"It's a matter of life and death" - What does Ruth Honeywill refer by this statement

This is told by Ruth Honeywill, an unhappy married woman of twenty six years, to Cokeson, the managing clerk of solicitors' office in John Galsworthy's famous problem play, "Justice".

              Ruth wants to visit Falder because of some 'personal matter', but Cokeson does not permit her to meet with him. He says sternly that "we don't allow private callers here" because "it is all against the rules". He also says that if one of the employers come then it becomes a matter of problem Ruth "mustn't take up his time in office hours". But Ruth is obstinate to meet with Falder and makes this remark.

                Through this short but significant remark, Galsworthy shows a problem of the then society - the problem of the livelihood of those women whose marriage prices unhappy and troublesome. Here he uses the character of Ruth as the representative of those women. She is tortured everyday by her husband, cruel and brutaland it has gone to the extreme limit as "he tried to cut" her "throat last night". She comes to Falder to settle the matter of their elopement. She has come with her children with readiness to leave her husband's house. If Cokeson does not allow her. to meet it will be unfortunate for her.This remark also has an ironical suggestion. She does not know what is waiting for her. The phrase "life and death" indicates the coming misfortune of both Ruth and Falder.