Lysbeth, a Tale of the Dutch by H. Rider Haggard

  Supper that night was a somewhat melancholy meal. Dirk and Lysbeth satat the ends of the table in silence. On one side of fit were placedFoy and Elsa, who were also silent for a very different reason, whileopposite to them was Adrian, who watched Elsa with an anxious andinquiring eye.

  That the love potion worked he was certain, for she looked confused anda little flushed; also, as would be natural under the circumstances, sheavoided his glance and made pretence to be interested in Foy, who seemedrather more stupid than usual. Well, so soon as he could find hischance all this would be cleared up, but meanwhile the general gloom andsilence were affecting his nerves.

  "What have you been doing this afternoon, mother?" Adrian askedpresently.

  "I, son?" she replied with a start, "I have been visiting the unhappyVrouw Jansen, whom I found very sick."

  "What is the matter with her, mother?"

  Lysbeth's mind, which had wandered away, again returned to the subjectat hand with an effort.

  "The matter? Oh! she has the plague."

  "The plague!" exclaimed Adrian, springing to his feet, "do you mean tosay you have been consorting with a woman who has the plague?"

  "I fear so," she answered with a smile, "but do not be frightened,Adrian, I have burnt my clothes and fumigated myself."

  Still Adrian was frightened. His recent experience of sickness hadbeen ample, and although he was no coward he had a special dislike ofinfectious diseases, which at the time were many.

  "It is horrible," he said, "horrible. I only hope that we--I meanyou--may escape. The house is unbearably close. I am going to walkin the courtyard," and away he went, for the moment, at any rate,forgetting all about Elsa and the love potion.