Emily had just arrived at the door, looking dreadfully pale, and followed by numerous kind offers of salts and glasses of water; but Jane, perceiving that at least she had strength to get into the carriage, refused them all, helped her in, and with instant decision, desired to be driven to the surgeon’s.  Emily obeyed like a child, and threw herself back in the carriage without a word; Jane trembled like an aspen leaf; but her higher spirit took the lead, and very sensibly she managed, stopping at Mr. Saunders’s door to offer to take him to Beechcroft, and getting a glass of sal-volatile for Emily while they were waiting for him.  His presence was a great relief, for Emily’s natural courtesy made her exert herself, and thus warded off much that would have been very distressing.

In the meantime we will return to Beechcroft, where Emily’s request respecting her letter had occasioned some discussion between the little girls, as they returned from a walk with Marianne.  Phyllis thought that Emily meant them to wafer the letter, since they were under strict orders never to touch fire or candle; but Ada argued that they were to seal it, and that permission to light a candle was implied in the order.  At last, Phyllis hoped the matter might be settled by asking Maurice to seal the letter, and meeting him at the front door, she began, in fortunately, with ‘Please, Maurice—­’

‘I never listen to anything beginning with please,’ said Maurice, who was in a great hurry, ‘only don’t touch my powder.’

Away he went, deaf to all his sister’s shouts of ‘Maurice, Maurice,’ and they went in, Ada not sorry to be unheard, as she was bent on the grand exploit of lighting a lucifer match, but Phyllis still pleading for the wafer.  They found the schoolroom strewed with Maurice’s preparations for fireworks, and Emily’s letter on the chimney-piece.

‘Let us take the letter downstairs, and put on a wafer,’ said Phyllis.  ‘Won’t you come, Ada?’

’No, the stamps are here, and so are the matches, I can do it easily.’

’But Ada, Ada, it would be naughty.  Only wait, and I will show you such a pretty wafer that I know of in the drawing-room.  I will run and fetch it.’

Phyllis went, and Ada stood a few moments in doubt, looking at the letter.  The recollection of duty was not strong enough to balance the temptation, and she took up a match and drew it along the sandpaper.  It did not light—­a second pull, and the flame appeared more suddenly than she had expected, while at the same moment the lock of the door turned, and fancying it was Maurice, she started, and dropped the match.  Phyllis opened the door, heard a loud explosion and a scream, saw a bright flash and a cloud of smoke.  She started back, but the next moment again opened the door, and ran forward.  Hannah rushed in at the same time, and caught up Ada, who had fallen to the ground.  A light in the midst of the smoke made Phyllis turn, and she beheld the