“I am well—and—happy. Oh, Viola, you're the first I have told, but—but Mr. Blossom has—asked me to marry him, and—”
“Oh, how lovely! And you've said 'yes!' I can tell that!” and Viola smiled and kissed her friend impulsively. “Tell me all about it!”
“And so it's all settled,” went on Minnie, after much talk and many questions and answers. “Only I'm sorry he's going to leave you.”
“Going to leave me!” exclaimed Viola. Her voice was incredulous.
“Well, I mean going to give up the management of your business. I'm sure you'll miss him.”
“I shall indeed! But I did not know Mr. Blossom was going to leave. He has said nothing to me or Aunt Mary about it. In fact, I—”
“Oh, is there something wrong?” asked Minnie quickly, struck by something in Viola's voice.
“Well, nothing wrong, as far as we know. But—”
“Oh, please tell me!” begged Minnie. “I am sure you are concealing something.”
“Well, I will tell you!” said Viola at last. “I feel that I ought to, as you may hear of it publicly. It concerns fifteen thousand dollars,” and she went into details about the loan, which one party said had been paid, and of which Blossom said there was no record.