Mary stood on the threshold watching him.
"Who put that funnel on the kettle?" he inquired, without turning. He had not appeared to notice it.
"I did," she answered. "Am I to take it off?"
"No."
He signed to her to go below, and after a few minutes followed her into the parlour.
"Give me a pen and ink, Miss Brettan, please."
"I've put them ready for you," she said.
He wrote hastily, and rose with the prescription held out.
"Where's Ellen?"
"Here, waiting to take it."