At once Jeanette got into her slippers and dressing gown. She had the type of mind that responds best to sudden demands.
When she and her father had sat late arguing with each other in the living-room of the lodge, as the night was cool, a small fire had been burning. One of the windows stood open. No one feared intruders and the windows were rarely closed unless the weather demanded it.
The wind may have blown a spark from the fire and a blaze started in the living-room, or the trouble may have originated in the kitchen.
Subconsciously was Jeanette discussing this problem with herself as she rushed into the adjoining room to waken Via. If she and Via were less intimate than formerly, Via was still her first thought.
Remaining long enough to see that her sister was fully aroused and to tie a wet towel about her mouth, Jeanette then fled to Lina and Eda.
Next she entered her stepmother's room.
Already Jack was becoming aroused to a sensation of discomfort and foreboding. She was out of bed and awake as she beheld Jeanette's outline.
In her bedroom Jeanette found the smoke denser than in the others.
She and her stepmother ran at once toward the smaller connecting bedroom. For the first time Jeanette had the sensation of stifling, of fighting her way through a thick gathering of choking gray clouds.
Neither one of them spoke.