He saw the anaesthetic was not destined to fulfil his first enthusiastic humanitarian expectations.

One day, while the investigation was just at this stage, a case was admitted into the observation-cots in which Hilda Wade took a particular interest.

The patient was a young girl named Isabel Huntley--tall, dark, and slender, a markedly quick and imaginative type, with large black eyes which clearly bespoke a passionate nature.

Though distinctly hysterical, she was pretty and pleasing.

Her rich dark hair was as copious as it was beautiful.