e of the fire. Thy garments
were singed and charred: but this cloak covers thee well and
protects thee from the night air."

Dinah moved herself, and felt no hurt. She looked anxiously towards
Lord Desborough, as though to ask how it went with his lady.
Fortunately the night was warm and calm, save for the light breeze
that was enough to fan the fierce flames onward and onward. By day
the wind blew hard from the east; but it dropped at night, and this
was no small boon to the many homeless creatures who had no roofs
to shelter their heads.

Once landed at the Southwark wharf, the party was soon within the
sheltering doors of the twin houses. Gertrude came forth to meet
them, anxious solicitude written on every line of her face.

The first care was for the poor lady, for whom they had made ready
a pleasant and airy room. She was carried thither, and Dinah
followed to see what was her condition; and although she was
exceedingly weak, she was not unconscious, and so long as she had
her husband beside her holding her hand, she seemed to care nothing
for the strangeness of her surroundings, or for the perils through
which she had passed.

"Verily, I think she will live," said Dinah, when Janet had fed her
with some of the strong broth which had been made in readiness.
"She looks not greatly worse than when she started up in bed in her
own house with the consciousness that there was fire near. I had
not thought so tender a frame could go through so much of peril and
hardship; but methinks her lord's return was the charm that worked
so marvellously for her; for, truly, she had begun to fear him
dead."

Satisfied as to her patient, Dinah allowed herself to be taken care
of by Gertrude, who insisted on removing her burned garments, and
assuring herself that no other hurt had been done. It was wonderful
what an escape Dinah's had been, for there was scarcely any mark of
fire upon her, only a little redness here and there, but nothing
approaching to a severe burn. She declared that she could not go to
bed in the midst of so much excitement; and after telling Gertrude
of the wonderful nature of her own escape, she added, with a
slightly heightened colour:

"I would fain assure myself of the welfare of thy brave father, for
it may be that he may have sustained some hurt; and if that be so,
we must minister to his needs right speedily. Much depends in burns
upon the promptness with which they are dressed."

Gertrude's fili