“Up-stairs, on a stand by the south-room window; but you can’t go up—you’ll be burned to death.”
“No, I won’t,” screamed Ladybird, already half-way up-stairs; “I’ll get it. What do you want, Aunt Dorinda?”
“I don’t know,—everything! Oh, my lace handkerchief,” called the distracted lady. “And get some of your own things; and bring our fire-gowns.”
Meantime volumes of smoke rolled into the hall through the dining-room door.
“Suddenly Matthew’s face appeared”
Suddenly Matthew’s face appeared in the midst of the smoke.
“Don’t be frightened, ma’am,” he said; “it’s all right now. The soot got afire in the chimbley; but we’ve put it out. But if the little lady hadn’t been afther runnin’ down an’ tellin’ me that the wall felt hot, I’m thinkin’ the house wud have been burned to the ground.”
“Oh, Matthew, are you sure the fire is all out?” asked Miss Dorinda.
“And are you sure my house would have burned up but for that child?” asked Miss Priscilla.