Voices could be heard, loud shouts in the village, where the conflagration had attracted attention, and had broken up the session of the orchestra. The bassoon was braying a loud note, prolonged and hideous, to rouse such as were behind curtains, and did not observe the glare. “How did this come about?” asked Rose, catching Kate by the arm. “I’I cannot say. I cannot say,” answered the girl addressed; “but, indeed, I am not guilty.” “Is it insured?” asked Noah. “No, it is not insured,” answered Pasco triumphantly. “I hope now you won’t go and say _I_ did it’and that I did it to get money out of a company.” Except the words recorded, nothing further was spoken. The little party was too dismayed at the occurrence, and at the prospect of what must spring from it, to stir, to speak. It was in vain to think of doing aught to the rick. No outbuilding was endangered. An attempt to tear down the stack would result in spreading the fire. Then in at the door burst the constable. “Halloo! what is the meaning of this?” he shouted. “Insured again?” “I am not insured,” answered Pepperill. “If you want to arrest the culprit’there she is.” “How came this about?” asked Pooke. “I’m not going to arrest nobody without a cause.” “There is cause enough,” said Pasco. “Kitty is the person who has set fire to my rick. I have plenty of evidence for that. And now that I have, you’ll all see I’m innocent’white as driven snow.” “What is the meaning of this?” asked the constable, turning Kitty about that the blaze might illumine her face. In the yellow glare it could be seen that she was deathlike in complexion, and that her eyes were wide distended in terror. She trembled, and seemed unable to stand without the support of the table. “I’ll tell you all,” said Pasco majestically, “and then, perhaps, Mr. Pooke, you’ll believe my word in preference to that of such as she.” “What is it?” asked Pooke. “I’ll not arrest nobody without good cause shown, as satisfies my judgment. I said so before.” “Look at that lantern,” said Pasco. “Well, I sees it.” “Open it. There’s no candle in it’is there? But there was’a quarter of an hour ago.” Numerous voices were now audible around the burning rick. The constable looked out, and hesitated whether to go forth and ensure order without, or to hear what had to be said within. He saw that there was not much chance of further mischief, the intensity of the fire kept everyone at a distance. “Go on,” said he. “What have you to say against the girl?” “She was in the kitchen with Jane Redmore. And Jane Redmore asked her to go along with she on her way home, wi’ a lantern, because of the pitch darkness. Was it not so, Zerah?” “I can’t say. I wasn’t in the kitchen,” answered Mrs. Pepperill reluctantly. “Was it as he says?” asked the constable, turning to Kate. “Yes.” Then suddenly, she woke out of a condition of almost stupefaction; and throwing herself on her knees before her uncle, she entreated, “Do not say that I did it!”