The light in the sky was terrible.

The showers of sparks were falling all round the houses and the cathedral.

The roar of the approaching fire began to be clearly distinguished above every other sound.
Dinah, who knew that tumult and affright were the worst things possible for her patient, counselled the cowering maids to make good their escape at once, since there was nothing to be done in the house that night, and they were far too frightened to sleep.
All had friends who would give them shelter.

And soon the house was silent and empty, for the men had gone off either to the fire or out of sheer fright, and Dinah was left quite alone with her patient.
"What is that noise I hear all the time ?" asked Lady Desborough presently, in a feeble voice.

"I feel as though there was something burning in the room.