"Dr. Kline would, no doubt, be very ready to take it off of your
hands."

"If the family were satisfied, I would cheerfully delegate the work
to him," said Doctor Hillhouse.

"He's a younger man, and his recent brilliant operations have
brought him quite prominently before, the public."

As he spoke Doctor Hillhouse, who was past sixty-five and beginning
to feel the effects of over forty years of earnest professional
labor, lifted his small hand, the texture of which, was as fine as
that of a woman's, and holding it up, looked at it steadily for some
moments. It trembled just a little.

"Not quite so firm as it was twenty years ago," he remarked, with a
slight depression in his voice.

"But the sight is clearer and the skill greater," said Doctor
Angier.

"I don't know about the sight." returned Doctor Hillhouse. "I'm
afraid that is no truer than the hand."

"The inner sight, I mean, the perception that comes from
long-applied skill," said Doctor Angier. "That is something in which
you have the advantage of younger men."

Doctor Hillhouse made no reply to this, but sat like one in deep
and, perplexed thought for a considerable time.