"There is a possibility," I said.
"But I do not think he will," she said, a wonderful light leaping
into her face. "I am a woman--a woman does not always reason, but she
strongly believes in instincts--my instinct tells me that you will
save my husband, and in short give him back to me as he was before. At
the worst, even at the worst----" here she turned ghastly pale, "he
would _know_ me in another world. I could endure to be parted with him
on those conditions. I cannot--I cannot endure the present state of
things."
Her composure suddenly gave way, she sobbed aloud.
"There is nothing more to be said," I remarked, after a brief pause.
"I have all your consents, and have made full arrangements to perform
the operation to-morrow morning. A clever surgeon, whom I know well,
will assist me, and an excellent trained nurse will arrive at an early
hour to get the patient ready for our visit. By the way, where is your
husband, Mrs. Mainwaring?"
She had dried her eyes by this time.
"He is in the house," she said, "but he does not wish to see you again
until the moment when you can give him relief."