th rate
decreased, and the cases were no longer so fatal in character,
there seemed no way of making the citizens observe proper
precautions, and, as many averred, the malady increased and spread,
although not in nearly so fatal a form, as it never need have done
but for the recklessness of the multitudes.

One very sorrowful case was brought home to the Harmers, because it
happened to some worthy neighbours of their own who had lived
opposite to them for many a year.

When first the alarm was given that the plague had entered within
the city walls, this man had hastily decided to quit London with
his wife and family and seek an asylum in the country, and had
earnestly urged the Harmers to do the same. For many months nothing
had been heard of them; but with the first abatement of the malady
the father had appeared, and had asked advice from Harmer as to how
soon he might bring home his family, who were all sound and well.
His friend advised him to wait another month at least; but he
laughed such counsel to scorn, and just before the Harmers
themselves started for Islington, their friends had settled
themselves in their old house opposite.

Ten days later Harmer heard with great dismay that three of the
children had taken the plague and had died. By the end of the week
there was not one of the family alive save the unhappy man himself,
and he went about like one distraught, so that his reason or his
life seemed like to pay the forfeit.

It was no wonder, in the hearing of such stories as these--of which
there were many--that Mary Harmer rejoiced to have her brother's
household safely housed and out of danger, and that she earnestly
begged them to remain with her at least until the merry
Christmastide should be overpast.

CHAPTER XV. A CHRISTMAS WEDDING.

"I never thought to see daughter of mine wedded from the house of a
neighbour," said the Master Builder (whose title yet clung to him,
albeit there was something of mockery in the sound), heaving a sigh
as he looked into the happy face of his child. "But a homeless man
must needs do the best he can; and our good friends have won the
right to play the part of kinsfolk towards us both."

"Indeed--indeed they have, dear father," answered Gertrude; "thou
canst not think how happy I have been here in this sweet cottage,
nor what a home it has been to us all these weeks. I shall be
almost loth to leave it on the morrow--at least I should be, were
it not for t