"Back? They'll be there all day!"
"Not Mr. Gereth, I mean--nor his wife?"
"Nor his mother, miss--not a soul of _them_ back. A pack o' servants in
charge--not the old lady's lot, eh? A nice job for care-takers! Some
rotten chimley or one of them portable lamps set down in the wrong
place. What has done it is this cruel, cruel night." Then as a great
wave of smoke half choked them, he drew her with force to the little
waiting room. "Awkward for you, miss--I see!"
She felt sick; she sank upon a seat, staring up at him. "Do you mean
that great house is _lost_?"
"It was near it, I was told, an hour ago--the fury of the flames had got
such a start. I was there myself at six, the very first I heard of it.
They were fighting it then, but you couldn't quite say they had got it
down."