Doctor Hillhouse took her by the hand and led her to the table on which she was to lie during the operation, saying, as he did so, "It will be over in a few minutes, and you will not feel it as much as the scratch of a pin." She laid herself down without a moment's hesitation, and as she did so Doctor Angier, according to previous arrangement, presented a sponge saturated with ether to her nostrils, and in two minutes complete anaesthesis was produced.

On the instant this took place Doctor Hillhouse made an incision and cut down quickly to the tumor.

His hand was steady, and he seemed to be in perfect command of himself.

The stimulants he had taken as a last resort were still active on brain and nerves.

On reaching the tumor he found it, as he had feared, much larger than its surface presentation indicated.