Controlling his emotion, however, the next moment, he turned away.  But his feelings were destined to another trial.  His neighbours flocked round him to bid him farewell, in tones of such sympathy and regard, that his constancy again deserted him.

“Thank you, thank you,” he cried, pressing in turn each hand that was offered him.  “Your kindness will never be effaced from my memory.  God bless you all, and may He watch over you and protect you!” and with these words he broke from them.  So great was the crowd and confusion in Cheapside, that nearly two hours elapsed before they reached Newgate; and, indeed, if it had not been for the interference of the Earl of Rochester, they would not, in all probability, have got out of the city at all.  The earl was stationed near the Old ’Change, at the entrance to Saint Paul’s Churchyard, and learning their distress, ordered a party of the guard by whom he was attended to force a passage for them.  Both Mr. Bloundel and Leonard would have declined this assistance if they had had the power of doing so, but there was no help in the present case.

They encountered no further difficulties, but were necessarily compelled to proceed at a slow pace, and did not reach Paddington for nearly two hours, being frequently stopped by persons eagerly asking as to the progress of the fire.  One circumstance struck the whole party as remarkable.  Such was the tremendous glare of the conflagration, that even at this distance the fire seemed close beside them, and if they had not known the contrary, they would have thought it could not be further off than Saint Giles’s.  The whole eastern sky in that direction seemed on fire, and glowed through the clouds of yellow smoke with which the air was filled with fearful splendour.  After halting for a short time at the Wheat Sheaf, which they found open,—­for, indeed, no house was closed that night,—­to obtain some refreshment, and allay the intolerable thirst by which they were tormented, the party pursued their journey along the Harrow-road, and in due time approached Wingfield’s residence.

The honest farmer, who, with his wife and two of his men, was standing in a field at the top of the hill, gazing at the conflagration, hearing the noise occasioned by the carts, ran to the road-side to see what was coming, and encountered Mr. Bloundel and Leonard, who had walked up the ascent a little more quickly than the others.

“I have been thinking of you,” he said, after a cordial greeting had passed between them, “and wondering what would become of you in this dreadful fire.  Nay, I had just told my dame I should go and look after you, and see whether I could be of any service to you.  Well, I should be better pleased to see you in any way but this, though you could not be welcomer.  I have room in the barn and outhouses for all you have brought, and hope and trust you have not lost much.”

“I have lost nothing except the old house,” replied the grocer, heaving a sigh.