Sentence:  "I suppose all old soldiers are the same," said Mrs White. "The idea of our listening to such nonsense! How could <WSD>wishes</WSD> be granted in these days? And if they could, how could two hundred pounds hurt you, father?" / "Might drop on his head from the sky," said the frivolous Herbert. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The thing desired or longed for.