whilst a familiar
voice exclaimed: "Now God be praised! it is my own boy. Two of
them! Thank Heaven for so much as this!" and running down the
garden path, Mary Harmer folded both the lads in her arms, tears
coursing down her cheeks the while.

"God bless them! God bless them! How I have longed for news of you
all! What news from home bring you, dear lads? I tremble almost to
ask, but be it what it may, two of you are alive and well; and in
times like these we must needs learn to say, 'Thy will be done!'"

"We are all alive, we are all well!" cried Joseph, hastening to
relieve the worst of his aunt's fears. "Some say ours is almost the
only house in London where there be not one dead. I scarce know if
that be true. One or two of us have been sick, and some say that
Janet and Dan have both had a touch of the distemper; but they soon
were sound again. They all go about amongst the sick. Father has
been one of the examiners all the time through; and though they
only appoint them for a month, he will not give up his office. He
says that so long as he and his family are preserved, so long will
he strive to do his duty towards his fellow men. There be many like
him--our good Lord Mayor for one; and my Lord Craven, who will not
fly, as almost all the great ones have done, but stays to help to
govern the city wisely, and to see that the alms are distributed
aright to the poor at this season.

"But there was naught for us to do. We were too young to be bearers
or searchers, and boys cannot tend the sick. So we grew weary past
bearing of the shut-up house, and yestereve our father gave us
leave to sally forth and seek news of thee, good aunt. And oh, we
are right glad to find ourselves out of the city and safe with
thee!"

Joseph spoke on, because Mary Harmer was weeping so plenteously
with joy and gratitude that she had no words in which to answer
him. She had not dared to hope that she should see again any of the
dear faces of her kinsfolk. True, the distemper was yet raging
fiercely, and none could say when the end would come; but it was
much to know that they had lived in safety through these many
weeks. It seemed to the pious woman as though God had given her a
sort of pledge of His special mercy to her and hers, and that He
would not now fail them.

She led the boys into her pretty, cheerful cottage, and set them
down to the table, where she quickly had a plentiful meal set
before them. Fido's pathetic story was tol