The Straw Part 19

MURRAY (_as they shake hands--smiling_). How are you, Miss Gilpin?

MISS GILPIN. He said he'd examined you, and that you were O.K. I'm glad. (_Glancing at him keenly._) You've been talking to Eileen?

MURRAY. Just left her this second. She wanted to sleep for a while.

MISS GILPIN (_wonderingly_). Sleep? (_Then hurriedly._) It's too bad. I wish I'd known you were here sooner. I wanted very much to talk to you before you saw Eileen. You see, I knew you'd pay us a visit some time.

(_With a worried smile._) I still think I ought to have a talk with you.

MURRAY. Certainly, Miss Gilpin.

MISS GILPIN (_takes a chair and places it near the hall door_). Sit down. She can't hear us here. Goodness knows this is hardly the place for confidences, but there are visitors all over and it'll have to do.

Did you close the door tightly? She mustn't hear me above all. (_She goes to the porch door and peeps out for a moment; then comes back to him with flashing eyes._) She's crying! What have you been saying to her? Oh, it's too late, I know! The fools shouldn't have permitted you to see her before I---- What has happened out there? Tell me! I must know.

MURRAY (_stammering_). Happened? Nothing. She's crying? Why, Miss Gilpin--you know I wouldn't hurt her for worlds.

MISS GILPIN (_more calmly_). Intentionally. I know you wouldn't. But something has happened. (_Then briskly._) We're talking at cross purposes. Since you don't seem inclined to confide in me, I'll have to in you. You noticed how badly she looks, didn't you?

MURRAY. Yes, I did.

MISS GILPIN (_gravely_). She's been going down hill steadily--(_meaningly_)--ever since you left. She's in a very serious state, let me impress you with that. We've all loved her, and felt so sorry for her and admired her spirit so--that's the only reason she's been allowed to stay here so long after her time. We've kept hoping she'd start to pick up--in another day--in another week. But now that's all over. Doctor Stanton has given up hope of her improving here, and her father is unwilling to pay for her elsewhere now he knows there's a cheaper place--the State Farm. So she's to be sent there in a day or so.

MURRAY (_springing to his feet--horrified_). To the State Farm!

MISS GILPIN. Her time here is long past. You know the rule--and she isn't getting better.

MURRAY (_appalled_). That means----!

MISS GILPIN (_forcibly_). Death! That's what it means for her!

MURRAY (_stunned_). Good G.o.d, I never dreamed----

MISS GILPIN. With others it might be different. They might improve under changed surroundings. In her case, it's certain. She'll die. And it wouldn't do any good to keep her here, either. She'd die here.

She'll die anywhere. She'll die because lately she's given up hope, she hasn't wanted to live any more. She's let herself go--and now it's too late.

MURRAY. Too late? You mean there's no chance--now? (Miss Gilpin _nods._ Murray _is overwhelmed--after a pause--stammering._) Isn't there--anything--we can do?

MISS GILPIN (_sadly_). I don't know. I should have talked to you before you---- You see, she's seen you now. She knows. (_As he looks mystified she continues slowly._) I suppose you know that Eileen loves you, don't you?

MURRAY (_as if defending himself against an accusation--with confused alarm_). No--Miss Gilpin. You're wrong, honestly. She may have felt something like that--once--but that was long ago before I left the San.

She's forgotten all about it since, I know she has. (Miss Gilpin _smiles bitterly._) Why, she never even alluded to it in any of her letters--all these months.

MISS GILPIN. Did you in yours?

MURRAY. No, of course not. You don't understand. Why--just now--she said that part of it had all been so silly she felt she'd acted like a fool and didn't ever want to be reminded of it.

MISS GILPIN. She saw that you didn't love her--any more than you did in the days before you left. Oh, I used to watch you then. I sensed what was going on between you. I would have stopped it then out of pity for her, if I could have, if I didn't know that any interference would only make matters worse. And then I thought that it might be only a surface affair--that after you were gone it would end for her. (_She sighs--then after a pause._) You'll have to forgive me for speaking to you so boldly on a delicate subject. But, don't you see, it's for her sake. I love Eileen. We all do. (_Averting her eyes from his--in a low voice._) I know how Eileen feels, Mr. Murray. Once--a long time ago--I suffered as she is suffering--from this same mistake. But I had resources to fall back upon that Eileen hasn't got--a family who loved me and understood--friends--so I pulled through. But it spoiled my life for a long time. (_Looking at him again and forcing a smile._) So I feel that perhaps I have a right to speak for Eileen who has no one else.

MURRAY (_huskily--much moved_). Say anything to me you like, Miss Gilpin.

MISS GILPIN (_after a pause--sadly_). You don't love her--do you?

