“They are busy here at all events,” muttered Joseph, as he pushed open the gate of the yard, and in truth they were busy within; but yet the sight that presented itself to his eyes was anything hut a cheerful one, for every man in the large number assembled there was at work upon a coffin.  Coffins in every stage of construction stood everywhere, and the carpenters were toiling away at them as if for dear life.  Nothing but coffins was to be seen; and scarcely was one finished, in never so rude a fashion, but it was borne hurriedly away by some waiting messenger, and the master kept coming into the yard to see if his men could not work yet faster.

“They say they must bury the corpses uncoffined soon,” Joseph heard him whisper to his foreman as he passed by.  “No bodies may wait above ground after the first night when the cart goes its round.  Six orders have come in within the last hour.  No one knows how many we shall have by nightfall, or how many men we shall have working soon.  I sent Job away but an hour since.  I hope it was not the distemper that turned his face so green!  They say it has broken out in three streets hard by, and that it is spreading like wildfire.”

Joseph shuddered as he listened and crept away to the corner where his brother was generally to be found.  And there sure enough was Benjamin, a pretty fair-haired boy, who looked scarce strong enough for the task in hand, but who was yet working might and main with chisel and hammer.  His face brightened at sight of his brother, yet he did not relax his efforts, only saying eagerly: 

“How goes it at home with them all, Joseph?  I trow it is the coffin makers, not the lace makers, who have all the trade nowadays!  We are working night and day, and yet cannot keep up with the orders.”

Benjamin was half proud of all this press of business, but he did not look as though it agreed with him.  His face was pale, and when at last he threw down his hammer it was with a gasp of exhaustion.  The day was very hot, and he had been at work before the dawn.  It was no wonder, perhaps, that he looked wan and weary, yet the master passing by paused and cast an uneasy glance at him.  For it was from the very next stool that he had recently dismissed the man Job of whom he had spoken, and of whose condition he felt grave doubts.

Seeing Joseph close by he gave him a nod, and said: 

“Hast come to fetch home thy brother?  Two of my apprentices have been taken away since yesterday.  He is a good lad, and does his best; but he may take a holiday at home if he likes.  You are healthier at your end of the town, and they say the distemper comes not near water.

“Wilt thou go home to thy mother, boy?  We want men rather than lads at our work in these days.”

Joseph had had no thought of fetching home his brother when he started, but it seemed to him that Benjamin would be much better at home than in this crowded yard, where already the infection might have spread.  The boy confessed to a headache and pains in his limbs; and so fearful were all men now of any symptom of illness, however trifling, that the master sent him forth without delay, bidding Joseph take him straight home to his mother, and keep him there at his father’s pleasure.  A young boy was better at home in these days, as indeed might well be the case.