tness and courage. The faces
of the maids were pale with apprehension. It was difficult to
believe, in the midst of this ruddy glare which actually palpitated
as the lights and shadows danced upon the wall, that the fire was
yet as distant as was reported. All the menservants had run out
into the streets after news of the progress of the fire, and the
women were scared by their absence. Dinah did what she could to
calm them, pointing out that since they could as yet neither hear
nor feel anything of so great a fire, it must still be a great way
off. It was hardly possible to believe that it would be permitted
to sweep onwards much longer unchecked. By this time men's minds
must be fully alive to the great peril in which all London stood,
and she doubted not that some wise measures would soon be taken to
stay the spread of the flames. She advised the maidens to go to bed
and not think any more about it. Let them commend themselves to God
and seek to sleep. She would undertake to watch, and to rouse them
up should there be any need during the night.

Somewhat appeased and comforted by these words, the maids withdrew
and sought their needed rest. But Janet and Dinah returned to the
sickroom, resolved to keep vigil there, and only to sleep by turns
upon the couch, ready dressed in case of emergency.

It was nigh upon midnight before Lord Desborough returned, and he
was so blackened and begrimed that they scarcely knew him.

His wife was still sleeping the sleep of exhausted nature, and,
after one glance at her, the young nobleman turned towards Janet,
who was quivering all over in her anxiety to hear the news.

"Well, maiden, thy father's house is safe, and half the bridge is
safe; and the thanks of that are due to him and to a worthy
neighbour, who by their wise exertions stayed the fire, which might
else have spread even to the other side of the river."

Janet and Dinah exchanged looks of unspeakable relief, and Lord
Desborough continued in the same cautious undertone:

"Once out of doors, the fire fever quickly got its hold on me, even
as it has gotten hold upon almost every person in the city. I had
not meant to go far but I took a wherry, and, the tide serving
well, I was swiftly borne along towards the bridge, and from the
river I saw the raging of such a fire as, methinks, the world has
never seen before. No words of mine can paint the awful grandeur of
the sight I saw. It was as light as day upon the water, a