head with eager, fearful glances
towards the door, listening, clasping and unclasping her thin
fingers on the white spread. As_ Miss Howard _walks across the
room to the hall door, it is opened and_ Stephen Murray _enters.
A great change is visible in his face. It is much thinner and the
former healthy tan has faded to a sallow pallor. Puffy shadows of
sleeplessness and dissipation are marked under his heavy-lidded
eyes. He is dressed in a well-fitting, expensive dark suit, a
white shirt with a soft collar and bright-coloured tie._)

MISS HOWARD (_with pleased surprise, holding out her hand_). Hello, Mr.
Murray.

MURRAY (_shaking her hand--with a forced pleasantness_). How are you,
Miss Howard?

MISS HOWARD. Fine as ever. It certainly looks natural to see you around
here again--not that I hope you're here to stay, though. (_With a
smile._) I suppose you're on your way to Eileen now. Well, I won't keep
you. I've stacks of work to do. (_She opens the hall door. He starts
for the porch._) Oh, I was forgetting--Congratulations! I've read those
stories--all of us have. They're great. We're all so proud of you.
You're one of our graduates, you know.

MURRAY (_indifferently_). Oh,--that stuff.

MISS HOWARD (_gaily_). Don't be so modest. Well, see you later, I hope.

MURRAY. Yes. Doctor Stanton invited me to stay for supper and I may----

MISS HOWARD. Fine! Be sure to!

(_She goes out._ Murray _walks to porch door and steps out. He
finds_ Eileen's _eyes waiting for him. As their eyes meet she
gasps involuntarily and he stops short in his tracks. For a
moment they remain looking at each other in silence._)

EILEEN (_dropping her eyes--faintly_). Stephen.

MURRAY (_much moved, strides to her bedside and takes her hands
awkwardly_). Eileen. (_Then after a second's pause, in which he
searches her face and is shocked by the change illness has
made--anxiously._) How are you feeling, Eileen? (_He grows confused
by her gaze and his eyes shift from hers, which search his face with
wild yearning._)

EILEEN (_forcing a smile_). Oh, I'm all right. (_Eagerly._) But you,
Stephen? How are you? (_Excitedly._) Oh, it's good to see you again!
(_Her eyes continue fixed on his face pleadingly, questioningly._)

MURRAY (_haltingly_). And it's sure great to see you again, Eileen.
(_He releases her hand and turns away._) And I'm fine and dandy. I
look a little done