“A good thought! a happy thought indeed!” cried Lord Desborough.  “But art thou sure that thy good kinsmen will have room within their walls?  They may have befriended so many.”

“That is like enow,” answered Dinah; “I have thought of that myself.  My lord, methinks it would be a good plan for you to take boat now, at once, taking the maid Janet with you as a guide and spokeswoman.  She will take you to her father’s house and explain all; and then her father and brothers will come back with you, if need presses more sorely, and help us to transport thither the poor lady.  I will sit by her the while, and by plying her with cordials and such food as she can swallow, strive to feed her feeble strength; and if the flames seem coming nearer and nearer, I will make shift to dress her in such warm and easy garments as are best suited to the journey she may have to take.  And I will trust to you to be back to save us ere the danger be over great.”

“That I will! that I will!” cried the eager husband.  “The plan is an excellent one!  I will lose not a moment in acting upon it.  I like not the look of yon sky.  I fear me there will be no staying the raging of the flames.  I will lose not a minute.  Bid the girl be ready, and we will forth at once.  We will take boat at Baynard’s Castle, and be back again ere two hours have passed!”

Janet was delighted with the plan.  She was restless and nervous here, and anxiously eager to know what had befallen her own people.  She would gladly have had Dinah to go also, but saw that the sick lady could not be left, and that it would not be right to move her save on urgent necessity; but to go and get a band of eager helpers to come to the rescue if need be satisfied her entirely, and she said a joyful farewell to her aunt, promising to send help right speedily.

Left alone with her patient, Dinah commenced her task of feeding the lamp of life, and seeking by every means in her power to prepare the patient for the possible transit.  Once she was called from the room by some commotion without, and found the frightened servants all huddled together outside the door, uncertain whether to fly the place altogether or to wait till some one came with definite news as to the magnitude of the peril.  The light in the sky was terrible.  The showers of sparks were falling all round the houses and the cathedral.  The roar of the approaching fire began to be clearly distinguished above every other sound.

Dinah, who knew that tumult and affright were the worst things possible for her patient, counselled the cowering maids to make good their escape at once, since there was nothing to be done in the house that night, and they were far too frightened to sleep.  All had friends who would give them shelter.  And soon the house was silent and empty, for the men had gone off either to the fire or out of sheer fright, and Dinah was left quite alone with her patient.

“What is that noise I hear all the time?” asked Lady Desborough presently, in a feeble voice.  “I feel as though there was something burning in the room.  The air seems thick and heavy.  Is it my fantasy, or do I smell burning?  Where is my husband?  Is there something the matter going on?”