MISS GILPIN (_who has been listening thunderstruck to_ Murray's _wild pleading, at last summons up the determination to interfere--steps out on the porch--a tone of severe remonstrance_). Mr. Murray! MURRAY (_starts to his feet with wild, bewildered eyes--confusedly_). Oh--you---- (Miss Gilpin _cannot restrain an exclamation of dismay as she sees his face wrung by despair._ Eileen _turns her head away with a little cry, as if she would hide her face in the bedclothes. A sudden fierce resolution lights up_ Murray's _countenance--hoarsely._) You're just in the nick of time, Miss Gilpin! Eileen! Listen! You'll believe Miss Gilpin, won't you? She knows all about it. (Eileen _turns her eyes questioningly on the bewildered nurse._) MISS GILPIN. What----? MURRAY (_determinedly_). Miss Gilpin, Doctor Stanton has spoken to you since he examined me. He must have told you the truth about me. Eileen doesn't believe me--when I tell her I've got T.B. again. She thinks--I don't know what. I know you're not supposed to, but can't you make an exception--in this case? Can't you tell Eileen the truth? MISS GILPIN (_stunned by being thus defiantly confronted--stammeringly_). Mr. Murray! I--I--how can you ask---- MURRAY (_quickly_). Eileen has a right to know. She loves me--and I--I--love her! (_He holds her eyes and speaks with a passion of sincerity that compels belief._) I love her, do you hear? MISS GILPIN (_falteringly_). You--love--Eileen? MURRAY. Yes! I do! (_Entreatingly._) So--tell her--won't you? MISS GILPIN (_swallowing hard, her eyes full of pity and sorrow fixed on_ Eileen). Yes--Eileen--it's true. (_She turns away slowly towards the door._) EILEEN (_with a little cry of alarmed concern, stretches out her hands to_ Murray _protectingly_). Poor Stephen--dear! (_He grasps her hands and kisses them._) MISS GILPIN (_in a low voice_). Mr. Murray. May I speak to you for a moment? MURRAY (_with a look of questioning defiance at her_). Certainly. MISS GILPIN (_turns to_ Eileen _with a forced smile_). I won't steal him away for more than a moment, Eileen. (Eileen _smiles happily._) MURRAY (_follows_ Miss Gilpin _into the room. She leads him to the far end of the room near the door to the hall, after shutting the porch door carefully behind him. He looks at her defiantly_). Well? MISS GILPIN (_in low agitated tones_). What has happened? What is the meaning--I feel as if I may have done a great wrong to myself--to you--to her--by that lie. And yet--something impelled me.