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.