“There were many monks at first; but the distemper seized upon them worse than upon the townfolks, and now there is scarce one left.  Soon after the distemper broke out, Master John de Brocas threw open his house to receive all stricken persons who would come thither to be tended, and it has been full to overflowing night and day ever since.  I passed by the house as I came out, and around the door there were scores of wretched creatures, all stricken with the distemper, praying to be taken in.  And I saw Master John come out to them and welcome them in, lifting a little child from the arms of an almost dying woman, and leading her in by the hand.  When I saw that, I longed to go in myself and offer myself to help in the work; but I thought my first duty was to you, sweet Mistress, and I knew if once I had told my tale you would not hold me back.”

“Nay; and I will go thither myself, and Bridget with me,” answered Joan, with kindling eyes.  “We will start with the first light of the new-born day.  They will want the help of women as well as of men within those walls.

“Good Bridget, look well to thy store of herbs, and take ample provision of all such as will allay fever and destroy the poison that works in the blood.  For methinks there will be great work to be done by thee and me ere another sun has set; and every aid that nature can give us we will thankfully make use of.”

“Your palfrey is yet in the stable, fair Mistress,” said William, “and there be likewise the strong sorrel from the farm, whereupon Bridget can ride pillion behind me.  Shall I have them ready at break of day tomorrow?  We shall then gain the town before the day’s work has well begun.”

“Do so,” answered Joan, with decision.  “I would fain have started by night; but it will be wiser to tarry for the light of day.  Good William, I thank thee for thy true and faithful service.  We are going forth to danger and perchance to death; but we go in a good cause, and we have no need to fear.”

And when William had retired, she turned to Bridget with shining eyes, and said: 

“Ah, did I not always say that John was the truest knight of them all?  The others have won their spurs; they have won the applause of men.  They have all their lives looked down on John as one unable to wield a sword, one well-nigh unworthy of the ancient name he bears.  But which of yon gay knights would have done what he is doing now?  Who of all of them would stand forth fearless and brave in the teeth of this far deadlier peril than men ever face upon the battlefield?  I trow not one of them would have so stood before a peril like this.  They have left that for the true Knight of the Cross!”

At dawn next day Joan said adieu to her old home, and set her face steadily forward towards Guildford.  The chill freshness of the November air was pleasant after the long period of oppressive warmth and closeness which had gone before, and now that the leaves had really fallen from the trees, there was less of the heavy humidity in the air that seemed to hold the germs of distemper and transmit them alike to man and beast.