butatyourperilyoufetchadleyet:waittwomiillIgetintosarments,ifanydrytherebe—yes,hereismydressing-gown.Nowrun!”

    Ididrun;Ibroughtthedlewhichstillremaihegallery.Hetookitfrommyhaup,andsurveyedthebed,allblaedandscorched,thesheetsdrehecarpetroundswimminginwater.

    “Whatisit?andwhodidit?”heasked.Ibrieflyrelatedtohimwhathadtranspired:thestrangelaughIhadheardinthegallery:thestepasdingtothethirdstorey;thesmoke,—thesmelloffirewhichhadductedmetohisroom;inwhatstateIhadfoundmattersthere,andhowIhaddelugedhimwithallthewaterIcouldlayhandson.

    Helistenedverygravely;hisface,asIwenton,expressedmorethanastonishment;hedidnotimmediatelyspeakwhenIhadcluded.

    “ShallIcallMrs.Fairfax?”Iasked.

    “Mrs.Fairfax?No;whatthedeucewouldyoucallherfor?Whatshedo?Lethersleepued.”

    “ThenIwillfetchLeah,andwakeJohnandhiswife.”

    “Notatall:justbestill.Youhaveashawlon.Ifyouarenotwarmenough,youmaytakemycloakyonder;itaboutyou,andsitdowninthearm-chair:there,—Iwillputiton.Nowplaceyourfeetoool,tokeepthemoutofthewet.Iamgoingtoleaveyouafewminutes.Ishalltakethedle.RemainwhereyouaretillIreturillasamouse.Imustpayavisittothesedstorey.Don’tmove,remember,orcallanyone.”

    Hewent:Iwatchedthelightwithdraw.Hepassedupthegalleryverysoftly,unclosedthestaircasedoorwithaslittlenoiseaspossible,shutitafterhim,arayvanished.Iwasleftintotaldarkness.Ilistenedforsomeheardnothing.Averylongtimeelapsed.Igrewweary:itwascold,inspiteofthecloak;andthenIdidheuseofstaying,asIwasnottorousethehouse.Iwasonthepointofr