ok. Pulling off their
clothes, they proceeded to drag them over the sweet-scented meadow
grass. Then they plunged into the brook, and enjoyed a delightful
paddle and bath in the clear cool water. After rolling themselves
in the hot grass, and having a fine romp there with Fido, they
donned their garments, and felt indeed as though they had got rid
of all germs of infection and disease.

After this they made their way towards the cottage where their aunt
had been staying, and met her just sallying forth to return home.

Without any hesitation or delay Joseph told the tale of their
hardihood and disobedience, and the strange discovery to which it
had led them; and although their aunt trembled and looked pale with
terror at the thought of how they had exposed themselves, she did
not stop to chide them, but was full of anxiety for the immediate
release of Reuben from his pestilential prison, and eager to have
him to nurse in her own house, if she could do this without risk to
the younger boys.

They were to the full as eager as she, and promised in everything
to obey her--even to the sleeping and living in an outhouse for a
few days, if only she would save Reuben from that horrible pest
house. None knew better than Mary Harmer, who was a notable nurse
herself, how much might now depend upon pure air, nourishing food,
and quiet; and how could her nephew receive much individual care
when cooped up amongst scores, if not hundreds, of desperate cases?

Mary was so much beloved by all around, that she quickly found a
farmer willing to lend a cart even for the purpose of removing a
sick person from the pest house, if he bore the honoured name of
Harmer. She would not permit any person to accompany the cart, but
drove it herself, and sent the boys home to prepare the airiest
chamber and make all such preparations as they could think of
beforehand; and to remove their own bedding into the outhouse, till
she was assured that they were in no peril from the presence of
their brother indoors.

Eagerly the boys worked at these tasks, and everything was in
beautiful order when the cart drove up. One of the attendants from
the pest house had come with it, and he carried Reuben up to the
bed made ready for him, and drove the cart away, promising to
disinfect it thoroughly, and return it to the owner ere nightfall.

It was little the eager boys saw of their aunt that day. She was
engrossed by Reuben the whole time. She said he was t