she would have two houses where she could make a home for herself
more to her liking. No end of ambitious dreams were constantly
floating in her shallow brain, and as all these were more or less
bound up with the future of her son and daughter, it was natural
that she should desire to put down with a strong hand the smallest
indication of a love affair between Gertrude and Reuben. She had
even persuaded her husband that Gertrude ought to make a good
marriage; and as he was able to give her an ample dowry, and was
proud of her good looks, he himself was of opinion that she might
do something rather brilliant, even if she did not realize her
mother's fond dreams.

All this was very well known to poor Gertrude by this time, and it
was seldom now that she did more than catch a passing glimpse of
Reuben, or exchange a few hasty words with him in the street. The
young man was proud, and knew that he was looked down upon by the
Master Builder and his wife. This made him very reticent of showing
his feelings, and reduced Gertrude often to the lowest ebb of
depression.

So the coarse jests of her brother were a keen pain to her, and she
presently rose and left the room in great resentment, followed by a
mocking laugh from the ill-conditioned young man.

Having lost one victim, that amiable youth next turned his
attention to his mother, and began to torment her with the same
zest as he had displayed in the baiting of his sister.

"All the town is talking of the plague," he remarked, in would-be
solemn tones. "They say that in St. Giles' and St. Andrew's
parishes they are burying them by the dozen every day;" and as his
mother uttered a little scream, and shrank away even from him, he
went on in the same tone, "All the fine folks from that end of the
town are thinking of moving into the country. The witches and
wizards are declaring openly in the streets that the whole city is
to be destroyed. Some folks say that soon the Lord Mayor and the
Magistrates will have all the infected houses shut up straitly, so
that none may go in or come forth when it is known that the
distemper has appeared there. The door will be marked with a red
cross, and the words 'Lord, have mercy upon us!' writ large above
it. So, good mother, when I come home one day with the marks of the
distemper upon me, the whole house will be closed, and none will be
able to go forth to escape it. So we shall all perish together, as
a loving family should do."