of the bridge and the places
where it had broken out it had almost wreaked its fury.

It had burned houses, and shops, and churches to the very ground.
The lambent flames still played about the heaps of burning ruins,
but the fury of the conflagration had abated through lack of
material upon which to feed itself. Victory remained finally with
those who had worked so well to keep the foe in check, and keep in
safety the southern portion of the city. The Master Builder's
scheme had been attended with marked success. The demolished
buildings had arrested the progress of the flames, although not
without severe labour on the part of those concerned.

When the Harmer family met together to eat and drink after the
toils of the day, so wearied out that even the knowledge that the
terrible fire was still devouring all before it in other quarters
could not keep them from their beds that night, the master of the
house said to his friend the Master Builder:

"Truly, if other means fail, we had better set about blowing up
whole streets of houses in the path of the flames. We will to the
Lord Mayor at daybreak, and tell him how the bridge has been saved.
The people may lament at the destruction of their houses, but sure
that is better than that all the city should be ravaged by fire!"

Busy indeed were the women of both those abodes upon that memorable
night. From basement to attic their houses were crowded with
neighbours who had been burned out, and who must either pass the
night in the open air or else seek shelter from friends more
fortunate than themselves.

The men, for the most part, were abroad in the streets, drawn
thither by the excitement of the great fire, and by the hope of
helping to save other persons and goods. But the women and children
crowded together in helpless dismay, watching from the windows the
increasing glow in the sky as the sun sank and night came on, and
mingling tears of terror for others with their own lamentations
over the loss of houses and goods.

Good Rachel Harmer and her daughters and daughter-in-law moved
amongst the poor creatures like ministering angels. The children
were fed and put to bed by twos and threes together. The mothers
were bidden to table in relays, and everything was done to cheer
and sustain them. Good James Harmer thought not of his own goods
when his neighbours were in dire need, and neither he nor his son
grudged the hospitality which was willingly accorded to all who