"There's no specially bad news," he said, "but it's this way: She has a malady which, sooner or later, unless it is conquered, will--will take her away from me--and sis. Dad thinks an operation is the only hope, but they keep putting it off from time to time, on a slim chance that she may recover without it. For the operation is a desperate expedient at best. And that's why I'm not myself. That's why I can't go into the games with all my might. I expect any moment to be summoned to the sidelines to get a telegram saying--saying----"