MURRAY. No--I--I don't believe I've ever thought much of loving anyone--that way.

MISS GILPIN (_sadly_). Oh, it's too late, I'm afraid. If we had only had this talk before you had seen her! I meant to talk to you frankly and if I found out you didn't love Eileen--there was always the forlorn hope that you might--I was going to tell you not to see her, for her sake--not to let her face the truth. For I am sure she continued to hope in spite of everything, and always would--to the end--if she didn't see you. I was going to implore you to stay away, to write her letters that would encourage her hope, and in that way she would never learn the truth. I thought of writing you all this--but--it's so delicate a matter--I didn't have the courage. (_With intense grief._) And now Doctor Stanton's decision to send her away makes everything doubly hard. When she knows _that_--she will throw everything that holds her to life--out of the window! And think of it--her dying there alone!

MURRAY (_very pale_). Don't! That shan't happen. I can at least save her from that. I have money enough--I'll make more--to send her to any place you think----

MISS GILPIN. That is something--but it doesn't touch the source of her unhappiness. If there were only some way to make her happy in the little time that is left to her! She has suffered so much through you.

Oh, Mr. Murray, can't you tell her you love her?

MURRAY (_after a pause--slowly_). But she'll never believe me, I'm afraid, now.

MISS GILPIN (_eagerly_). But you must make her believe! And you must ask her to marry you. If you're engaged it will give you the right in her eyes to take her away. You can take her to some private San.

There's a small place, but a very good one, at White Lake. It's not too expensive, and it's a beautiful spot, out of the world, and you can live and work near by. And she'll be happy to the very last. Don't you think that's something--the best you have--the best you can give in return for her love for you?

MURRAY (_slowly--deeply moved_). Yes. (_Then determinedly._) But I won't go into this thing by halves. It isn't fair to her. I'm going to marry her--yes, I mean it. I owe her that if it will make her happy.

But to ask her without really meaning it--knowing she--no, I can't do that.

MISS GILPIN (_with a sad smile_). I'm glad you feel that way. It shouldn't be hard now for you to convince her. But I know Eileen. She will never consent--for your sake--until she is well again. And stop and think, Mr. Murray. Even if she did consent to marry you right now the shock--the excitement--it would be suicide for her. I would have to warn her against it myself; and you wouldn't propose it if you knew the danger to her in her present condition. She hasn't long to live, at best. I've talked with Dr. Stanton. I know. G.o.d knows I would be the first one to hold out hope if there was any. There isn't. It's merely a case of prolonging the short time left to her and making it happy. You must bear that in mind--as a fact!

MURRAY (_dully_). All right. I'll remember. But it's h.e.l.l to realise---- (_He turns suddenly towards the porch door._) I'll go out to her now while I feel--that--yes, I know I can make her believe me now.

MISS GILPIN. You'll tell me--later on?

MURRAY. Yes. (_He opens the door to the porch and goes out._ Miss Gilpin _stands for a moment looking after him worriedly. Then she sighs helplessly and goes out to the hall._ Murray _steps noiselessly out on the porch._ Eileen _is lying motionless with her eyes closed._ Murray _stands looking at her, his face showing the emotional stress he is under, a great pitying tenderness in his eyes. Then he seems to come to a revealing decision on what is best to do for he tiptoes to the bedside and bending down with a quick movement, takes her in his arms and kisses her._) Eileen!

EILEEN (_startled at first, resists automatically for a moment_).

Stephen! (_Then she succ.u.mbs and lies back in his arms with a happy sigh, putting both hands to the sides of his face and staring up at him adoringly._) Stephen, dear!

MURRAY (_quickly questioning her before she can question him_). You were fibbing--about that night--weren't you? You do love me, don't you, Eileen?

EILEEN (_breathlessly_). Yes--I--but you, Stephen--you don't love me.

(_She makes a movement as if to escape from his embrace._)

MURRAY (_genuinely moved--with tender rea.s.surance_). Why do you suppose I came up here if not to tell you I did? But they warned me--Miss Gilpin--that you were still weak and that I mustn't excite you in any way. And I--I didn't want--but I had to come back and tell you in spite of them.

EILEEN (_convinced--with a happy laugh_). And is that why you acted so strange--and cold? Aren't they silly to tell you that! As if being happy could hurt me! Why, it's just that, just you I've needed!

MURRAY (_his voice trembling_). And you'll marry me, Eileen?

EILEEN (_a shadow of doubt crossing her face momentarily_). Are you sure--you want me, Stephen?

MURRAY (_a lump in his throat--huskily_). Yes. I do want you, Eileen.

EILEEN (_happily_). Then I will--after I'm well again, of course. (_She kisses him._)

MURRAY (_chokingly_). That won't be long now, Eileen.