"We shall see what she offers," rejoined Judith; "all will depend upon that."
"It is extraordinary," observed Chowles, after a pause, "that while all around us are sick or dying of the pestilence, we should escape contagion."
"We are not afraid of it," replied Judith. "Besides, we are part of the plague ourselves. But I have been attacked, and am, therefore, safe."
"True," replied Chowles; "I had forgotten that. Well, if I fall ill, you Sha'n't nurse me."
"You won't be able to help yourself then," returned Judith.
"Eh!" exclaimed Chowles, shifting uneasily on his seat.
"Don't be afraid," returned Judith, laughing at his alarm. "I'll take every care of you. We are necessary to each other."
"So we are," replied Chowles; "so we are; and if nothing else could, that consideration would make us true to each other."
"Of course," assented Judith. "Let us reap as rich a harvest as we can, and when the scourge is over, we can enjoy ourselves upon the spoils."
"Exactly so," replied Chowles. "My business is daily-hourly on the increase. My men are incessantly employed, and my only fear is that an order will be issued to bury the dead without coffins."