Miss Sturge noticed that Miss Beale lingered in the Hall when school was over, as if unwilling to leave. She seemed pathetically anxious to leave nothing undone. Finally, after discussing several small matters, she said, ‘Good-bye; I hope to come back in three weeks, and you can just say I am resting. I will not tell you where, and then if you are asked you will not know.’ Then she added wistfully, ‘Perhaps I may never come back.’ On that afternoon, accompanied by Miss Rowand, she went to the nursing home. The operation took place next day. Miss Beale found it hard just at first to reconcile herself to the position of patient, and the absolute obedience and dependence it involved. But in the charge of Miss Lane and her staff she was surrounded with loving care, to which she was most responsive, once pointing out to a friend the nurse who was standing by as ‘the one who spoils me so.’ Miss Gore and Miss Rowand saw her from time to time. The mid-term holiday was approaching, and she spoke of arrangements for it, and begged Miss Rowand to send her party for their usual expedition in charge of the house-governesses, and to remain at home herself. Up to the morning of Sunday the 28th all seemed to go well. Very early that day she seemed ill, and wandering in mind, getting up and saying she must go to early service. In the afternoon she was quiet and calm, and saw one or two friends. To Miss Gore she spoke of the coming All Saints’ Day, saying how much the Communion of Saints meant to her. On this day also, by the hand of Miss Lane—but she signed it herself—she wrote a last letter to Miss Amy Giles[100]:—