good friends."

"I shall be glad," murmured Betty, pressing Frances's hand, assuringly.
"You say you are in trouble. In what way may I help you?"

Frances began, "You know Master Hamilton--Master George Hamilton?"

"Yes," answered Betty.

"And you would be glad to help me save him from great peril?" asked
Frances.

"Yes, Mistress Jennings. He, too, is my friend and a good man."

"Yes, yes, tell me, Betty. Good, say you? I had not supposed him good,
but--"

"If you supposed otherwise, you were wrong," returned Betty,
straightening up in her chair, ready to do battle for her friend.

"Yes, yes, tell me, please, Betty, why you deem him good," pleaded
Frances, eager to be convinced. "What has he done or left undone?"

"He has left undone all which he should not have done in so far as I
know," said Betty, "and has done a great deal of good. Recently when a
plague was raging along the wall from Aldgate to Bishopgate, where a
great many poor people live, you know, Master Hamilton went down among
them at peril of his life."

"Yes, yes," interrupted Frances, eagerly.

"He nursed them and carried food and water to them. You know one stricken
with the plague is ready to die of thirst. He took care of the children,
helped to bury the dead, which, you know, in case of very poor people, is
done after night, consoled the bereaved, and--oh, Mistress Jennings, it
was an awful sight!" said Betty, tears coming to her eyes.

"And Master Hamilton helped them?" asked Frances, hoping to keep the
glorious narrative going.

"Yes, he did the work of half a score of men," said Betty. "In the
disguise of a Quaker, he solicited money with which to buy medicine and
to employ physicians, and did everything in his power to comfort the poor
sufferers. Doctor Lilly, the astrologer, helped us. People say he is a
cheat, but I wish we had more of his kind among us."

"And you helped him?" asked Frances.

"Yes, a little," said Betty, modestly. "But my father helped him a great
deal with money and food."

"Master Hamilton is in danger of his life," said Frances, "and I would
save him. Will you help me to find him?"

After a long pause, Betty asked: "But how shall I know that you mean fair
by him? I'll see him if I can, and when you return, I'll tell you where
to find him if he consents."

"So you do know where he is?" asked Frances, eagerly.

Betty did not reply, so Frances continued: "I do mean him fair, Betty. I
am risking everythin