rear where_ Miss Bailey _is sitting
with_ Mrs. Abner. _She beckons to_ Miss Bailey, _who gets up with
a scared look, and they go to the far left corner of the room._
Eileen _stands for a moment hesitating--then starts to go to_
Murray, _but just at this moment_ Peters _comes forward and
speaks to_ Murray.)
PETERS (_with his sly twisted grin_). Say, Carmody musta lost fierce.
Did yuh see the Old Woman handin' her an earful? Sent her back to bed,
I betcha. What d'yuh think?
MURRAY (_impatiently, showing his dislike_). How the hell do I know?
PETERS (_sneeringly_). Huh, you don't know nothin' 'bout her, I s'pose?
Where d'yuh get that stuff? Think yuh're kiddin' me?
MURRAY (_with cold rage before which the other slinks away_). Peters,
the more I see of you the better I like a skunk! If it wasn't for other
people losing weight you couldn't get any joy out of life, could you?
(_Roughly._) Get away from me! (_He makes a threatening gesture._)
PETERS (_beating a snarling retreat_). Wait 'n' see if yuh don't lose
too, yuh stuck-up boob!
(_Seeing that_ Murray _is alone again,_ Eileen _starts towards
him, but this time she is intercepted by_ Mrs. Abner, _who stops
on her way out. The weighing of the women is now finished, and
that of the men, which proceeds much quicker, begins._)
STANTON. Anderson!
(_Anderson comes to the scales. The men all move down to the
left to wait their turn, with the exception of_ Murray, _who
remains by the dining-room door, fidgeting impatiently, anxious
for a word with_ Eileen.)
MRS. ABNER (_taking_ Eileen's _arm_). Coming over to the cottage,
dearie?