her mind. The fire must have begun in her Aunt Dove's room or else in
Miss Grossman's, a few doors off, or else in some flue close by. The
dense smoke pointed unmistakably to this. Had they escaped? Their
rooms were at the end of a passage, and they must go down it to reach
the central staircase. The stairs down which she now forced her way
were rather steep, and ended at the opposite end of the Hall to where
was her aunt's passage, but Toney knew every step by heart. It was
impossible to see even if there had been any light, the smoke was too
thick. Should she meet the fire face to face and be driven back? Even
here she felt the stairs were hot and the smoke was terrible. When she
reached the bottom, however, she paused; by some strange freak for a few
moments the smoke cleared, and she could breathe again! Oh, the relief!
but this was only for a moment. She had to keep her mind clear;
wrapping her wet towel still closer to her head, she made a dash along
the central passage. Toney realised that this was passable, but dense
smoke came rolling towards her from her aunt's passage. Oh, how could
she pass it? She must, she must go on, for no one answered her
smothered cry of "Aunt Dove! Aunt Dove! Miss Grossman!"
Again she paused to take what breath she could. Her eyes tingled, she
felt choked, but as yet she saw no fire.
"I must, I must," she repeated and strangely enough came the words to
her mind, "the Path of Perfection." Was this the Path? If only Aunt
Dove were not locked in! If only Uncle Evas had been here! if only--
"Now," she thought, feeling the towel was getting dry and smoke-laden,
"Now!"
Never had Toney made such a desperate dart down the passage. Oh, the
heat! and the roaring and the smoke!--the smoke, that was the most
terrible part of it! She hurled herself, blindfolded as she was,
against the door and it gave way, but how the smoke rolled in with her!
So immediately she shut the door, then she loosed the towel and called
out.
"Aunt Dove, Aunt Dove! where are you? Speak, I can't see, Aunt Dove!"
"Help! help!" was the feeble smothered answer, but it was Miss
Grossman's voice.
"Where? where?" She stumbled forwards across the big room and knocked
against the bath filled with water. She stooped down and dashed her
head in it, towel and all. What a relief she felt as she staggered
forwards.
"Miss Grossman, where is Aunt Dove? Where are you?"
"In the wardrobe--we are suffocated! Help! help!"
"Come out quick." Toney seized another towel and dipped it in the bath.
"We can still cross--at least I think so."
The big wardrobe opened, and as Miss Grossman crawled out Toney threw
the wet towel over her; then Lady Dove emerged speechless from fear and
smoke.
"Miss Grossman, why didn't you go down? I, think we can still do it."
"I ran in here, and then--Lady Dove would not follow me. Oh, the
smoke--the window--open the window!"
"No, no, not yet, the draught--quick, oh, quick--Aunt Dove, take my arm.
You have only your dressing-gown--take a blanket--Miss Grossman, run
fast, we will follow." Miss Grossman was feeling the relief of the wet
towel, she made a dash towards the door.
"Quick! Aunt Dove, follow me--I'll drag you, we have only just time."
"I can't, Antonia--don't leave me--oh, I can't breathe!"
"You must, you must." Toney dragged her a few steps, but fear had
paralyzed her; at this moment Miss Grossman had reached the door and
realised the danger of opening it more than once. A dull roar was
heard.
"Are you coming? For God's sake, I cannot go alone----"
"Go," cried Toney, "you have time--I think. Aunt Dove, come, for Uncle
Evas' sake come--pull yourself together. In a minute we----"
The door was opened by Miss Grossman, whose muffled voice again called
out, "Come, come," then she shut it again, and Toney was left alone with
her aunt. A terrible column of smoke had rolled in, and she noticed
that one tongue of fire tried to pierce the smoke in the big chamber.
"Toney, I can't--I can't walk. Don't leave me--air--air--open the
window!"
"Yes, it's too late for the door, Aunt Dove, we must come back--I'll
open the window and call. Oh! they must be trying to save us now--don't
leave go--stick tight to me: they will hear us." Toney felt a terrible
weight on her; would her aunt give in? Here was one of the windows, the
red curtain drawn across it, she pulled it back, a sofa was against it,
she managed with superhuman effort to get her aunt on it, but it was
terribly difficult.
"Aunt Dove, I'll open now or we shall be suffocated--only--there is
danger--the draught--you know! I'll not leave you. Hold my jacket
whilst I open." The window was locked, she could not find the bolt with
that weight impeding her, she wrapped her hand round the towel and
smashed the glass. Oh, the relief of the air! all danger seemed for a
moment swallowed up in that relief. She was even able to unbolt the
latch and pull up the sash.
"Help! help! Jim, ladders--help!" She saw a crowd below, some holding
lanterns, some torches. She heard a fire engine gallop up, she even saw
a shoot. "Here! here!" she called. Were they saved?
"Aunt Dove, they are coming. Put your head out of the window!" Toney
said this because the roar behind them was increasing. She saw the
tongue of fire very plainly now. Was there time? The engine was there.
