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 faces, "these things ought not to be. In times of common
trouble and peril the hearts of men should draw closer together,
and we should remember that God's command to us is to love our
neighbour as ourself. If we were to lie stricken of mortal illness,
should we think it a Christ-like act for all men to flee away from
us? But inasmuch as we ought all of us to take every care not to
run into needless peril, so must we take every right and reasonable
precaution to keep from ourselves and our homes this just but
terrible visitation, which God has doubtless sent for our
admonition and chastisement."