nother. Many kept a
handkerchief or cloth pressed to their faces. Strangers eyed each
other askance, none knowing that the other might not be already
sickening of the disease. Between the stones of the streets blades
of grass were beginning to grow up. Dinah pointed to these tokens
and gave a little sigh.

Just before they turned off from the bridge a flying figure was
seen approaching, and Janet exclaimed quickly:

"Why, it is Dorcas!"

Since her fright of a fortnight back, Dorcas had remained an inmate
of Lady Scrope's house by her own desire. Although she knew that
poor Frederick would annoy her no more, she had come to have a
horror of the very streets themselves. She had never forgotten the
apparition of that white-robed figure, clad in what seemed like its
death shroud; and as Lady Scrope was by no means ill pleased to
keep her young maiden by night as well as by day, her father was
glad that she should be saved the risk even of the short walk to
and fro each day.

But here she was, flying homewards as though there were wings to
her feet; and she would almost have passed them in her haste, had
not Janet laid hold of her arm and spoken her name aloud. Then she
gave a little cry of relief and happiness, and turning upon her
aunt, she cried:

"Ah, how glad I am to see thee! I was praying thou mightst still be
at home. Lady Scrope has been suddenly seized by some malady, I
know not what. Everyone in the house but the old deaf man and his
wife has fled. Three servants left before, afraid of passing to and
fro. The rest only waited for the first alarm to seize whatever
they could lay hands upon and fly. I could not stop them. I did
what I could, but methinks they would have rifled the house had it
not been that the mistress, ill as she was, rose from her bed and
chased them forth. They feared her more than ever when they thought
she had the plague upon her. And now I have come forth for help;
for I am alone with her in the house, and I know not which way to
turn.

"Ah, good aunt, come back with me, I prithee. I am at my wit's end
with the fear of it all."

Without a moment's delay the party turned towards the house in
Allhallowes, and speedily found themselves at the grim-looking
portal, which Dorcas opened with her key. The house felt cool and
fresh after the glare of the hot streets. Although by no means a
stately edifice outside, it was roomy and commodious within, and
the broad oak staircase was richly c