But be that as it might, the dreaded tokens appeared upon her body at last, and within three days from that time she lay dead.
All that the kindness of friends and neighbours could avail had been done.

The Harmer family, in particular, had showed so much attention and sympathy in this trying time, that Gertrude was often overcome with shame as she recalled in what uncivil fashion they had been treated by her mother of late years, and how they were now returning good for evil, just at a time when so many men were finding themselves forsaken even by their nearest and dearest in the hour of their affliction.
The whole experience through which she had passed had made a deep and lasting impression upon Gertrude.

She had already watched two of the beings nearest and dearest to her fall victims to the dire disease which was raging in the city and laying low its thousands daily.

It seemed to her that there was but one thing to be done now by those whose circumstances permitted it, and that was to go forth amid the sick and smitten ones, and do what lay within human power to mitigate their sufferings, and to afford them the solace and comfort of feeling that they were not altogether shut off from the love and sympathy of their fellow men.
"Father," she urged, as she saw that her parent still hesitated, "what would have become of us without Dinah?
What should we have done had no help come to us in our hour of need?
Think of the hundreds and thousands about us longing for some such tendance and love as she brought hither to us! What would have become of us had no kind neighbours befriended us?
And are we not bidden to do unto others as we would have them do unto us in like case ?" "But the risk, my child, the risk!" he urged.

"Am I to lose my last and only stay and solace ?" "Mother died in this house, which is now doubly infected.