RUTH.  Yes; I didn’t like your husband then, and I didn’t believe in him, but I like him better now.  And I am going to put all my affairs in his hands.  I couldn’t show—­surely—­a better proof of confidence and liking than that:  to trust him as I did—­your father.  I hope I shall see much of you and Jessica.  As for you, Clara, I must be honest—­

CLARA. [Interrupting her.] Oh, I know you’ve always hated me!  The presents you gave the other girls were always twice as nice as I got!

MRS. HUNTER. [Sympathetically.] Come here, darling.

[CLARA goes and puts her arms about her mother’s neck.

RUTH.  You are your mother’s own child, Clara, and I never could pretend anything I didn’t feel. [She turns to BLANCHE and JESSICA, who stand side by side.] You two are all I have left in the world of my brother. [She kisses them, and lets the tears come, this time without struggling.] Take pity on your old-maid aunt and come and see me, won’t you, often—­[Trying to smile away her tears.] And now good-by!

JESSICA AND RUTH. [Taking her hands.] Good-by.

[RUTH looks about the room to say good-by to it; she cries and hurriedly begins pulling down her veil, and starts to go out as JORDAN enters Left and announces “Mr. Mason!"

[MRS. HUNTER fluffs her hair a little and hopes she looks becoming.

[MASON is a typical New Yorker, well built, well preserved, dignified, and good-looking,—­a solid man in every sense of the word.

MASON. [Meeting RUTH, shakes hands with her.] Miss Hunter.

RUTH.  I am just going, Mr. Mason.

MASON.  You must stay.  I sent word to your house this morning to meet me here.

[Shakes hands with the others.

RUTH.  I was here all night.

MRS. HUNTER.  Will you have some tea?  The children were hungry.

MASON.  No, thank you. [To BLANCHE.] Isn’t your husband here?

[JORDAN, at a signal from MRS. HUNTER, removes the tea things.

BLANCHE.  No, he left us at the door when we came back.

MASON.  Didn’t he get a letter from me this morning asking him to meet me here?

BLANCHE.  Oh, yes, he did mention a letter at breakfast, but my thoughts were away.  He has been very much worried lately over his affairs; he doesn’t confide in me, but I see it.  I wish you could advise him, Mr. Mason.

MASON.  I cannot advise your husband if he won’t ask my advice.  I don’t think we’ll wait for Mr. Sterling.

[Gives chair to MRS. HUNTER.

MRS. HUNTER.  I suppose you’ve come about all the horrid business.  Why not just tell us how much our income is, and let all the details go.  I really think the details are more than I can bear to-day.

MASON.  That can be certainly as you wish; but I felt—­as your business adviser—­and besides I promised my old friend, your husband—­it was my duty to let you know how matters stand with the least possible delay.