, and I mean to use
mine, you'll see,' she said.

'Per'aps it's not so bad as we think. We must 'ave patience,' said Mrs
Clay. 'Go an' see 'ow it's goin', my dear.'

CHAPTER XXIV.

GOOD-BYE TO BALMORAL.

It is always the unexpected which happens. Here was Mrs Clay taking the
destruction of her cherished possessions quite calmly, and only praying
silently, as Sarah saw, that her husband and son might be saved. And here
was Sarah getting angrier and angrier as she watched the fire spreading,
apparently unchecked, and swallowing up not only the costly treasures for
which she did not much care, but her own personal treasures, for which
she cared more than she expected.

Naomi made matters worse by her lamentations. 'To think of all the
beautiful carpets and curtains ruined; and, oh, Miss Sarah! all your
dresses, and that picture in your boudoir that you are so fond of, some
Italian view or something! Oh dear! oh dear! the more I think of it the
worse it seems. It's wicked, is this morning's work!'

'It's a fine morning for a fire--the sun shining, and just a nice breeze
blowing to fan the flames,' observed Sarah sarcastically.

But Naomi did not perceive the sarcasm; and after a wondering and rather
reproachful glance at her young mistress, she remarked, 'It's what I call
a bad morning; but, then, I suppose you're glad, because you want to be
poor; though how you can stand there quiet-like, and see all your poor ma
and pa's things burnt up, let alone everything you can call your own,
passes me--it does.'

A smile flitted over Sarah's face as she thought how far out Naomi was in
her judgment; but it passed speedily as she saw a huge tongue of flame
dart up and blaze high above the trees.

'It's the garage! The petrol has taken fire!' said Naomi. 'Whatever could
they have been thinking of to leave it there? Surely they've never left
those beautiful cars to burn themselves up?'

'They don't seem to have done anything to stop the fire. If Uncle Howroyd
hadn't been there himself, and if they had not been his hands, I should
have said they had helped it, like the men the other day,' remarked
Sarah.

'No fear of that. Mr William's men will stand by him and do what he says,
for his sake. It's not been their fault that Barmoral's burnt to the
ground, I'll lay,' declared Naomi with vehemence.

'No, I'm sure of that,' said Sarah, who felt a pang which surprised her
at the words, 'Barmoral's burnt to the ground.'