I don't wonder that my cousin praises you. You have won me
already, and I hope we may always be good friends."
"I shall be glad," murmured Betty, pressing Frances's hand, assuringly.
"You say you are in trouble. In what way may I help you?"
Frances began, "You know Master Hamilton--Master George Hamilton?"
"Yes," answered Betty.
"And you would be glad to help me save him from great peril?" asked
Frances.
"Yes, Mistress Jennings. He, too, is my friend and a good man."
"Yes, yes, tell me, Betty. Good, say you? I had not supposed him good,
but--"
"If you supposed otherwise, you were wrong," returned Betty,
straightening up in her chair, ready to do battle for her friend.
"Yes, yes, tell me, please, Betty, why you deem him good," pleaded
Frances, eager to be convinced. "What has he done or left undone?"
"He has left undone all which he should not have done in so far as I
know," said Betty, "and has done a great deal of good. Recently when a
plague was raging along the wall from Aldgate to Bishopgate, where a
great many poor people live, you know, Master Hamilton went down among
them at peril of his life."
"Yes, yes," interrupted Frances, eagerly.
"He nursed them and carried food and water to them. You know one stricken
with the plague is ready to die of thirst. He took care of the children,
helped to bury the dead, which, you know, in case of very poor people, is
done after night, consoled the bereaved, and--oh, Mistress Jennings, it
was an awful sight!" said Betty, tears coming to her eyes.
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