Here rose the light, which appeared little further off than a stone's throw instead of nearly three miles.

Every curl of the smoke and every wave of the flame was distinct, and Somerset fancied he could hear the crackling.
Paula had risen from her seat and joined him in the window, where she heard some people in the street saying that the servants were all safe; after which she gave her mind more fully to the material aspects of the catastrophe.
The whole town was now rushing off to the scene of the conflagration, which, shining straight along the street, showed the burgesses' running figures distinctly upon the illumined road.

Paula was quite ready to act upon Somerset's suggestion that they too should hasten to the spot, and a fly was got ready in a few minutes.

With lapse of time Paula evinced more anxiety as to the fate of her castle, and when they had driven as near as it was prudent to do, they dismounted, and went on foot into the throng of people which was rapidly gathering from the town and surrounding villages.

Among the faces they recognized Mr.Woodwell, Havill the architect, the rector of the parish, the curate, and many others known to them by sight.