At the time I recall most clearly, Sarah had become a total invalid. She had gone into a coma once, after eating too much sugar. A few weeks later, she had a mild stroke, which left her speech slurred and the side of her face paralysed. Not long after that, she had some of her toes amputated; she had developed gangrene. She spent her time in bed, gossiping with neighbours who called to see her. My own mother spent a lot of time with her, especially while Alfred was at work.
Her illnesses had not improved her temper. She would frequently burst into fits of rage for the least thing. Alfred continued to weather these storms. When she shouted at hirn, he smiled - I once heard her say to him, 'What good are you to anyone? You let Norman die. You let Jack marry that bitch. You can't even stop what's happening to me.