Lady Verner listened to these directions of Jan’s in unqualified amazement.  She had been accustomed to the very professional remedies of Dr. West.  Decima laughed.  “Jan,” said she, “I could fancy an old woman prescribing this, but not a doctor.”

“It’ll cure,” returned Jan.  “It will prevent the cough coming on; and prevention’s better than cure.  You try it at once, Miss Lucy; and you’ll soon see.  You will know then what to do if you catch cold in future.”

“Jan,” interposed Lady Verner, “I consider the very mention of such remedies beneath the dignity of a medical man.”

Jan opened his eyes.  “But if they are the best remedies, mother?”

“At any rate, Jan, if this is your fashion of prescribing, you will not fill your pockets,” said Decima.

“I don’t want to fill my pockets by robbing people,” returned plain Jan.  “If I know a remedy that costs nothing, why shouldn’t I let my patients have the benefit of it, instead of charging them for drugs that won’t do half the good?”

“Jan,” said Lucy, “if it cost gold I should try it.  I have great faith in what you say.”

“All right,” replied Jan.  “But it must be done at once, mind.  If you let the cold get ahead first, it will not be so efficacious.  And now good-day to you all, for I must be off to my patients.  Good-bye, mother.”

Away went Jan.  And, amidst much laughter from Lucy, the wet “rag,” Jan’s elegant phrase for it, was put round her neck, and covered up.  Lionel came in, and they amused him by reciting Jan’s prescription.

“It is this house which has given her the cold,” grumbled Lady Verner, who invariably laid faults and misfortunes upon something or somebody.  “The servants are for ever opening that side-door, and then there comes a current of air throughout the passage.  Lionel, I am not sure but I shall leave Deerham Court.”

Lionel leaned against the mantel-piece, a smile upon his face.  He had completely recovered his good looks, scared away though they had been for a time by his illness.  He was in deep mourning for Mrs. Verner.  Decima looked up, surprised at Lady Verner’s last sentence.

“Leave Deerham Court, mamma!  When you are so much attached to it!”

“I don’t dislike it,” acknowledged Lady Verner.  “But it suited me better when we were living quietly, than it does now.  If I could find a larger house with the same conveniences, and in an agreeable situation, I might leave this.”

Decima did not reply.  She felt sure that her mother was attached to the house, and would never quit it.  Her eyes said as much as they encountered Lionel’s.

“I wish my mother would leave Deerham Court!” he said aloud.

Lady Verner turned to him.  “Why should you wish it, Lionel?”

“I wish you would leave it to come to me, mother.  Verner’s Pride wants a mistress.”

“It will not find one in me,” said Lady Verner.  “Were you an old man, Lionel, I might then come.  Not as it is.”