"No, but I feel so—so, and I can't see properly."
She put her hands to her eyes, which were smarting from the smoke; her strength was failing her, and but for the support of Mrs. Jones she would have fallen.
"She's ill, mother," she heard William say. His voice sounded a long, long distance away, and after that consciousness left her altogether.
When Melina regained her senses she found herself lying on the sofa in Mrs. Jones' parlour, Mrs. Jones standing by her side bathing her forehead with cold water. She struggled into a sitting position, and began to ask questions at once. How did she come there? Had the fire been put out? Where was her grandmother?
"You fainted," Mrs. Jones explained, "as a result of fright and having been nearly smothered with smoke, I expect, and some one helped me to carry you in here. The firemen think they'll be able to prevent the fire spreading to the other cottages if they can keep it from reaching the roof; they've got the better of it already. As to your grandmother—well, you heard William say that she's hurt; she's in the hospital by this time, and she'll get every attention there. Take my advice and lie where you are for a bit; if you'll promise to do that I'll go to the door and inquire what's become of my husband."
"Very well," Melina agreed; "only please don't be very long. Why, it's nearly daylight! Oh I'm glad of that!"
Mrs. Jones hurried away, and a few minutes later Melina heard her talking to some one in the passage.
"Yes, that's a very good idea of yours," the little girl heard her say; "she'd be better away from here—out of all the excitement."
"Then I'll take her back with me now," was the response, spoken in a voice which the listener recognised.
An instant later Mrs. Jones reappeared in company with Agnes Brown's father. He had been to the railway station to book the passengers for an early morning train, and had there been told of the fire in Jubilee Terrace, and had come to have a look at it before returning to Gladstone Street to breakfast.