Soon after the melancholy occurrence, he had been informed by Doctor Hodges of Amabel's death; but the humane physician concealed from him the painful circumstances under which it occurred.

It required all Mr.Bloundel's fortitude to support him under the shock of this intelligence, and he did not communicate the afflicting tidings to his wife until he had prepared her for their reception.

But she bore them better than he had anticipated; and though she mourned her daughter deeply and truly, she appeared completely resigned to the loss.

Sorrow pervaded the whole household for some weeks; and the grocer, who never relaxed his system, shrouded his sufferings under the appearance of additional austerity of manner.

It would have been a great consolation to him to see Leonard Holt; but the apprentice had disappeared; and even Doctor Hodges could give no account of him.
One night, in the middle of November, Mr.Bloundel signified to his wife his intention of going forth, early on the following morning, to satisfy himself that the plague was really abating.