ce mother died. (_With a half-sob she suddenly
throws her arms about his neck and hides her face on his shoulder. He
shudders and fights against an impulse to push her away._) But I'll
miss you most of all, Fred. (_She lifts her lips towards his, expecting
a kiss. He seems about to kiss her--then averts his face with a
shrinking movement, pretending he hasn't seen._ Eileen's _eyes grow
wide with horror. She throws herself back into her chair, staring
accusingly at_ Nicholls. _She speaks chokingly._) Fred! Why--why didn't
you kiss--what is it? Are you--afraid? (_With a moaning sound._) Oooh!

NICHOLLS (_goaded by this accusation into a display of manhood, seizes
her fiercely by the arms_). No! What--what d'you mean? (_He tries to
kiss her, but she hides her face._)

EILEEN (_in a muffled voice of hysterical self-accusation, pushing his
head away_). No, no, you mustn't! I was wrong. The doctor told you not
to, didn't he? Please don't, Fred! It would be awful if anything
happened to you--through me. (Nicholls _gives up his attempts, recalled
to caution by her words. She raises her face and tries to force a smile
through her tears._) But you can kiss me on the forehead, Fred. That
can't do any harm. (_His face crimson, he does so. She laughs
hysterically._) It seems so silly--being kissed that way--by you. (_She
gulps back a sob and continued to attempt to joke._) I'll have to get
used to it, won't I?

THE CURTAIN FALLS

Act One: Scene Two.

_The reception room of the Infirmary, a large, high-ceilinged room
painted white, with oiled, hard wood floor. In the left wall,
forward, a row of four windows. Farther back, the main entrance
from the drive, and another window. In the rear wall left, a glass
partition looking out on the sleeping porch. A row of white beds,
with the faces of patients barely peeping out from under piles of
heavy bed-clothes, can be seen. To the right of this partition, a
bookcase, and a door leading to the hall past the patients' rooms.
Farther right, another door opening on the examining room. In the
right wall, rear, a door to the office. Farther forward, a row of
windows. In front of the windows, a long dining-table with chairs.
On the left of the table, towards the centre of the room, a chimney
with two open fire-places, facing left and right. Several wicker
armchairs are placed around the fire-place on the left in which a
ch