“You’d better start in at mother’s room and stop thinking, or we’ll be sliding down a lightning rod to get out of here.”
Nobody quite noticed Jack in the excitement, but later when all was over, it was found that he had rescued all the treasures possible, the pictures, all the linen and family silver, and the glassware.
As the rising glow of the flames lighted up the sky help began to arrive from all directions. Mrs. Gorham’s thoughtfulness in telephoning immediately brought the Judge first, with all of the neighbors that had been at his home for the evening. Becky was bareheaded, little curly wisps of hair fluttering around her face.
“I made your father stay up at our place,” she told them. “You’ll all probably have to come back with me anyhow and excitement isn’t good for him. Besides, he wouldn’t be a bit of help around here. Seems like they’re getting the fire under pretty good control. I don’t believe all the house will go. It was so old anyway, and it needed to be rebuilt if you ever expect your great-grandchildren to live here.”
Kit noticed an entirely new and unsuspected trait in Becky on this night of excitement. It was the only time when she had not seen her take command of the situation. But tonight she helped Mrs. Gorham pack all the necessary household supplies into the trailer for Matt to drive up to Maple Grove. As soon as she had seen the extent of the damage she had said immediately that the family must move up the hill to her own old home, where she had lived before her marriage to Judge Ellis.
“It won’t take but a couple days to put it into shape for you, and Matt’s right up there to look after things. You’ll be back here before the snow flies, with a few modern improvements put in, and all of you the better for the change. Jack, go bring the family treasures from under that pine tree, and put them in the back of our car.”
“You know, Becky,” Kit exclaimed, “I thought the minute you showed up down here tonight you’d be the chief of the fire department.”
Becky laughed. “Did you, dear? Well, I’ve always held that there are times and seasons when you ought to let the men alone. After you’ve lived a lifetime in these parts, you’ll know that every boy born and bred around here is taught how to fight fire from the time he can tote a water bucket. Did you save all the chickens, Tommy?”
“Didn’t lose even a guinea hen!” Tommy assured her. “The barn wasn’t touched, and so I’m going to sleep over the harness room and watch the cow and her calf and the mare. Jack will stay too, and keep me company.”