Frau Christine had introduced this disinfectant herself by the advice of Otto the leech, when all who had been brought hither with open wounds, among them vigorous young men, had died like flies.  At that time the distinguished physician had even succeeded in getting the Honourable Council to defray the cost of having the walls newly white washed and fresh clay stamped on the floor.  He had also directed that the old straw should be replaced by clean every Sunday morning, and now matters were better still, for the rule was that every sick person should have a fresh layer.  True, it was not always fulfilled, and many a person was forced to be content with his predecessor’s couch.

In the women’s room, however, the change of straw was more rigidly required.  The nurse herself attended to it, and Sister Hildegard gave her energetic assistance.

In difficult cases the influence of the leech Otto was called to her aid, but he had grown old and no longer came to Schweinau.  Two barbers now cared for the bandaging and healing of the wounds, and if they were at a loss the younger city physician was summoned.

Sister Hildegard now pointed to the couch beside which the Dominican was talking to Eva, and said:  “She is the widow of a carrier and the child of worthy people; her father was the sexton of St. Sebald’s.  True, he died long ago, at the same time as her mother.  It was twelve years since, during the plague.

“Reicklein, yonder, had no other relatives here—­her parents were from Bamberg—­but she was well off, and her husband, Veit, earned enough by his travels through the country.  But on St. Blaise’s day, early in the month of February, during a trip to Vogtland, it was at Hof, he was overtaken by a snowstorm, and the worthy man was found frozen under a drift, with his staff and pouch.  The sad news reached her just after the birth of a little boy, and there were two other mouths to feed besides.  Her savings went quickly enough, and she fell into dire poverty, for she had not yet recovered her strength, and could not do housework.  During Passion Week she sold her bed to pay what she had borrowed and to feed the children.  It was cold, she had not a copper, nor any possibility of earning anything.  Then the rest went, too, and there was no way of getting food enough for the children and herself.

“But as her father had been in the employ of the city and was an honest man, by the advice of the provost of St. Sebald’s, who had been her confessor from childhood, she applied to the Honourable Council, and received the answer that old Hans Schab was by no means forgotten, and therefore, to relieve her need, she was referred to the beadle, who would give her the permit which enabled her to ask alms from those who went to St. Sebald’s Church, and had already afforded many a person ample support.