the house. Moreover, the old nurse looked disturbed and flurried.

'Excuse my disturbing you, Miss Horatia, but I couldn't get any one to
come, they're all that upset and put about; but I want to know what train
you're going by. The packing's all done, and you can start as soon as you
like; and the sooner the better for me,' she wound up viciously.

'What nonsense are you talking, Nanny? Why should we pack up and go away
just because a granary and a few trees are burnt down? We don't live in
the trees!' said Horatia, laughing.

'It's no laughing matter. If you remember, I said to you when we first
came here that it was no place for us, and now you see how true my words
have come?' said Mrs Nancy.

'I don't remember any words of yours that have come true, and I
shouldn't advise you to say that, Nanny, or they'll think you know
something about it, and, perhaps, did it yourself,' retorted Horatia
jokingly.

Nancy gave a kind of snort. 'Don't you go carrying your love of a joke
too far, miss; and if you think there's any chance of me being accused,
that's all the more reason that we should go before worse happens,' she
said gloomily.

'Why, Nanny, who would have thought you'd be such a coward? It's all over
now, and we can't go away all of a sudden like this, even if we wanted
to, and I don't. I want to stop and see what will happen next, and help
if I can.'

'Help! You'll be burnt in your bed before you can help yourself, let
alone any one else,' cried Nancy. 'Be guided by me, miss, and let us take
the night-mail. Sykes says there's one passes about eight o'clock. We
could telegraph at once, and her ladyship would be delighted to see you.
Don't pass another night under this doomed house.'

'Miss 'Oratia, w'at is it? 'Oo are you w'isperin' to out there?' asked
Mrs Clay.

'It's only Nancy, my nurse; she wants to speak to me about something. I
won't be a minute,' Horatia answered her; and then, stepping into the
passage, she said hurriedly, 'Nancy, who told you that? Tell me at once
all you know. When are they going to set fire to the house? To-night?'

'How should I know, miss? I can only say what I think,' replied the old
nurse, whose usually cheery face was puckered up with anxiety and fright.

Horatia took her nurse by both arms. 'Now, Nanny, you've just got to
tell me. Do you know anything, or don't you?'

'I know we're among a lot of savage folk that don't respect other folk's
property, and it's about ti