But he followed her to the hall, from which they could pass to the room in the rear.
"Your head will be restored in as good a condition as it is now," she explained, with an arch smile.
Presently the children saw the old gentleman take his seat in the chair, his long beard distinctly visible through the curtain.
"What do you complain of?" they heard the doctor ask.
"Liver!" shouted the patient. "Haven't slept a wink for ten years."
"Not liver, but conscience,—diseased conscience." This was Miss Howard's voice. "It needs reorganizing, sir. It affects the whole body, sir. I shall begin with the head and cut away all the diseased part until we come to soundness, sir."
"Is this the way you treat your patients? I'll not stand it. Cut off my head, indeed!"
"Absolute necessity, sir. If you wish to be cured, there must be no delay."
"Pretty sight for the public,—man minus head."
"My salve, sir, my famous Royal Recuperative Salve, known throughout the world, sir, will make your head grow again in a few hours, sir."