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Read Ebook: The climbers by Fitch Clyde
Font size: Background color: Text color: Add to tbrJar First Page Next PageEbook has 743 lines and 17081 words, and 15 pagesMRS. HUNTER. I'm afraid I can't touch it. Try. MRS. HUNTER. The idea! When I've never called on them. They are the worst social pushers I've ever known. He never goes to balls any more, and, they say, catches cold at the slightest change of temperature. They ought to've. It was really foolish the way he was always doing something for somebody! How good these sandwiches are! Yes. Don't be impertinent, darling! RUTH. Of course they ought and so ought you, if you haven't. JESSICA. Sit here, Aunt Ruth. BLANCHE. Will you have a cup, Aunt Ruth? I suppose that's a slur at me! RUTH. If the slipper fits! But I confess I haven't eaten much for several days; I couldn't touch anything this morning, and I begin to feel exhausted; I must have food and, thank Heaven, I want it. Thank you. Will they? Let them! You know as well as I do that George loathed the very idea of cr?pe and all display of mourning. MRS. HUNTER. You stayed behind? MRS. HUNTER. I don't see how you could bear it--staying; but you never had any heart, Ruth. RUTH. Haven't I? MRS. HUNTER. My darling husband always felt that defect in you. RUTH. George? MRS. HUNTER. He resented your treatment of me, and often said so. RUTH. Please be careful. Don't talk to me like this about my brother, Florence--or you'll make me say something I shall be sorry for. MRS. HUNTER. I don't care! It wore on him, the way you treated me. I put up with it for his sake, but it helped undermine his health. RUTH. Florence, stop! RUTH. Send your daughters out of the room; I wish to answer you alone. MRS. HUNTER. No! what you have to say to me I prefer my children to hear! MRS. HUNTER. That's not true; I've had to fight it out all alone! 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. 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. Come here, darling. JESSICA AND RUTH. Good-by. 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. Isn't your husband here? George! George! What do you mean! Excuse me, Mr. Mason! Jess! Such disrespect to your father's will! Turn around! Do you hear me? JESSICA. Leave me alone! Leave me alone-- Mother! Don't worry her! MASON. Mrs. Hunter, there is no income. MRS. HUNTER. No income! How is our money-- MRS. HUNTER. No money? MASON. Not a penny! MRS. HUNTER. What! BLANCHE. Mother! MRS. HUNTER. I don't believe it! MRS. HUNTER. For his wife and family? MASON. I mean just that. RUTH. But how? 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. 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. 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! Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page |
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