When Jonah reached Cardigan Street, he was preoccupied and silent, and sat on the veranda, smoking in the dark, long after Ada and her mother had gone to bed.
About one o'clock Mrs Yabsley, who was peacefully ironing shirts in her sleep, was awakened by a loud hammering on the door.

She woke up, and instantly recognized what had happened.

Ada had left the candle burning and had set the house on fire, as her mother had daily predicted for the last ten years.

Then the hammering ceased.
"Are yez awake, Mum ?" cried Jonah's voice.
"No," said Mrs Yabsley firmly.

"'Ow did it 'appen ?" "'Appen wot ?" cried Jonah roughly.
"'Ow did the 'ouse ketch fire ?" said Mrs Yabsley, listening for the crackling.
"The 'ouse ain't a-fire, an' ye're talkin' in yer sleep." "Wot!" cried Mrs Yabsley, furiously, "yer wake me up out o' me sleep to tell me the 'ouse ain't a-fire.