Harmer then told his neighbour the rules he was about to lay down for his own household, all of which the Master Builder, who was a keen practical man, cordially approved.  He was himself likely soon to be in a great strait, for most probably he would be appointed in due course to serve as an examiner of health, and would of necessity come into contact with those who had been amongst the sick, even if not with the infected themselves, and how his wife would bear such a thing as that he scarce dared to think.  Business, too, was at a standstill, all except the carpentering branch, and that was only busy with coffins.  If London became depopulated, there would be nothing doing in the building and furnishing line for long enough.  Some prophets declared that the city was doomed to a destruction such as had never been seen by mortal man before.  Even as it was the plague seemed like to sweep away a fourth of the inhabitants; and if that were so, what would become of such trades as his for many a year to come?  Already the Master Builder spoke of himself as a half-ruined man.

His neighbour did all he could to cheer him, but it was only too true that misfortune appeared imminent.  Harmer had always been a careful and cautious man, laying by against a rainy day, and not striving after a rapid increase of wealth.  But the Master Builder had worked on different lines.  He had enlarged his borders wherever he could see his way to doing so, and although he had a large capital by this time, it was all floating in this and that venture; so that in spite of his appearance of wealth and prosperity, he had often very little ready money.  So long as trade was brisk this mattered little, and he turned his capital over in a fashion that was very pleasing to himself.  But this sudden and totally unexpected collapse of business came upon him at a time when he could ill afford to meet it.  Already he had had to discharge the greater part of his workmen, having nothing for them to do.  The expenses which he could not put down drained his resources in a way that bid fair to bring him to bankruptcy, and it was almost impossible to get in outstanding accounts when the rich persons in his debt had fled hither and thither with such speed and haste that often no trace of them could be found, and their houses in town were shut up and absolutely empty.

“As for Frederick, he spends money like water—­and his mother encourages him,” groaned the unhappy father in confidence to his friend.  “Ah me! when I look at your fine sons, and see their conduct at home and abroad, it makes my heart burn with shame.  What is it that makes the difference? for I am sure I have denied Frederick no advantage that money could purchase.”

“Perhaps it is those advantages which money cannot purchase that he lacks,” said James Harmer, gravely—­“the prayers of a godly mother, the chastisement of a father who would not spoil the child by sparing the rod.  There are things in the upbringing of children, my good friend, of far more value than those which gold will purchase.”