It would scare me to death. But she will not let one other of her
servants abide there with her!"

"Ay, it is her whimsie. Women folks are given to such," answered
Reuben, tolerantly. "She is a strange creature, albeit I doubt not
that men make her out stranger than she is. Well, well, the comet
at least will do us no hurt of itself; and if it be God's way of
warning us of peril to come, we need not fear it, but only set
ourselves to be ready for what He may send us."

Below stairs there was a comfortable meal spread upon the table,
simple and homely, but sufficient for the appetites of all. The
three rosy-faced apprentices, of whom a son of the house made one,
formed a link at table between the family and the shopmen and
serving wenches. All sat down together, and Rebecca, the daughter
who lived at home, served up the hot broth and puddings. The eldest
daughter was a serving maid in the household of my Lady Howe, and
was seldom able to get home for more than a few hours occasionally,
even when that fashionable dame was in London. Dorcas spent each
night under the shelter of her father's roof, and went daily to the
quaint old house close beside Allhallowes the Less, where lived the
eccentric Lady Scrope, her mistress, of whom mention has been made.
The youngest son was also from home, being apprenticed to a
carpenter in the service of the Master Builder next door, and he
lived, as was usual, in the house of his employer. Thus four out of
Harmer's seven children lived always at home, and Dan the sailor
was with them whenever his ship put into the river after a voyage.

No talk of either comet or plague was permitted at table; indeed
the meal was generally eaten in something approaching to silence.