Paul, as true as I'm here, it's a lump as big as my double fist.

I said: 'Good gracious, mother, whenever did that come ?' 'Why, child,' she said, 'it's been there a long time.' I thought I should 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 afternoon 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 membrane," 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." "What else MIGHT it be?
You asked my sister if there was cancer in the family.