was now rouzed. I watched the re-awakened devotion of my sister; Clara's

timid, but concentrated admiration of her father, and Raymond's appetite

for renown, and sensitiveness to the demonstrations of affection of the

Athenians. Attentively perusing this animated volume, I was the less

surprised at the tale I read on the new-turned page.

The Turkish army were at this time besieging Rodosto; and the Greeks,

hastening their preparations, and sending each day reinforcements, were on

the eve of forcing the enemy to battle. Each people looked on the coming

struggle as that which would be to a great degree decisive; as, in case of

victory, the next step would be the siege of Constantinople by the Greeks.

Raymond, being somewhat recovered, prepared to re-assume his command in the

army.

Perdita did not oppose herself to his determination. She only stipulated to

be permitted to accompany him. She had set down no rule of conduct for

herself; but for her life she could not have opposed his slightest wish, or

do other than acquiesce cheerfully in all his projects. One word, in truth,

had alarmed her more than battles or sieges, during which she trusted

Raymond's high command would exempt him from danger. That word, as yet it

was not more to her, was PLAGUE. This enemy to the human race had begun

early in June to raise its serpent-head on the shores of the Nile; parts of

Asia, not usually subject to this evil, were infected. It was in

Constantinople; but as each year that city experienced a like visitation,

small attention was paid to those accounts which declared more people to

have died there already, than usually made up the accustomed prey of the

228

The Last Man