rate for a while. So he and his comrades laid their plans with what
they thought great skill, resolved that they should be carried out
upon the first favourable opportunity.

For a while Dorcas had been rather nervous of leaving the house in
Allhallowes unless Reuben was waiting for her. But as she had seen
no more of the gallant who had accosted her, and as it was said on
all hands that these had left London in hundreds, she had taken
courage of late, and had bidden her brother not incommode himself
on her account, if it were difficult for him to be her escort home.

Of late he had oftentimes been kept away by pressure of other
duties. Sometimes Dan had come in his stead. Sometimes she had
walked back alone and unmolested. Persons avoided each other in the
streets now, and hurried by with averted glances. Although upon her
homeward route, which was but short, she had as yet no infected
houses to pass, she always hastened along half afraid to look about
her. But her father's good counsel and his daily prayers for his
household so helped her to keep up heart, that she had not yet been
frightened from her occupation, although her mistress always
declared on parting in the evening that she never expected to see
her back in the morning.

"If the plague does not get you, some coward terror will. Never
mind; I can do without you, child. I never looked for you to have
kept so long at your post. All the rest have fled long since."

Which was true indeed, only Dorcas and the old couple who lived in
the house still continuing their duties. Fear of the pestilence had
driven away the other servants, and they had sought safety on the