Her brother had had some ado to get her to quit her duties as nurse to the sick even yet, but it was not difficult now to get tendance for them, and she felt so greatly the need of rest that she had been persuaded at last.
"Many and many are the times when I have been left the only living being in a house--once, so far as I could tell, the only living thing in a whole street! None may know, save those who have been through it, the awful loneliness of being so shut in, with nothing near but dead bodies.

And yet the Lord has brought me through, and only one of our number has been taken." The mother's eyes filled with tears, but her heart was too thankful for those spared her to let her grief be loud.

One after another those round the table spoke of the things they had seen and heard; but presently the talk drifted to brighter themes.

Gertrude asked eagerly of her father, and where he was and what he was doing; and Mary Harmer asked if he would not come and join them, if her house could be made to hold another inmate.
"He is well in health, but looks aged and harassed," was the answer of the father.

"He has had sad losses.