Old Saint Paul's

Old Saint Paul's, A Tale of the Plague and the Fire, is by William Harrison Ainsworth. The author says that the part of the tale about the Grocer of Wood-street and his family shutting themselves up in the house during the worst part of the Plague of 1665 is founded on a narrative that he has followed pretty closely in most of its details. An apprentice tells Mr. Maurice Wyvil that he will not see Amabel to-night because the plague is in her father's house. Wyvil exclaims about the plague in an altered tone, drops the point of his sword and asks whether she is smitten by it.

A scene with Amabel has the doctor take Amabel's arm and place his finger upon her pulse, with her mother standing by her side and little Christiana not far from her. Bloundel's neighbours, on learning that his house was on fire, flew to his assistance, and when told they were profaning the Sabbath they replied that the responsibility of their conduct would rest entirely on themselves.