There was a world of tumbling yellow smoke that made one's eyes smart, and a great crackling and snapping of flames.

Terribly excited little boys were about everywhere whistling and calling for each other as the crowd separated them.
They watched the fire for some time, standing on a pile of boards in front of a half-built house, but as it dwindled they wearied of it.
"Want to go ?" asked Vandover at last.
"Yes," answered Ida, "we might as well.

Oh, where's Bessie and Ellis ?" They were nowhere to be seen.

Vandover whistled and Ida even called, but in vain.

The little boys in the crowd mimicked Ida, crying back, "Hey! Bessie! Oh, _Bes-see_, mommer wants you!" The men who stood near laughed at this, but it annoyed Vandover much more than it did Ida.
"Ah, well, never mind," she said at length.