“To-morrow morning.”

Beth’s face fell.  “Oh, that’s a pity.  I shan’t be home.  I’m going to stay here all night.”

“Well, never mind.  I’ll come the morning after.”

“All right, don’t forget.”

“No, I’ll be there right after breakfast.”

Games were started at this juncture, and then came refreshments.  Soon afterwards, the guests took their departure.  The “Cherub” said in parting: 

“We’ll have a jolly time with the stilts, Beth.  I’ve been wanting to teach somebody for a long time.”

Laura and Beth had a merry time together until tea-time.  Then, after tea, Laura’s older sister, Florrie, told them stories.  Beth was simply fascinated.  She could listen forever, she thought, and not grow weary.  Florrie made her characters live by the magic of her voice and words.

Just before it was time for the children to retire, Florrie took down the Bible and read a chapter to them.

Then the children went up-stairs to bed.  They had a pillow fight after they were in their night-dresses.  Sad to relate, in the scuffle, their clothes were strewn around the room, and Beth carelessly failed to gather hers together again.

They talked in bed until Mrs. Corner called to them to stop.  Laura soon fell asleep, but Beth’s heart, again, grew heavy.  She missed the good-night kiss from her mamma, and tears rose to her eyes.  She tried not to sob for fear of awakening Laura.  Minutes seemed hours to her.  She realized more than ever the depth of her love for her mother, and she resolved in future to be the best girl alive.  That resolve somehow quieted her so that she fell asleep and forgot her heartache in pleasant dreams.  She dreamed that it was the day after the morrow, and that Julia had come with stilts so high that they touched the clouds.  Beth walked on them without the least difficulty; then, all of a sudden, she dropped them, and found herself flying with the utmost ease.  She wondered she had never tried it before; it was so very delightful to fly.  But, suddenly, the clouds turned into smoke and fire.  Beth awakened with a start.  The room was very light, as light as if it was broad daylight.

Beth gave Laura a poke, “Laura, it must be late.  See how light it is.”

Laura jumped out of bed, and, running to one of the windows, raised the curtain.  Both of the children cried out in fright then.  Flames shot and curled to the very window of their room.  Laura could not tell whether their house was on fire or not.  She feared so, and the house next door was one mass of flames.

Beth sprang out of bed, too.

“Mamma, mamma,” screamed Laura.  Nobody answered.  “Come quick or we’ll burn.”  Still only the crackling of the flames could be heard.

“They’ve forgotten us,” cried Beth with chattering teeth.  “Laura, you know the way down-stairs, don’t you?  Let’s go.”