The Climbers | Page 5

have said
all this before your children. Blanche, you know how dearly I love you,
and I hope you have forgiven me by now for my opposition to your
marriage.
BLANCHE. Of course I've forgiven you, but you were always unjust to
Dick.
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.
MRS. HUNTER. [_Beginning to break down._] George! George!
[RUTH _looks at her, furious, and bites her lips hard._ JESSICA _is
standing with her back toward them._
MASON. Well, then--
[He is interrupted by MRS. HUNTER, who sees JESSICA.
MRS. HUNTER. Jess! How rude you are! Turn around this minute!
[JESSICA _does not move._] What do you mean! Excuse me, Mr.
Mason! Jess! Such disrespect to your father's will! Turn around!
[_Angry._] Do you hear me?
JESSICA. [_With her back still turned, her shoulders shaking, speaks
in a voice broken with sobs._] Leave me alone! Leave me alone--
[_She sits in a chair beside her and leans her arms upon its back and
buries her face in her arms._
BLANCHE. [_With her hand on her mother's arm._] Mother! Don't
worry her!
MRS. HUNTER. Go on, please, Mr. Mason, and remember, _spare us
the details._ What is our income?
MASON. Mrs. Hunter, there is no income.

MRS. HUNTER. [_Quietly, not at all grasping what he means._] No
income! How is our money--
MASON. I am sorry to say there is no money.
MRS. HUNTER. [_Echoes weakly._] No money?
MASON. Not a penny!
MRS. HUNTER. [_Realizing now what he means, cries out in a loud,
hard, amazed voice._] What!
BLANCHE. [_With her hand on her shoulder._] Mother!
MRS. HUNTER. I don't believe it!
RUTH. [To MASON.] My good friend, do you mean that literally--that
my brother died without leaving any money behind him?
MRS. HUNTER. For his wife and family?
MASON. I mean just that.
RUTH. But how?
MRS. HUNTER. Yes,