ws of them.
But if folks are in trouble over yonder, father is certain to have
his hands full. He will never stand by idle whilst other folks are
suffering danger and loss."

"He is a good man," answered Dinah, and with her these words stood
for much.

Towards nightfall Lord Desborough came in with rather an anxious
look upon his face. His eyes first sought the face of his wife; but
seeing her lie in the tranquil sleep which was her best medicine,
he was satisfied of her well being, and without putting his usual
string of questions he began abruptly to ask of Dinah:

"Have you heard news of this terrible fire?"

Both nurses looked earnestly at him.

"Is it not yet extinguished, my lord?"

"Extinguished? no, nor likely to be, if all we hear be true. I have
not seen it with mine own eyes. I was at Whitehall all the day, and
heard no more than that some houses and churches in the east had
been burned. But they say now that the flames are spreading this
way with all the violence of a tempest at sea, and those who have
been to see say that it is like a great sea of fire, rushing over
everything so that nothing can hinder it. The Lord Mayor and his
aldermen have been down since the morning, striving to do what they
can; but, so far as report says, the flames are yet unchecked. It
seems impossible that they should ever reach even to us here; but I
am somewhat full of fear. What would befall my poor young wife if
the fire were to threaten this house?"

Dinah looked grave and anxious. Lady Desborough's condition was
critical, and she could only be moved at considerable risk. But it
seemed impossible that the fire could travel all this distance.
Only the troubled look on the husband's face would have convinced
her that such a thing could be contemplated for a moment even by
the faintest-hearted.

"You would not have us move her now, ere the danger approaches?"
asked the husband anxiously.

"No, my lord. To move her tonight would be, I think, certain
death," answered Dinah gravely. "She has but passed the crisis of a
very serious fever, and is weak as a newborn babe. We will strive
all we can to get up her strength, that she may be able for what
may come. But I trust and hope the fire will be extinguished long
ere it reaches us. Oh, surely never was there fire that burned for
days and destroyed whole streets and parishes!"

"And oh, my lord, can you tell us if the bridge is safe?" asked
Janet clasping her hands toge