with his neighbour. But tonight he looked in vain for Dinah.

"She and Janet have both been summoned to a fine lady who is sick
in a grand house nigh to St. Paul's. Dr. Hooker fetched them
thither this morning. They will be well paid for their work, he
says. The lady has sickened of a fever, and some of her household
took fright lest it should be the plague, albeit the symptoms are
quite different. So he must needs take both Dinah and Janet with
him, that she might be rightly served and tended. Tomorrow Joseph
shall go and ask news of her, and get speech with Janet if he can,
and learn how it fares with her. I confess I am glad, when she goes
to fine houses, that Dinah should be there also. Janet is a pretty
creature, and those young gallants think of nothing but to amuse
themselves by turning girls' heads, be they ever so humble.

"Ah me! ah me! there is a vast deal of wickedness in the world! I
cannot wonder that men foretell some fresh calamity upon this city.
I am sure some of the things we hear and see--well, well, well, we
must not judge others. It is enough that judgment and vengeance are
the Lord's."

Rachel stopped short because she saw the look of pain which always
came into the Master Builder's face when he thought of his
profligate young son, cut off in the prime of his youthful manhood,
and that without any assurance on the part of those about him that
he had repented of the error of his ways. The carelessness and
wickedness of the young men of the city were always a sore subject,
and he still winced when the pranks of the Scourers were commented
upon by his neighbours.

"It is my Lady Desborough who has fallen ill," concluded Rachel,
anxious to turn the subject. "Methinks you had some dealings with
her lord not such very long time since. The name fell familiarly
upon my ears."

"Yes, truly, I did much to garnish their house, and I built out a
private parlour for my lady, all of looking glass and gilding. Not
long since I purified the house for them with the costliest of
spices. Lord Desborough thinks all the world of his beauteous lady.
They are devoted to each other, which is a goodly thing to see in
these days. He will be greatly alarmed if she be seriously
indisposed. He is a right worthy gentleman; and with thy permission
I will accompany Joseph to St. Paul's tomorrow and learn the latest
tidings of her."

"With all my heart," answered the mother; and soon after that the
Master Builder took h