and about the city.
There are too many empty houses left there for that."

"Shall I see a wondrous change there when I go back, father?"

"A change, but a wondrous small one compared to what one would
suppose," answered the father. "All men are amazed to see how
quickly the streets have filled, and how little of change there is
to note in the outward aspect of things. I had thought that half
the houses would be left empty; but I think there be not more than
one-eighth without inhabitants, and these are filling up apace. To
be sure, in the once crowded lanes and alleys there are far fewer
people than before; but it is wonderful to see how small the change
is; and life goes on just as of old. It is as if the calamity was
already half forgot!"

"Nay but, father, I trust it is not forgotten, and that men's
consciences are stirred, and that they have taken to heart the
warning of God's just anger."

The Master Builder slightly shook his head.

"I fear not, child, I fear not. I hear the same oaths and
blasphemies, the same ribald jests and ungodly talk, as of old.
They say the Court, which has lately returned to Whitehall, is as
gay and wanton as ever. In face of the terror of death, men did
resolve to amend their ways; but I fear me, that terror being past,
they do but make a mock of it, and return, like the sow in
Scripture, to their wallowing in the mire."

Gertrude looked gravely sorrowful for a moment; but, on the eve of
her wedding day, she could not be sorrowful long. She and her
father were enjoying a talk together before she sought her couch.
He had been unable to come earlier to see her, business matters
having detained him in town. For the past two months he had been at
work with his task of purifying and setting in order the houses of
the better-class people, for their return thither after the plague;
and though he had sent many affectionate messages to his daughter,
this was the first time for several weeks that they had met. It
could not but rankle in the father's heart that, for the time
being, he had no home to offer to his child. He had been staying
with his good friend James Harmer all this while, who had left his
wife and family at Islington to regain their full health and
strength, while he spent his time between the Bridge house and the
cottage. His business required his presence at home during a part
of the week, since his shopmen and apprentices had already
returned; but he would not permit his