Father, mother, two grownup sons, and one or two daughters--evidently by a former marriage.

The big brothers had gone away--probably to act as bearers or watchmen--and the little ones knew nothing of them.

One of the sisters had been in service, but came home suddenly, complaining of illness, sat down in a chair, and died almost before they realized she was ill.

They had kept that death a secret, had obtained a certificate of some other ailment than the distemper, and for a week all had gone on quietly, when suddenly three became ill together.
Numbers of houses were shut up all round them.

Theirs was reported and closed.