'That was all over a hundred
years ago!'
'So my papa and grandpapa say,' returned Miss Fordyce; 'but the last
Mr. Winslow was not a very nice man, and never would be civil to
us.'
A report was brought that the glare of the fire could be seen over
the hill from the top of the house, and off went the two young
ladies to the leads, after satisfying themselves that Anne was
asleep among her homeless dolls.
Old Mr. Fordyce devoted himself to keeping up the spirits of his
daughter-in-law as the night advanced without any tidings, except
that the girls, from time to time, rushed down to tell us of fresh
outbursts of red flame reflected in the sky, then that the glow was
diminishing; by which time they were tired out, and, both sinking
into a big armchair, they went to sleep in each other's arms.
Indeed I believe we all dozed more or less before any one returned
from the scene of action--at about three o'clock.
The struggle with the flames had been very unequal. The long
tongues soon reached the roof of the large barn, which was filled
with straw, nor could the flakes of burning thatch be kept from the
stable, while the water of the pond was soon reduced to mud.
Helpers began to flock in, but who could tell which were
trustworthy? and all were uncomprehending.
There was so little hope of saving the house that the removal of
everything valuable was begun under my father's superintendence.
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