"I have come to nurse the sick.

Let me into this house, I pray, for I hear the need is very sore." "Sore enough, mistress," answered the man, fumbling with his key, for of course there was admittance to plague nurses and doctors into infected houses; "but if you take my advice, you'll not venture within the door.

The dead cart has had four from it these last two days.

Like enough by this time they are all dead.

They have asked for nothing these past ten hours--not since the cart came last night." With a shudder of pity and horror, but without any personal shrinking, Gertrude signed to the man to open the door, which he proceeded to do in a leisurely manner.