“From the direction, that must be our neighbour William’s house,” said one. “Ought we not to warn him of the danger?”
“I see only a little flame,” said another; “perchance it may go out of itself, and no harm done.”
“I should be loth to carry ill news,” said a third; “it is always a painful thing to do.”
“William is not a man who welcomes interference,” said a fourth. “I should not like to be the one to intrude upon his privacy; probably he knows about the fire, and is managing it in his own way.”
While they were talking, the house burned up.
[THE NAUGHTY COMET]
The door of the Comet House was open. In the great court-yard stood hundreds of comets, of all sizes and shapes. Some were puffing and blowing, and arranging their tails, all ready to start; others had just come in, and looked shabby and forlorn after their long journeyings, their tails drooping disconsolately; while others still were switched off on side-tracks, where the tinker and the tailor were attending to their wants, and setting them to rights. In the midst of all stood the Comet Master, with his hands behind him, holding a very long stick with a very sharp point. The comets knew just how the point of that stick felt, for they were prodded with it whenever they misbehaved themselves; accordingly, they all remained very quiet, while he gave his orders for the day.