MASON.  He had been obliged to let that lapse.

MRS. HUNTER.  You mean I haven’t even my life insurance?

MASON.  As I said, there is nothing, except this house, and that is—­

MRS. HUNTER. [Rises indignantly and almost screams in angry hysterics.] Mortgaged, I presume!  Oh, it’s insulting!  It’s an indignity.  It’s—­it’s—­Oh, well, it’s just like my husband, there!

BLANCHE.  Mother!

[RUTH rises, and, taking MASON’S arm, leads him aside.

MRS. HUNTER. [To BLANCHE.] Oh, don’t talk to me now!  You always preferred your father, and now you’re punished for it!  He has wilfully left your mother and sisters paupers!

BLANCHE.  How can you speak like that!  Surely you know father must have suffered more than we could when he realized he was leaving nothing for you.

JESSICA.  Yes, and it was for us too that he lost all.  It was our extravagance.

MRS. HUNTER.  Hush!  How dare you side against me, too?

RUTH.  Florence—­

MRS. HUNTER.  Well, Ruth, what do you think of your brother now?

BLANCHE. [To her mother.] Don’t!

MASON.  By whom were the arrangements for to-day made?

MRS. HUNTER.  My son-in-law had most pressing business, and his friend—­

BLANCHE.  The friend of all of us—­

MRS. HUNTER.  Yes, of course, Mr. Warden saw to everything.

BLANCHE.  He will be here any moment!

MASON.  When he comes, will you send him on to me, please?

RUTH.  Yes.

MASON.  Very well.  Good-by. [Shakes hands with BLANCHE.] I am very sorry to have been the bearer of such bad news.

MRS. HUNTER. [Shaking hands with him.] Please overlook anything I may have said; at such a moment, with the loss of all my money—­and my dear husband—­I don’t know what to say!

MASON.  Naturally. [To the others.] Good-by. [To RUTH, who follows him.] I’ll come to see you in the morning.

[As they shake hands.

RUTH.  And I can then tell you what I settle here now. [MASON goes out
Left.] Florence, I’m very sorry—­

[Interrupted.

MRS. HUNTER.  Oh! You! Sorry!

RUTH.  Yes, very, very sorry,—­first, that I spoke as I did just now.

MRS. HUNTER.  It’s too late to be sorry for that now.

RUTH.  No, it isn’t, and I’ll prove to you I mean it.  Come, we’ll talk things over.

MRS. HUNTER.  Go away!  I don’t want you to prove anything to me! [MRS. HUNTER and CLARA sit side by side on the sofa. BLANCHE and JESSICA are in chairs near the table. RUTH sits beside BLANCHE.  MRS. HUNTER has something the manner of porcupines and shows a set determination to accept nothing by way of comfort or expedient. BLANCHE looks hopeful and ready to take the helm for the family. JESSICA will back up BLANCHE.] My happiness in this world is over.  What have I to live for?