Ruth. But how?
Mrs. Hunter. Yes, tell us the details—every one of them! You can't imagine the shock this is to me!
Mason. Hunter sent for me two days before he died, and told me things had gone badly with him last year, but it seemed impossible to retrench his expenses.
Ruth. Are you listening, Florence?
Mrs. Hunter. Yes, of course I am; your brother was a very extravagant man!
Mason. This year, with his third daughter coming out, there was need of more money than ever. He was harassed nearly to death with financial worries. [Ruth begins to cry softly. Mrs. Hunter gets angrier and angrier.] And finally, in sheer desperation, and trusting to the advice of the Storrings, he risked everything he had with them in the Consolidated Copper. The day after, he was taken ill. You know what happened. The Storrings, Hunter, and others were ruined absolutely; the next day Hunter died.
Ruth. Poor George! Why didn't he come to me; he must have known that everything I had was his!
Mason. He was too ill when the final blow came to realize it.
Mrs. Hunter. [Angry.] But his life insurance,—there was a big policy in my name.
Mason. He had been obliged to let that lapse.