Page 568 - sons-and-lovers

have died, our Paul, I did. She’s been having these pains for
months at home, and nobody looking after her.’
The tears came to his eyes, then dried suddenly.
‘But she’s been attending the doctor in Nottingham—
and she never told me,’ he said.
‘If I’d have been at home,’ said Annie, ‘I should have seen
for myself.’
He felt like a man walking in unrealities. In the after-
noon he went to see the doctor. The latter was a shrewd,
lovable man.
‘But what is it?’ he said.
The doctor looked at the young man, then knitted his
fingers.
‘It may be a large tumour which has formed in the mem-
brane,’ he said slowly, ‘and which we MAY be able to make
go away.’
‘Can’t you operate?’ asked Paul.
‘Not there,’ replied the doctor.
‘Are you sure?’
‘QUITE!’
Paul meditated a while.
‘Are you sure it’s a tumour?’ he asked. ‘Why did Dr.
Jameson in Nottingham never find out anything about it?
She’s been going to him for weeks, and he’s treated her for
heart and indigestion.’
‘Mrs. Morel never told Dr. Jameson about the lump,’ said
the doctor.
‘And do you KNOW it’s a tumour?’
‘No, I am not sure.’