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The stagnation caused by the awful accident had been passed through, and all hands were helping to ree what furniture they could lay hold of; the thatch of the roofs being already on fire The Knapwater fire-engine had arrived on the spot, but it was sroup was collected round the rector, who in a coat which had become bespattered, scorched, and torn in his exertions, was directing on one hand the proceedings relative to the reoods into the church, and with the other was pointing out the spot on which it was ines at their disposal should be ht of Manston's pale and clear countenance, which contrasted strangely with the griers

'Was she burnt?' he said in a fir into the illuminated area The rector came to him, and took him aside 'Is she burnt?' repeated Manston

'She is dead: but thank God, she was spared the horrid agony of burning,' the rector said soleable fell in upon her, and crushed her Instant death must have followed' 'Why was she here?' said Manston

'From e can hurriedly collect, it seems that she found the door of your house locked, and concluded that you had retired, the fact being that your servant, Mrs Crickett, had gone out to supper

She then came back to the inn and went to bed' 'Where's the landlord?' said Manston

Mr Springrove ca feebly, and wrapped in a cloak, and corroborated the evidence given by the rector

'Did she look ill, or annoyed, when she came?' said the steward

'I can't say I didn't see; but I think--' 'What do you think?' 'She washer, naturally,' murrove and the rector, and retired froht

Everything had been done that could be done with the limited means at their disposal The whole row of houses was destroyed, and each presented itself as one stage of a series, progressing fro ruins at the end where the inn had stood, to a partly flalow--at the other

A feature in the decline of town fires was noticeably absent here --steam There was present what is not observable in towns --incandescence

The heat, and the s s oak and deal, had at last driven the villagers back froroups in the churchyard, the surface of which, raised by the interenerations, stood four or five feet above the level of the road, and al one froainst the dark grass and yews, their brightness being repeated on the white smock-frocks of some of the labourers, and in a mellower, ruddier foroyles, and on other salient stonework of the weather-beaten church in the background