MURRAY (_moved_). Don't regret it, Miss Gilpin! It has saved her--us. Oh, how can I explain what happened? I suddenly saw--how beautiful and sweet and good she is--how I couldn't bear the thought of life without her--her love---- That's all. (_Determinedly._) She must marry me at once and I will take her away--the far West--any place Stanton thinks can help. And she can take care of me--as she thinks--and I know she will grow well as I seem to grow well. Oh Miss Gilpin, don't you see? No half and half measures--no promises--no conditional engagements--can help us--help her. We love too much! (_Fiercely, as if defying her._) But we'll win together. We can! We must! There are things your doctors cannot value--cannot know the strength of! (_Exultantly._) You'll see! I'll make Eileen get well, I tell you! Happiness will cure! Love is stronger than---- (_He suddenly breaks down before the pitying negation she cannot keep from her eyes. He sinks on a chair, shoulders bowed, face hidden in his hands, with a groan of despair._) Oh, why did you give me a hopeless hope? MISS GILPIN (_putting her hand on his shoulder--with tender compassion--sadly_). Isn't everything we know--just that--when you think of it? (_Her face lighting up with a consoling revelation._) But there must be something behind it--some promise of fulfilment,--somehow--somewhere--in the spirit of hope itself. MURRAY (_dully_). Yes--but what do words mean to me now? (_Then suddenly starting to his feet and flinging off her hand with disdainful strength--violently and almost insultingly._) What damned rot! I tell you we'll win! We must! Oh, I'm a fool to waste words on you! What can you know? Love isn't in the materia medica. Your predictions--all the verdicts of all the doctors--what do they matter to me? This is--beyond you! And we'll win in spite of you! (_Scornfully._) How dare you use the word hopeless--as if it were the last! Come now, confess, damn it! There's always hope, isn't there? What do you _know_? Can you say you _know_ anything? MISS GILPIN (_taken aback by his violence for a moment, finally bursts into a laugh of helplessness which is close to tears_). I? I know nothing--absolutely nothing! God bless you both! (_She raises her handkerchief to her eyes and hurries out to the corridor without turning her head._ Murray _stands looking after her for a moment; then strides out to the porch._) EILEEN (_turning and greeting him with a shy smile of happiness as he comes and kneels by her bedside_). Stephen! (_He kisses her. She strokes his hair and continues in a tone of motherly, self-forgetting solicitude._) I'll have to look out for you, Stephen, won't I? From now on? And see that you rest so many hours a day--and drink your milk when I drink mine--and go to bed at nine sharp when I do--and obey everything I tell you--and---- THE CURTAIN FALLS