Final answer:
The student's question does not align with the provided passages, which appear to be from 'Daisy Miller' by Henry James, not involving any characters named Mama, Walter, or Ruth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked, "What news does Mama tell Walter about Ruth? What is Walter's initial reaction?" However, the provided text does not contain any characters named Mama, Walter, or Ruth, nor does it discuss any interaction between these characters. Without the relevant context or a related text, it's impossible to provide an accurate answer to this question, as the request seems to involve a different story or play not covered in the excerpts given. The excerpts provided appear to be from 'Daisy Miller' by Henry James, which does not feature characters or a plot that relates to the student's question.