_as they whisper._ Mrs. Turner _leads her down
front, left. Behind them the weighing of the women continues
briskly. The great majority have gained. Those who have not have
either remained stationary or lost a negligible fraction of a
pound. So, as the weighing proceeds, the general air of smiling
satisfaction rises among the groups of women. Some of them, their
ordeal over, go out through the hall doorway by twos and threes
with suppressed laughter and chatter. As they pass behind_ Eileen
_they glance at her with pitying curiosity._ Doctor Stanton's
_voice is heard at regular intervals calling the names in
alphabetical order: Mrs. Elbing, Miss Finch, Miss Grimes, Miss
Haines, Miss Hayes, Miss Jutner, Miss Linowski, Mrs. Marini, Mrs.
McCoy, Miss McElroy, Miss Nelson, Mrs. Nott, Mrs. O'Brien, Mrs.
Olson, Miss Paul, Miss Petrovski, Mrs. Quinn, Miss Robersi, Mrs.
Stattler, Miss Unger._)

MRS. TURNER (_putting her hand on_ Eileen's _shoulder--kindly_). You're
not looking so well lately, my dear, do you know it?

EILEEN (_bravely_). I feel--fine. (_Her eyes, as if looking for
encouragement, seek_ Murray, _who is staring at her worriedly._)

MRS. TURNER (_gently_). You lost weight again, you know.

EILEEN, I know--but----

MRS. TURNER. This is the fourth week.

EILEEN. I--I know it is----

MRS. TURNER. I've been keeping my eye on you. You seem--worried. Are
you upset about--something we don't know?

EILEEN (_quickly_). No, no! I haven't slept much lately. That must be
it.

MRS. TURNER. Are you worrying about your condition? Is that what keeps
you awake?

EILEEN. No.

MRS. TURNER. You're sure it's not that?

EILEEN. Yes, I'm sure it's not, Mrs. Turner.

MRS. TURNER. I was going to tell you if you were: Don't do it! You
can't expect it to be all smooth sailing. Even the most favourable
cases have to expect these little setbacks. A few days' rest in bed
will start you on the right trail again.

EILEEN (_in anguish, although she had realised this was coming_). Bed?
Go back to bed? Oh, Mrs. Turner!

MRS. TURNER (_gently_). Yes, my dear, Doctor Stanton thinks it best. So
when you go back to your cottage----

EILEEN. Oh, please--not to-day--not right away!

MRS. TURNER. You had a temperature and a high pulse yesterday, didn't
you realise it? And this morning you look quite feverish. (_She tries
to put her hand on_ Eileen's _fo