"Oh, if you saw her——"
A sweet voice above said, "Stay him not, let him enter." It was Margaret.
Gerard ran up the stairs to her, and went to take her hand.
She drew back hastily.
He looked astounded.
"I am displeased," said she, coldly. "What makes you here? Know you not the plague is in the town?"
"Ay, dear Margaret: and came straightway to take our boy away."
"What, had he no mother?"
"How you speak to me! I hoped you knew not."
"What, think you I leave my boy unwatched? I pay a trusty woman that notes every change in his cheek when I am not here, and lets me know. I am his mother."