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? EILEEN. Not just this minute, Mrs. Abner. I have to wait---- MRS. ABNER. For the Old Woman? You lost to-day, didn't you? Is she sendin' you to bed, the old devil? EILEEN. Yes, I'm afraid I'll have to---- MRS. ABNER. She's a mean one, ain't she? I gained this week--half a pound. Lord, I'm gittin' fat! All my clothes are gittin' too small for me. Don't know what I'll do. Did you lose much, dearie? EILEEN. Three pounds. MRS. ABNER. Ain't that awful! (_Hastening to make up for this thoughtless remark._) All the same, what's three pounds! You can git them back in a week after you're resting more. You been runnin' a temp, too, ain't you? (_Eileen nods._) Don't worry about it, dearie. It'll go down. Worryin's the worst. Me, I don't never worry none. (_She chuckled with satisfaction--then soberly._) I just been talkin' with Bailey. She's got to go to bed, too, I guess. She lost two pounds. She ain't runnin' no temp though. STANTON. Barnes! (_Another man comes to the scales._) MRS. ABNER (_in a mysterious whisper_). Look at Mr. Murray, dearie. Ain't he nervous to-day? I don't know as I blame him, either. I heard the doctor said he'd let him go home if he gained to-day. Is it true, d'you know? EILEEN (_dully_). I don't know. MRS. ABNER. Gosh, I wish it was me! My old man's missin' me like the dickens, he writes. (_She starts to go._) You'll be over to the cottage in a while, won't you? Me 'n' you'll have a game of casino, eh? EILEEN (_happy at this deliverance_). Yes, I'll be glad to. STANTON. Cordero!