Pierre Auguste Renoir Dance in the City

Pierre Auguste Renoir Dance in the CityJoaquin Sorolla y Bastida Beaching the Boat (study)Joseph Mallord William Turner Mortlake Terrace
"Listen," said Granny, "If you give someone a bottle of red jollop for their wind it may work, right, but if you want it to work for sure then you let their mind make it work for them. Tell 'em it's moonbeams bottled in fairy wine or something. Mumble over it a bit. It's the same with cursing."
"Cursing?" said Esk, weakly.
"Aye, cursing, my girl, and no need to look so shocked! You'll curse, when the need comes. When you're alone, "You're a bit young for this," she said, "but as you grow older you'll find most people don't set foot outside their own heads much. You too," she added gnomically.
"I don't understand."
"I'd be very surprised if you did," said Grannyand there's no help to hand, and -" She hesitated and, uncomfortably aware of Esk's questioning eyes, finished lamely: "- and people aren't showing respect. Make it loud, make it complicated, make it long, and make it up if you have to, but it'll work all right. Next day, when they hit their thumb or they fall off a ladder or their dog drops dead, they'll remember you. They'll behave twice a day. Boiled water with a bit of berry juice in it. Told him I'd bought it from the dwarves. That's the biggest part of doct'rin, really. Most people'll get over most things if they put their minds to it, you just have to give them an interest." She patted Esk's hand as nicely as possible. briskly, "but you can tell me five herbs suitable for dry coughs."