It was a terrific moment!
“I have touched the fire-alarm,” Mrs. Peterkin exclaimed.
Both rushed to open the front door in agony. By this time the fire-engines were approaching.
“Do not be alarmed,” said the chief engineer; “the furniture shall be carefully covered, and we will move all that is necessary.”
“Move again!” exclaimed Mrs. Peterkin, in agony.
Elizabeth Eliza strove to explain that she was only sending a telegram to her father, who was in Boston.
“It is not important,” said the head engineer; “the fire will all be out before it could reach him.”
And he ran upstairs, for the engines were beginning to play upon the roof.
Mrs. Peterkin rushed to the knobs again hurriedly; there was more necessity for summoning Mr. Peterkin home.
“Write a telegram to your father,” she said to Elizabeth Eliza, “to ‘come home directly.’”