y?

MRS. TURNER. No--on one condition. You mustn't take any exercise. Stay
in your recliner all day and rest and remain in bed to-morrow morning.
And promise me you will rest and not worry any more about things we can
easily fix up between us.

EILEEN. I promise, Mrs. Turner.

MRS. TURNER (_smiling in dismissal_). Very well, then. I must speak to
Miss Bailey. I'll see you this afternoon.

EILEEN. Yes, Mrs. Turner.

(_The matron goes to the rear where_ Miss Bailey _is sitting
with_ Mrs. Abner. _She beckons to_ Miss Bailey, _who gets up with
a scared look, and they go to the far left corner of the room._
Eileen _stands for a moment hesitating--then starts to go to_
Murray, _but just at this moment_ Peters _comes forward and
speaks to_ Murray.)

PETERS (_with his sly twisted grin_). Say, Carmody musta lost fierce.
Did yuh see the Old Woman handin' her an earful? Sent her back to bed,
I betcha. What d'yuh think?

MURRAY (_impatiently, showing his dislike_). How the hell do I know?

PETERS (_sneeringly_). Huh, you don't know nothin' 'bout her, I s'pose?
Where d'yuh get that stuff? Think yuh're kiddin' me?

MURRAY (_with cold rage before which the other slinks away_). Peters,
the more I see of you the better I like a skunk! If it wasn't for other
people losing weight you couldn't get any joy out of life, could you?
(_Roughly._) Get away from me! (_He makes a threatening gesture._)

PETERS (_beating a snarling retreat_). Wait 'n' see if yuh don't lose
too, yuh stuck-up boob!

(_Seeing that_ Murray _is alone again,_ Eileen _starts towards
him, but this time she is intercepted by_ Mrs. Abner, _who stops
on her way out. The weighing of the women is now finished, and
that of the men, which proceeds much quicker, begins._)

STANTON. Anderson!

(_Anderson comes to the scales. The men all move down to the
left to wait their turn, with the exception of_ Murray, _who
remains by the dining-room door, fidgeting impatiently, anxious
for a word with_ Eileen.)

MRS. ABNER (_taking_ Eileen's _arm_). Coming over to the cottage,
dearie?

EILEEN. Not just this minute, Mrs. Abner. I have to wait----

MRS. ABNER. For the Old Woman? You lost to-day, didn't you? Is she
sendin' you to bed, the old devil?

EILEEN. Yes, I'm afraid I'll have to----

MRS. ABNER. She's a mean one, ain't she? I gained this week--half a
pound. Lord, I'm gittin' fat!