Of course, you can't see, Aunt Bell--the fire hasn't eaten through yet--but I tell you it's burning inside day and night." She laughed a little, as if to reassure her puzzled listener.
"A fire eating away inside, Aunt Bell--burning out my goodness--if the firemen would only come with engines and axes and hooks and things, and water--I'd submit to being torn apart as meekly as any old house--it hurts so!".