A great jet of water was playing on them, no, above them, they had not
yet located the fire and it was coming, coming. Oh! the heat, the
terrible heat! but now the fire escape was there, it was placed against
the wall.
"Oh, Aunt Dove, don't give up--here they are!"
"Don't leave me! I can't move, Toney! the fire--look!"
"No, no, don't look." A ringing cheer, and a man was on the sill,
having run up a ladder whilst the shoot was placed in position close to
the window.
"Quick," he said, "not a moment to waste--one at a time." Toney did not
hesitate, never thought of hesitating, as she dragged her aunt up to the
sill. Her powerlessness had returned. The long shoot was there, it
would have been so easy for Toney to step into it, but Aunt Dove was
utterly unnerved--no one but Toney could rouse her.
"Help her, so--Aunt Dove, you are saved, it is not difficult; you slide
down. Get in--you must--think of Uncle Evas." Lady Dove had clutched
Toney so tightly that she could not, or would not, leave go. The
fireman had to wrench her hand away by main force, and precious minutes
were lost!
For God's sake--quick! It was certainly a very undignified retreat, but
it was done; Lady Dove was saved!
But Toney, what of Toney? was there time? A great flare of light seemed
suddenly visible behind her. The fireman had disappeared, and Toney
could not linger another minute. She jumped on the sill and stood for a
few seconds clinging to the sash above. Then she saw there was but one
chance for her; she must let herself drop on to a kind of parapet below,
and then clutch the iron rod that was now at her feet--if she did not
miss it! In the lurid light she was seen by everybody--there was a
breathless moment, then she let go--and without once hesitating clutched
and retained the rod. A roar of admiration and horror mingled together
was heard; then suddenly, like a lightning flash, another form had run
up the ladder, and though it was not in right position Jim stretched out
both arms and supported her, in what was an untenable
position--because--Toney's sleeve had caught fire.
"Miss Tonia, hold on one minute. Now"--with one hand he held her, with
the other he crushed the fire out, then--but for Jim there would have
been no then, Toney could not have held on--the next instant the shoot
was moved and again placed in position for Toney, and Jim straining
forward helped her to get in--alone she could not have done it.
"Miss Tonia, Miss Tonia--thank God, it's all right." Then Toney heard a
great shout, a shout that permeated everywhere, and she felt herself
sliding down, down, always down; but the truth was that for the first
time in her life Toney had fainted, and when she came to herself she was
in the big barn where the grand supper had been served, and which was
situated on the side where the fire was not.
"Aunt Dove--and everybody?" she gasped. It was Maud who was beside her,
and Dr. Latham was cutting off her sleeve and wrapping up her left arm
in cotton wool after having soaked it in oil.
"Oh! Toney, Toney, all are saved; you did it; is the pain very bad?"
Toney shut her eyes a moment.
"Gracious stars!--I forgot--I thought I was going down and down, and the
fire was running after me! Oh, all saved! Maud! I am glad. Where's
Trick?" At this moment a poor, singed, bedraggled animal made a bound
and was on Toney's couch, licking her face and half wild with joy.
"I was so afraid we should never get aunt out! Trick, Trick, you gave
the first warning; you're just a hero! Let me get up, Dr. Latham; I'm
quite fit--is my study burnt?
"No, all that wing is safe; the wind carried the fire the other way, and
the engines are keeping it down. Lady Dove and Miss Grossman have been
driven to Waycott Hall; she revived wonderfully, but you were not ready
to go off with them."
"The maids were saved first," added Maud; "fortunately, they were on the
roof, and very visible, but till Miss Grossman appeared we could not
locate where you were. Mr. Russell has done wonders. Oh, it was
dreadful!"
Toney's colour began to return; she insisted on getting up, and Maud
fetched a great ulster for her to keep her warm.
"We must telephone to Uncle Evas at once," she said; "he's at Charing
Cross Hotel." To herself Toney thought, "Lewis Waycott will know I did
my best before he goes." Then she shook herself to make sure her legs
were her own.
"Now I must go--where's Jim? Oh, Maud, I couldn't have held on a second
longer without him!"
The two girls went out to the front of the house. It was four o'clock
now, and a great glare and volumes of smoke made lurid light, but every
now and then the water conquered the fire. All the villagers were
working with a will, carrying pictures and valuables to safety, and,
strange to say, most ably directed by Plantagenet Russell. He seemed to
forget entirely his own personality, and thought only of saving all that
was precious in the best possible way. Every now and then a cheer was
heard, when something was brought out through the danger zone. It was
on this scene that Toney appeared, and again there was a shout that
drowned all other sounds. The old men and women gathered round her, the
others were working for all they were worth.
"Miss Tonia! Miss Tonia! Thank God! thank God! You gave us such a
fright, that you did! when you stood up there. Jim wouldn't wait; he
did his duty, did Jim. There wasn't time to wait, though the fireman
said there was---- Here, Jim, stop a bit, and come and see Miss Tonia!"
