“Janet, my girl, never ask the why and the wherefore of any of the Lord’s just judgments.  It is for us to bow our heads in repentance and submission, trusting that He will never try us above what we are able to bear.”

Comforted by the sound of her father’s voice, Janet repeated her tale to him in much the same words as before, the father listening in thoughtful silence, without comment or question; till at the conclusion of the tale he said to his wife: 

“Go upstairs and bring down with thee my heavy riding cloak which hangs in the press;” and when she had obeyed him, he added, “Now go up to thy room, and shut thyself in till I call thee thence.”

Implicit obedience to her husband was one of Rachel’s characteristics.  Although she longed to know what was to be done, she asked no questions, but retired upstairs and fell on her knees in prayer.  The master of the house went to a great cask of vinegar which stood in the corner, and after pretty well saturating the heavy cloak in that pungent liquid, he unbarred the door, and beckoning to his daughter to approach, threw about her the heavy mantle and bid mer follow him.

He led her through the house and up to a large spare guest chamber, rather away from the other sleeping chambers of the house, and he quickly brought to her there a bath and hot water, and certain herbs specially prepared—­wormwood, woodsorrel, angelica, and so forth.  He bid her wash herself all over in the herb bath, wrapping all her clothing first in the cloak, which she was to put outside the door.  Then she was to go to bed, whilst all her clothing was burnt by his own hands; and after that she must submit to remain shut up in that room, seeing nobody but himself, until such time should have gone by as should prove whether or not she had become infected by the distemper.

Janet wept for joy at being thus received beneath her father’s roof, having heard so many fearsome tales of persons being turned out of doors even by their nearest and dearest, were it but suspected that they might carry about with them the seeds of the dreaded distemper.  But the worthy lace maker was a godly man, and brave with the courage that comes of a lively faith.  He had learned all that could be told of the nature of the distemper; and after he had burnt all his daughter’s clothing with his own hands, and had assured himself that she felt sound and well, and had also fumigated his own house thoroughly, he felt that he had done all in his power against the infection, and that the rest must be left in the hands of Providence.

The mother hovered anxiously about, but came not near her husband till permitted by him.  She did not enter the room where her daughter now lay comfortably in a soft bed, but she prepared some good food for her, which was carried in by the father later on, and promised her that by the morning she should have clothing to put on, and that she should have every care and comfort during the days of her captivity.