“Good lack, what a terrible fire it must be!” cried Janet, wringing her hands together.  “O good aunt, what can resist the oncoming fury of such a fearful conflagration?  Would that I knew my father’s house was safe.  But, at least, those within must have had warning, and they could with ease escape by water if even the streets were in flames.  Alack, this poor city!  It does indeed seem as though the vials of God’s wrath were being poured out upon it!  Will His hand be stayed till all is destroyed?  Surely the hearts of men must turn back to Him in these days of dire calamity!”

Dinah gravely shook her head, her face lighted up by the ever-increasing light in the eastern sky, which grew brighter and brighter with the gathering shades of night.

“Methought in those terrible days of the plague that surely men’s hearts would, for the future, be set upon higher things, seeing how they had learned by fearful experience that man’s life is but a vapour that the wind carrieth away.  But as soon as the pressing peril abated, they hardened their hearts, and turned hack to their evil ways.  It may be that even this warning will be lost upon them.  God alone knows how many will see His hand in this great judgment, and will turn to Him in fear if not in love!”

Before many minutes had passed affrighted servants began peeping and then crowding into the room, as though they felt more assurance in presence of Dinah’s quiet steadfastness and courage.  The faces of the maids were pale with apprehension.  It was difficult to believe, in the midst of this ruddy glare which actually palpitated as the lights and shadows danced upon the wall, that the fire was yet as distant as was reported.  All the menservants had run out into the streets after news of the progress of the fire, and the women were scared by their absence.  Dinah did what she could to calm them, pointing out that since they could as yet neither hear nor feel anything of so great a fire, it must still be a great way off.  It was hardly possible to believe that it would be permitted to sweep onwards much longer unchecked.  By this time men’s minds must be fully alive to the great peril in which all London stood, and she doubted not that some wise measures would soon be taken to stay the spread of the flames.  She advised the maidens to go to bed and not think any more about it.  Let them commend themselves to God and seek to sleep.  She would undertake to watch, and to rouse them up should there be any need during the night.

Somewhat appeased and comforted by these words, the maids withdrew and sought their needed rest.  But Janet and Dinah returned to the sickroom, resolved to keep vigil there, and only to sleep by turns upon the couch, ready dressed in case of emergency.

It was nigh upon midnight before Lord Desborough returned, and he was so blackened and begrimed that they scarcely knew him.

His wife was still sleeping the sleep of exhausted nature, and, after one glance at her, the young nobleman turned towards Janet, who was quivering all over in her anxiety to hear the news.