But he said it was true enough that persons of high degree were beginning to move into the country, at least from the western part of the town; but that all felt very sure the distemper would speedily be checked, and would not come within the city walls at all, nor extend eastward beyond its boundaries.
Madam breathed a little more freely on hearing this, but made an eager suggestion to her husband that they should go away if the distemper began to spread.
But the Master Builder shook his head impatiently.
"A fine thing to run away from a chance ill, and court a certain ruin! How do you think business will thrive if all the men run away from their shops like affrighted sheep?
No, no; it is often safest to stay at home with closed doors than to run helter skelter to strange places where one knows not who may have been last.

Keep indoors with your perfumes and spices, and keep the wench close with you.

That is the best way of outwitting the enemy.

Besides, it has come nowhere near us yet." Madam had certainly no mind to be ruined, nor was she one who loved change or the discomforts of travel.

So she thought on the whole her husband's advice was good.