g passed through her mind. But as the doctor was
preparing to go, she stopped him, saying:

"I will come."

The manners of this blunt, but unselfish and clever man were familiar to
Maria who, without waiting for a reply, brought her shawl, and led the
way downstairs. As they passed by the kitchen, Bontius called to Barbara:

"Tell Meister Peter, I have taken his wife to see Fraulein Van
Hoogstraten in Nobelstrasse."

Maria could scarcely keep up with the doctor's rapid strides and had some
difficulty in understanding him, as in broken sentences he told her that
all the Glipper friends of the Hoogstraten family had left the city, the
old Fraulein was dead, the servants had run away from fear of the plague,
which had no existence, and Henrica was now deserted. She had been very
ill with a severe fever, but was much better during the past few days.
"Misfortune has taken up its abode in the Glipper nest," he added. "The
scythe-man did the old lady a favor when he took her. The French maid, a
feeble nonentity, held out bravely, but after watching a few nights broke
down entirely and was to have been carried to St. Catharine's hospital,
but the Italian steward, who is not a bad fellow, objected and had her
taken to a Catholic laundress. He has followed to nurse her. No one is
left in the deserted house to attend to the young lady, except Sister
Gonzaga, a good little nun, one of the three who were allowed to remain
in the old convent near you, but early this morning, to cap the climax of
misfortune, the kind old woman scalded her fingers while heating a bath.
The Catholic priest has faithfully remained at his post, but what can we
men do in nursing the sick girl! You doubtless now suspect why I brought
you with me. You ought not and cannot become the stranger's nurse
permanently; but if the young lady is not to sink after all, she must now
have some face about her which she can love, and God has blessed you with
one. Look at the sick girl, talk with her, and if you are what I believe
you--but here we are."

The air of the dark entrance hall of the Hoogstraten residence was filled
with a strong odor of musk. The old lady's death had been instantly
announced at the town-hall by Doctor Bontius' representative, and an
armed man was marching up and down in the hall, keeping guard, who told
the physician that Herr Van Hout had already been here with his men and
put seals on all the doors.

On the staircase Maria siezed her gu