accident, but the floor was hot beneath my feet, and the smoke so dense that I could scarcely breathe, while I groped my way by the banisters, being in utter darkness, except when for a moment, at intervals, the flames from below, as they darted upwards, threw a glare upon the walls. Guided by the sound of voices, I continued to ascend, and, opening a door, beheld a sight that would have melted a heart of stone. Three women, locked in each other's arms, were on the floor kneeling-one sobbing aloud, another laughing hysterically, and a third in silent prayer, her pale face turned upwards, and her hair hanging loose over her shoulders. There was a fourth, however, the young lady whom I had seen at the window, whose conduct and appearance was strangely contrasted with that of the group I have attempted to describe. She was a beautiful girl, and one who, in any other situation, would have given the spectator the notion that she was all timidity and reserve, but now that the occasion required, her real innate energy shone forth, and showed her to be possessed of courage to look danger boldly in the face. When I entered the room, she was endeavouring, by look and gesture, and alternate command and entreaty, to rouse them to an exertion to save their lives, but all was in vain. There they knelt, the pictures of despair; and there she stood, perhaps, in reality, more truly wretched than they.

At this instant, Herbert and the two firemen burst into the room, and, crying "to the roof," each seized one of the kneeling females, and, carrying them in their arms, gained the staircase at the moment that the fire, with a loud hiss, caused by the water, caught the landing place, and partially entered the room. I hastened to shut the door in order to arrest its progress as long as possible, and then turned to my companion. Never shall I forget her appearance. She looked at me, her face pale as death, and inquired in a voice, scarcely audible, if there was any hope?

“While there is life, there is hope,” replied I.

"Oh, my father," she exclaimed, and the tears came into her

eyes.

"He is safe," I said.

"Then Thy will be done," said she, throwing herself on her knees, and raising her streaming eyes to Heaven.

Never was anything so truly beautiful as the conduct and appearance of that poor girl at that trying hour. Never was there a more perfect illustration of the weak made strong, the timid bold, by the influence of our Divine religion. Even in that hour, she prayed not so much for her own safety, as for the happiness of her parent, should it please God to take his child from him. I could have wept.

"Rouse yourself, Madam," said I, taking her hand, and raising her from the floor, " do not despair, I have pledged my word to your father, to save you or I paused.

39

"Perish?" she said. "Generous man!" and she clung to me like a child, and looked up in my face with her eyes beaming with gratitude.

"It must not be; save yourself. Why should two be sacrificed when one can be saved ?"

"I will not desert you," said I. "May the Almighty so desert me in my hour of need, could I dare to think of such a thing."

She burst into tears, and sobbed aloud.

"Do not weep," I said; and I took her hand, and led her to a chair. Remain here while I see what chance of escape we have."

between

There was a door of communication the front and back rooms, of which I availed myself to see what hope of safety we had at the front of the house. This, however, I found to be altogether impracticable, and, throwing open the window, I called aloud to the people in the street to bring a ladder to the back. They made a signal that they heard me, and I hastened to put in execution a project I had formed. Returning, therefore, to the room where I had left the young lady, I stripped off the coverlid, one end of which I fastened to the bed whence I had taken it, and which, fortunately, happened to be one

of large dimensions, and strong enough to bear our weight, and having joined it to the sheets and blankets, I knotted them all at intervals, and hung them from the window, and, to my great joy, found that they reached to the leads below, on which I then, with some difficulty, threw the mattress. These leads formed the roof of a dressing-room, and rose to within a few feet of the drawing-room balcony. This done, I turned to my companion, who had watched in silence the progress of my preparations, and asked her if she had courage to make the attempt.

She replied in the affirmative.

"Pardon me, lady," I said, and I took a blanket and wrapped it round her. Poor girl, she was covered with blushes, and my heart bled for her.

"Come, then," I said, and I led her to the window, and, taking her in my arms, lifted her up.

"It is a fearful height," she said, in a low voice, as she looked down.

"It is, indeed," I answered; "but the precautions I have taken make the risk much less, and, with God's assistance, we shall descend in safety. You must attend to two things, however," I added. "Close your eyes as we descend, and on no account relax your hold of me."

"I will do as you desire," replied she, faintly.

Happily, however, we were most opportunely relieved, for at this moment I heard the steps of

men hurrying below, and my own name called out loudly.

"Stay," said the speaker, whom I recognised as Herbert, "we have got a ladder.”

In a few minutes one of the largest size was raised, and planted against the house-fortunately it reached the window at which we were stationed.

"I dare not go down," said she.

"Come, then," I replied, "I will carry you."

Putting her arms, then, round my neck, she clung to me like a child to its mother's bosom. I could feel her heart beat violently, and her quick breathing showed the conflict of emotions by which she was agitated. Passing my arm round her waist, I raised her up, and gained the ladder. It was a fearful moment, and my heart sank within me.

"God preserve us," she said, and clasped her hands more firmly.

I then descended gradually, and at length safely, and, amid the shouts of those who had witnessed our descent, placed my charge, now insensible, in the arms of her father; but the exertion, both mental and bodily, had been very great, and I leaned on Herbert's arm for support, without the power of articulation. "Are you hurt?" he asked.

I could not reply; and, after a vain attempt to speak, I sat down and wept like a child. I was ashamed of my weakness, and endeavoured to conceal