"Here I am," said a calm voice at her elbow. "Didn’t that go out quickly? I knew it would as soon as the rug was over it, but I was a little afraid it might explode before I could get it covered: I didn’t really believe it would, though; for father says he is always very careful to get the best of kerosene." "What a brave boy!" said Kate admiringly. "But you oughtn’t to have risked your life so, Johnny. And what could have ailed that lamp? I’ll light a candle, and go and see what the matter was; for I don’t dare touch another kerosene-lamp. I left that one all right when I went off, about an hour and a half ago." After lighting the gas in the kitchen, Kate lighted a candle, and entered the shed, preceded by Johnny. Sue still feared it was unsafe, and stood on the platform, telling them they had better not go in. Kate took up the end of the rug, and peered cautiously underneath, prepared to run and pull Johnny after her if there was a spark of fire left; but, as all was dark, she assisted Johnny to remove the rug. The lamp appeared to be all right. Johnny put his hand upon the glass portion. "Why, see how hot it is, Katie!" he said: "it must have got heated standing in this little warm room so near the stove, and that made the kerosene swell, I guess, and go up in the wick, and run over at the top; and so the kerosene was on fire on the outside,—that was all." "That was all!" exclaimed Sue, who had now ventured to follow them. "Well, I should think that was enough. I never was so scared in all my life.—But there’s a fire somewhere, for there’s the bell ringing." "Sure enough," said Johnny; "and it’s our box too!" At that moment, a number of men and boys came running into the yard. "Where’s the fire?" said the foremost man, as he stepped hurriedly upon the platform. "There isn’t any fire here," replied Johnny: "a kerosene-lamp was blazing, that’s all; but we’ve put it out." Then the men went off laughing, and the boys hooting. Kate let the fire down in the grate, saying she was going to have every spark of fire out in that stove before she went to bed; and the children went back into the sitting-room. "Well, Sue," said Johnny, "I hope you’ve had all the romping you want for this evening." Just then a key turned hurriedly in the door, and Mr. Le Bras entered, followed by Mrs. Le Bras. Mr. Le Bras glanced at Sue and Johnny without saying a word; and Mrs. Le Bras sank into a chair, looking very pale and helpless. Mr. Le Bras went to the dining-room and got some water, without saying a word to the children, who stood by in great alarm. "What is the matter with mamma?" asked Sue, in a hushed voice. Mr. Le Bras offered his wife the water, but she shook her head. "I shall feel better presently," she said, in a faint voice. "Can the house be on fire, and they not know it, Frank?"