His age was under forty, and his habiliments were rich, though of a sombre colour.
Passing through the postern, which stood wide open, the watchman having disappeared, they entered a narrow lane, skirted by a few detached houses, all of which were shut up, and marked by the fatal cross.

As they passed one of these habitations, they were arrested by loud and continued shrieks of the most heart-rending nature, and questioning a watchman who stood at an adjoining door, as to the cause of them, he said they proceeded from a poor lady who had just lost the last of her family by the plague.
"Her husband and all her children, except one daughter, died last week," said the man, "and though she seemed deeply afflicted, yet she bore her loss with resignation.

Yesterday, her daughter was taken ill, and she died about two hours ago, since when the poor mother has done nothing but shriek in the way you hear.

Poor soul! she will die of grief, as many have done before her at this awful time." "Something must be done to pacify her," returned Thirlby, in a voice of much emotion,--"she must be removed from her child." "Where can she be removed to ?" rejoined the watchman.

"Who will receive her ?" "At all events, we can remove the object that occasions her affliction," rejoined Thirlby.