en
words fell upon her ears.

"But forty hours, and this whole city shall be consumed by fire!"
shouted a strange-looking man, who, in very scanty attire, was
stationed upon the top of the steps, and was declaiming and
gesticulating as he addressed a rather frightened-looking crowd
beneath him. "Within forty hours there shall not be left standing
one stone upon another in all this mighty edifice. The hand of the
Lord is stretched forth against this evil city, and judgment shall
begin at His sanctuary. Beware, and bewail, and repent in dust and
ashes, for the Lord will do a thing this day which will cause the
ears of every one who hears it to tingle. He is coming! He is
coming! He is coming in clouds and majesty in a flaming fire, even
as He appeared on the mount of Sinai! Be ready to meet Him. He
comes to smite and not to spare! His chariots of fire are over us
already. They travel apace upon the wings of the wind. I see them!
I hear them! They come! they come! they come!"

The fanatic waved his hands in the air with frantic gestures, and
pointed eastward. Certainly there did appear to be a strange
murkiness and haze in the air; and was there not a smell as of
burning? or was it but the idea suggested by the man's words? Janet
trembled as she slipped her arm within that of the old porter.

"What does he mean?" she asked nervously. "The people seem very
attentive to hear. They look affrighted, and some of them seem to
tremble. What does it all mean?"

"I scarce know myself. I heard men speak of a terrible fire right
away in the east that has been burning many hours now. But sure
they cannot fear that it will come nigh to St. Paul's. That were
madness indeed! Why, each dry summer, as it comes, brings us plenty
of bad fires. The fellow is but one of those mad fools who love to
scare honest folks out of their senses. Heed him not, mistress.
Belike he knows no more than thou and I. It is his trade to set men
trembling. Let us go home; there is no danger for us."

Rather consoled by these words, and certainly without any real
apprehensions for their personal safety, Janet returned to the
house, where she and Dinah passed a quiet day. Neither of them went
out again; and though they spoke sometimes of the fire, and
wondered if it had been extinguished, they did not suffer any real
anxiety of mind.

"I trust it went not nigh to our homes," said Janet once or twice.
"I would that one of the boys might come and give us ne