But her father's good counsel and his daily prayers for his household so helped her to keep up heart, that she had not yet been frightened from her occupation, although her mistress always declared on parting in the evening that she never expected to see her back in the morning.
"If the plague does not get you, some coward terror will.

Never mind; I can do without you, child.

I never looked for you to have kept so long at your post.

All the rest have fled long since." Which was true indeed, only Dorcas and the old couple who lived in the house still continuing their duties.

Fear of the pestilence had driven away the other servants, and they had sought safety on the other side of the water, where it was still believed infection would not spread.
"I will come back in the morning.