I hear the same oaths and blasphemies, the same ribald jests and ungodly talk, as of old.
They say the Court, which has lately returned to Whitehall, is as gay and wanton as ever.

In face of the terror of death, men did resolve to amend their ways; but I fear me, that terror being past, they do but make a mock of it, and return, like the sow in Scripture, to their wallowing in the mire." Gertrude looked gravely sorrowful for a moment; but, on the eve of her wedding day, she could not be sorrowful long.

She and her father were enjoying a talk together before she sought her couch.
He had been unable to come earlier to see her, business matters having detained him in town.

For the past two months he had been at work with his task of purifying and setting in order the houses of the better-class people, for their return thither after the plague; and though he had sent many affectionate messages to his daughter, this was the first time for several weeks that they had met.

It could not but rankle in the father's heart that, for the time being, he had no home to offer to his child.