seeing nobody but himself, until such time
should have gone by as should prove whether or not she had become
infected by the distemper.

Janet wept for joy at being thus received beneath her father's
roof, having heard so many fearsome tales of persons being turned
out of doors even by their nearest and dearest, were it but
suspected that they might carry about with them the seeds of the
dreaded distemper. But the worthy lace maker was a godly man, and
brave with the courage that comes of a lively faith. He had learned
all that could be told of the nature of the distemper; and after he
had burnt all his daughter's clothing with his own hands, and had
assured himself that she felt sound and well, and had also
fumigated his own house thoroughly, he felt that he had done all in
his power against the infection, and that the rest must be left in
the hands of Providence.

The mother hovered anxiously about, but came not near her husband
till permitted by him. She did not enter the room where her
daughter now lay comfortably in a soft bed, but she prepared some
good food for her, which was carried in by the father later on, and
promised her that by the morning she should have clothing to put
on, and that she should have every care and comfort during the days
of her captivity.

Janet thanked God from the very bottom of her heart that night for
having given to her such good and kindly parents, and earnestly
besought that she might be spared, not only for her own unworthy
sake, but for their sakes who had risked so much rather than that
she should be an outcast from home at such a time of peril and horror.

CHAPTER IV. JAMES HARMER'S RESOLVE.

It was with a grave face, yet with a brave and cheerful mien, that
the worthy Harmer met his household upon the following morning. He
had passed the remainder of that strangely interrupted night in
meditation and prayer, and had arrived now at a resolution which he
intended to put into immediate effect.

His household consisted, it will be remembered, of his own family,
together with apprentices, shopmen, and serving wenches. To all of
these he now addressed himself, told the story which his daughter
had related of the treatment received in the house of the high-born
lady by the poor girl stricken by the pestilence, and how it had
made even his own child almost fear to enter her father's house.

"My friends," said the master, looking round upon the ring of grave
and eager fa