roadway below. When the moonlight fell upon the upturned face, she
saw it was that of her daughter Janet, who was in the service of
Lady Howe, and was her waiting maid, living in her house not far
from Whitehall, and earning good wages in that gay household.

In no little alarm at seeing her daughter out alone in the street
at night, she spoke her name and bid her wait at the door till she
could let her in, which she would do immediately; but Janet
instantly replied:

"Nay, mother, come not to the door; come to the little window at
the corner, where I can speak quietly till I have told you all.
Open not the door till you have heard my lamentable tale. I know
not even now that I am right to come hither at all."

In great fear and anxiety the mother cast a loose wrapper about
her, and descended quickly to the little storeroom close against
the shop, where there was a tiny window which opened direct upon
the street. At this window, but a few paces away, she found her
daughter awaiting her, and by the light of the rush candle that she
carried she saw that the girl's face was deadly white.

"Child, child, what ails thee? Come in and tell me all. Thou must
not stand out there. I will open the door and fetch thee in."

"No, mother, no--not till thou hast heard my tale," pleaded Janet;
"for the sake of the rest thou must be cautious. Mother, I have
been with one who died of the plague at noon today!"

"Mercy on us, child! How came that about?"