Towards morning he fell into a restless sleep, from which he wakened in a high fever, not knowing any of those about him.  The father coming in, went towards him with a strange look in his eyes, and after bending over him a few seconds, turned a haggard face towards his wife and daughter, saying: 

“May the Lord have mercy upon us! he has the tokens upon him!”

Instantly the mother uttered a scream of lamentation, and fell half senseless into her husband’s arms; whilst Gertrude stood suddenly up with a white face and said: 

“Let me take word to our neighbours next door.  Master Harmer is an examiner.  We must needs report it to him; and they will tell us what we must do, and give us help if any can.”

“Ay, that they will,” answered the Master Builder, with some emotion in his voice.  “Go, girl, and report that the distemper has broken out in the house, and that we submit ourselves to the orders of the authorities for all such as be infected.”

Gertrude sped upstairs.  She preferred that method of transit to the one by the street door.  But she had no need to go further than her attic; for upon opening the door she saw two figures in the room, and instantly recognized Reuben and his sister Janet.  The latter came forward with outstretched hands, and would have taken Gertrude into her embrace, but that she drew back and said in a voice of warning: 

“Take heed, Janet; touch me not.  I have passed the night by the bedside of my brother, and he is stricken with the plague!”

“So soon?” quoth Reuben, quickly; whilst Janet would not be denied her embrace, saying softly: 

“I have no longer a fear of that distemper myself, for I have been with it erstwhile, and my aunt Dinah tells me that I have had a very mild attack of the same ill, and that I am not like to take it again.”

“If indeed Frederick is smitten, we must take precautions to close the house,” said Reuben.  “Is there aught you would wish to do ere giving the notice to my father?”

“Nay, I was on my way to him,” said Gertrude, speaking with the calmness of one upon whom the expected blow has at last fallen.  “Let what must be done be done quickly.  Can we have a nurse? for methinks Frederick must needs have tendance more skilled than any we can give him.  But let it not be one of those women”—­Gertrude paused and shuddered, as though she knew not how to finish her sentence.

“Trust me to do all for you that lies in my power,” answered Reuben, in a voice of emotion; “and never feel shut up altogether from the world; even when the outer door be locked and guarded by a watchman.  I have already hung a bell within our house, and the cord is tied here upon this nail.  In any time of need you have but to ring it, and be sure that the summons will be speedily answered.”

A mist rose before Gertrude’s eyes and a lump in her throat.  She pressed Janet’s hand, and said to Reuben in a husky voice: