ill suddenly pounce like a live thing upon
some building hitherto unharmed, and in an incredibly short time
will have licked it up, if one may so speak, leaving nothing but a
mass of smouldering ashes behind."

"I know how it leaps," spoke Dinah, with a little shiver. "I cannot
think even now how I came to be saved."

"It was our good neighbour, the Master Builder, who saved thee at
risk of his life," answered Rachel with a little sob in her voice.
"It was a terrible thing to see, Reuben tells me. He and his father
were holding the ladder, and Lord Desborough was bringing down his
wife, when all in a moment the house seemed engulfed in one of
those great flame waves of which all men are speaking, and they saw
you totter and fall, as if it had engulfed thee in its deadly
embrace. Lord Desborough was not yet down the ladder, and knew
nothing of thy peril, being engrossed in tender care for his wife.
Nobody could pass him, nor would the ladder bear a greater weight;
but the next moment they saw that our good neighbour had somehow
got another ladder against the wall and was rushing up it at a pace
that seemed impossible. Reuben ran to steady this ladder, for it
was like to fall with the quaking and shaking. And then, just
before they heard the fall of the burning floors, he saw the Master
Builder coming down bearing his burden safely; and once having both
of you safe, there was not a moment to lose in making for the boat.
Already the alley was full of blinding flame and choking smoke, and
it was all the men could do to carry the pair of you safe to
Baynard's Castle, where we took you all on board, but only two
minutes before the fire began to blaze there also. See, by looking
back thou canst see how fiercely it is burning!

"God alone knows how and where it will be stayed. They say it is
spreading northward as furiously as it flies westward. If the city
walls stay not its course, all London will surely perish."

Dinah was silent a while, looking seriously before her. Then she
lifted her face nearer to her sister's and said:

"Prithee, tell me, has our good friend and neighbour suffered hurt
in thus adventuring his life for me?"

"He has not spoken of it, if so be that he has," was the answer;
"but the haste and peril and confusion were too great for many
words. We shall soon be at home now, and all who need it will
receive tendance. I fear me, dear sister, that thou canst not
altogether have escaped the cruel embrac