had given up Sidmouth, and how willingly she would have paid the hundred
pounds.


"I sometimes think, Hatty," said Mrs. Hancock, melancholy and condoling,
"that it would have been very different if your poor mother could have had
her wish."

"What--what wish?"

"Her wish to live in Sidmouth, near your Aunt Harriett."

And Sarah Barmby, sympathizing heavily, stopping short and brooding,
trying to think of something to say: "If the operation had only been done
three years ago when they _knew_ it would save her----"

"Three years ago? But we didn't know anything about it then."

"_She_ did.... Don't you remember? It was when I stayed with her....
Oh, Hatty, didn't she tell you?"

"She never said a word."

"Oh, well, she wouldn't hear of it, even then when they didn't give her
two years to live."

Three years? She had had it three years ago. She had known about it all
that time. Three years ago the operation would have saved her; she would
have been here now. Why had she refused it when she knew it would save
her?