This house is under quarantine for smallpox . You will have to stay here . '' Smallpox ! For the first and last time in my life , I openly lost my temper with a man . I wheeled furiously upon Alexander Abraham . `` Why did n't you tell me ? '' I cried . `` Tell you ! '' he said , glaring at me . `` When I first saw you it was too late to tell you . I thought the kindest thing I could do was to hold my tongue and let you get away in happy ignorance . This will teach you to take a man 's house by storm , madam ! '' `` Now , now , do n't quarrel , my good people , '' interposed the doctor seriously -- but I saw a twinkle in his eye . `` You 'll have to spend some time together under the same roof and you wo n't improve the situation by disagreeing . You see , Peter , it was this way . Mr. Bennett was in town yesterday -- where , as you are aware , there is a bad outbreak of smallpox -- and took dinner in a boarding-house where one of the maids was ill . Last night she developed unmistakable symptoms of smallpox . The Board of Health at once got after all the people who were in the house yesterday , so far as they could locate them , and put them under quarantine . I came down here this morning and explained the matter to Mr. Bennett . I brought Jeremiah Jeffries to guard the front of the house and Mr. Bennett gave me his word of honour that he would not let anyone in by the back way while I went to get another policeman and make all the necessary arrangements .
I have brought Thomas Wright and have secured the services XXXXX another man to attend to Mr. Bennett 's barn work and bring provisions to the house .
For as at by in of to under upon with