EILEEN (_thrilled by the depth of his present sincerity--but with a teasing laugh_). Why, you say that as if you'd just made the discovery, Stephen! MURRAY. Oh, what does it matter, Eileen! I love you! Oh, what a blind, selfish ass I've been! I love you! You are my life--everything! I love you, Eileen! I do! I do! And we'll be married---- (_Suddenly his face grows frozen with horror as he remembers the doom. For the first time the grey spectre of Death confronts him face to face as a menacing reality._) EILEEN (_terrified by the look in his eyes_). What is it, Stephen? What----? MURRAY (_with a groan--protesting half-aloud in a strangled voice_). No! No! It can't be----! My God! (_He clutches her hands and hides his face in them._) EILEEN (_with a cry_). Stephen! What is the matter? (_Her face suddenly betrays apprehension, an intuitive sense of the truth._) Oh--Stephen---- (_Then with a childish whimper of terror._) Oh, Stephen, I'm going to die! I'm going to die! MURRAY (_lifting his tortured face--wildly_). No! EILEEN (_her voice sinking to a dead, whisper_). I'm going to die. MURRAY (_seizing her in his arms in a passionate frenzy and pressing his lips to hers_). No, Eileen, no, my love, no! What are you saying? What could have made you think it? You--die? Why, of course, we're all going to die--but--Good God! What damned nonsense! You're getting well--every day. Everyone--Miss Gilpin--Stanton--everyone told me that. I swear before God, Eileen, they did! You're still weak, that's all. They said--it won't be long. You mustn't think that--not now. EILEEN (_miserably--unconvinced_). But why did you look at me--that way--with that awful look in your eyes----? (_While she is speaking_ Miss Gilpin _enters the room from the corridor. She appears worried, agitated. She hurries towards the porch, but stops inside the doorway, arrested by_ Murray's _voice._) MURRAY (_takes_ Eileen _by the shoulders and forces her to look into his eyes_). I wasn't thinking about you then---- No, Eileen--not you. I didn't mean you--but me--yes, me! I couldn't tell you before. They'd warned me--not to excite you--and I knew that would--if you loved me. EILEEN (_staring at him with frightened amazement_). You mean you--you're sick again? MURRAY (_desperately striving to convince her_). Yes. I saw Stanton. I lied to you before--about that. It's come back on me, Eileen--you see how I look--I've let myself go. I don't know how to live without you, don't you see? And you'll--marry me now--without waiting--and help me to get well--you and I together--and not mind their lies--what they say to prevent you? You'll do that, Eileen? EILEEN. I'll do anything for you---- And I'd be so happy---- (_She breaks down._) But, Stephen, I'm so afraid. I'm all mixed up. Oh, Stephen, I don't know what to believe!