Nell, of Shorne Mills by Charles Garvice

Two days later, Nell sat beside Falconer. He was asleep, but every now and then he moved suddenly, and his brows knit as if he were suffering.

The great surgeon--who, by the way, was small and short of stature--had come down, made his examination, said a few cheerful words to the patient, gone up to the Hall to dinner--at which he had talked fluently of everything but the case--and returned to London with a big check from Drake. But though he did not appear to have accomplished anything beyond a general expression of approval of everything the local man had done, all persons concerned felt encouraged and more hopeful by his visit; and when Falconer showed signs of improvement it was duly placed to Sir William's credit. There is much magic in a great name.