"But men are always scaring us with tales of its coming and, after all, there is but a death here and one there, such as any great city may look to have." At that moment the door was thrown open, and a pretty young damsel, wearing a crimson cloak and hood, stepped lightly in.
"O father, mother, do but come and look!" she cried, with the air of coaxing assurance which bespoke a favoured child.

"Such a strange star in the sky! Men in the streets are all looking and pointing; and some say that it is no star, but a comet, and that it predicts some dreadful thing which is coming upon this land.

Do come and look at it! There is a clear sky tonight, and one can see it well.

And I heard that it has been seen by some before this, when at night the rain clouds have been swept away by the wind.

Do come to the window above the river and look! One can see it fine from there." This sudden announcement, falling just upon the talk of pestilence and peril, caused a certain flutter and sensation through the room.
All the persons there rose to their feet and followed the rosy-cheeked maiden out upon the staircase, and to a window from which the great river could be seen flowing beneath.