"But Rosalind, dear—"
"Why in the world you didn't ask me I don't know," said Rosalind, making a hopeless gesture with both arms. "Everybody else knows it."
Mrs. Witherbee's faced had attained a greenish pallor.
"Knows what?" she asked tremblingly.
"Knows that Reginald Williams has a heart that is liable to drop him in his tracks any time."
Mrs. Witherbee raised both hands and opened her mouth.
"Certainly," added Rosalind sharply. "He's been suffering from it for some time. He's not allowed to take violent exercise, or to undergo any excitement or sudden shock. He has to be kept perfectly quiet. And above all he must not be given the slightest hint of his trouble. You see, he doesn't know it himself."
"Doesn't know it!"
"Indeed not. The physicians are afraid that it would make matters worse to tell him. So they told only his family, and his family has informed his friends. And Reggy is really in the hands of his friends without knowing it."
"But he'll be with friends, here," said Mrs. Witherbee, brightening.