‘You must let me choose for you,’ he said. ‘My sisters are here, close by, at Mrs Prosser’s, who keeps the village shop—a kind motherly old soul. I must leave you with them.’ Thus Ethel allowed herself to be led to the place where, amidst a knot of women, whose awe-stricken faces told how great was their interest in the spectacle, the Ladies De Vere stood watching the progress of the fire. Lord Harrogate did not linger for an instant, but went back to put heart into the men still battling with the encroaching flames. It was no trifle, this hand-to-hand combat, as it were, with the fire; the fierce heat driving back the volunteers who ventured very near to the tottering walls to fling water upon the blazing timbers, while the blinding smoke rushed volleying out to blear the eyes and clog the lungs of the workers, and ever and anon some tall chimney or breached roof would fall with a crash, sending showers of bricks and half-consumed wood into the midst of the crowd; and hairbreadth escapes were many and bruises numerous. At last, however, the two engines from Pebworth came clattering into the street, and water being in that region of streams ready to hand, and the wind happily abating, the fire was fairly conquered, and all further danger at an end. There was no loss of life; but some were singed and many bruised; while thirty humble homes had been turned to heaps of smouldering ruin, and household gear and clothing, snatched from the flames, formed piles here and there in the wet road. Gradually the hospitality of this or that neighbour afforded temporary shelter to the crying children, the lamenting women, and the exhausted men; while a flying squadron of boys chased and led back captive the cows and pigs, the fowls and donkeys of those whose yards and sheds had been made desolate by the conflagration. But what was Ethel to do? The old dame who served her had been readily received into the dwelling of a neighbour; and indeed nearly all of those so suddenly evicted had kindred, and all had friends to harbour them at this pinch. The young school-mistress looked forlorn indeed, as she stood alone in the midst of so many groups of voluble talkers. ‘You must come home with us, Miss Gray,’ said Lady Maud kindly; ‘must come up to High Tor House, I mean,’ she added, seeing that Ethel did not at first appear to comprehend her words, ‘and stay with us until something can be done. It is the least we can do for you, burned out of house and home in this dreadful way, as you have been.’ Lady Gladys heartily seconded the invitation; but Ethel still hesitated until the Earl drew near. ‘I have been telling Miss Gray here, papa, that we will take care of her at the House for a few days till she can look about her,’ said Lady Maud. ‘Quite right, my dear,’ answered the Earl with his fatherly smile; and thus the matter was settled. CHINA AND MAJOLICA.