"No nonsense about him, don't you know ?--able to make himself agreeable, but not losing sight of the main chance either!" men would say; and "A thorough family-doctor, knowing how to humour patients out of their fancies!" would certain mammas add, who, instead of being straight-forward with their children, were always scheming, and dodging, and holding private confabulations about them with doctor and clergyman.
In that part of his professional duty which bordered on that of the nurse, the best that was in Jermyn came out.

Few men could handle a patient at the same time so firmly and tenderly as he; few were less sparing of self in the endeavour to make him comfortable.

And from the moment when the simple-minded Cosmo became aware of his attendance and ministration, his heart went out to him--from the moment, that is, when, in the afternoon of the same day on which Joan transformed his chamber, he lifted him in his arms that the gardener and his wife might place a feather-bed and mattress under him, obliterating in softness the something which had seemed to find out every bone in his body: as soon as he was laid down again, his spirit seemed to rise on clouds of ease to thank his minister.
And Cosmo was one in whom the gratitude was as enduring as ready.
Next to the appearance of Lady Joan, all the time he was recovering, he looked for the daily visit of the doctor.

Nor did the doctor ever come without receiving his reward in an interview with the lady.

And herein Jermyn gained another advantage.