Jim, looking like a sweep, touched his hat.
"It's all right now you're safe, Miss Tonia."
"It's all owing to you, Jim; I couldn't have kept hold another minute."
"You saved her ladyship, Miss Tonia; she was sheer dazed with fright;
the fireman said he couldn't have managed it himself. Her ladyship was
very upset, and directly she heard you were safe she went off with Miss
Grossman. We can't think how you managed that drop, miss; none of us
could have done it!"
"I had to, Jim, the heat was so awful!"
"I came just in time," said Maud. "Oh! Toney, to see you dropping down
from that ledge made me feel sick! I shall never forget it. If only
Lewis had been here!" Toney turned to see the men again.
"Thank you very much for helping to save uncle's things; but please
don't go into danger for them. Mr. Russell, how good you've been;
you'll take care of the men? Now I think I'll go to Waycott Hall to see
after Aunt Dove. Come, Maud." Doctor Latham joined her.
"There's the carriage coming back. I'll come too. You will feel your
arm pain you more later."
* * * * *
"If you please, Sir Evas Dove, you're wanted at the telephone
immediately," said a sleepy waiter.
"Hulloa! what's up? Is it Lady Dove?--Impossible--I'll come
immediately."
"Are you Sir Evas?"
"Yes; who is it? Ah! Russell, is it you? What's the matter?"
"Aldersfield is on fire; can you come first train? Everybody saved;
Lady Dove much upset; Miss Whitburn has burnt her arm--Miss Hamilton
wants Mr. Waycott to know."
"What the Dickens are you all up to? I'll come first train; never mind
if all are safe."
Sir Evas rushed to Lewis Waycott's room.
"Waycott, are you awake?"
"Yes; what's up?"
"I'm off immediately; Aldersfield is burning; Toney has been burnt."
"Toney burnt! Good heavens! I'll come with you."
"No need, only her arm; but Maud wanted you to know. Good-bye; good
luck to your hungry lions."
But Lewis did not reply, he was hurrying into his clothes with greater
rapidity than ever before, and when Sir Evas stepped into the carriage
he did not see that Lewis Waycott jumped in too, just as the train was
starting.
*CHAPTER XXXI.*
*HOME AGAIN.*
Hardly had Maud, Toney, and Dr. Latham reached Waycott Hall in the grey
light of morning, than a rider galloped up. It was Edward Lang, who
threw himself off his saddle to greet the girls.
"We heard such stories that I simply threw myself on Tempest and
galloped here. You were reported dead, Miss Whitburn--are you hurt,
Miss Hamilton? They sent me on here from Aldersfield."
"Toney's arm is burnt, I was only a spectator."
"The fire is being got under, but the left wing looks bad." He kept
close to Maud and looked more at her than at Toney. Maud told the tale.
Toney did not care to talk about it, so she left them to go and find her
aunt, and met Miss Honoria, Mrs. Hamilton, and Miss Grossman looking for
her.
"My dear child," cried Miss Honoria, kissing her, "is your arm bad? You
must go to bed."
"We are all proud of you," said Mrs. Hamilton, conquered at last, for
personal courage was her special admiration, "Miss Grossman told us all.
Lady Dove has gone to bed and begged not to be disturbed, so you had
better not see her yet, she is much shaken."
"How did you get through?" said Toney to the companion. "Aunt Dove
couldn't move, I think fear paralyzed her, and, gracious stars! the
shoot just finished her for a moment. We had to use force, I couldn't
go down on her head, and by the time I could I had to move away from it
along the sill, out of reach. But you know, Miss Honoria, Jim saved me.
I was holding on for all I was worth, but--oh, I couldn't have done it
half a minute longer."
Toney was simply bent on praising Jim, forgetting that these horrible
moments had been endured for Aunt Dove's sake.
"I couldn't have got through but for that soaked towel, Miss Whitburn,
you saved my life, I shall feel in your debt for the rest of my life,"
said Miss Grossman, who having washed and dressed looked quite normal.
Toney laughed.
"Oh don't, please, a towel is a very old joke, isn't it?"
"I find, to my surprise, that the obvious escapes one at such moments.
Lady Dove rang the bell in my room violently and, smelling smoke, I ran
to her without thought. Once there I did the best I could for us both."
"Well, that was real lucky for her, but I guess you were nearly stifled
in that wardrobe," said Toney smiling. "Tell me what Aunt Dove said
afterwards?"
"If you wish to know, she said it was the first time you had been of
real use."
"That's grand from her! Now, Miss Honoria, I think I'll go and curl up
till Uncle Evas comes. I don't want to go to bed, thank you," she said
smiling bravely.
"Then just come to Lewis' study. No one will go there to disturb you,
dear," answered Miss Honoria.
"All right, I'll go, don't come with me. Maud's somewhere telling Mr.
Lang."
Toney washed her face and brushed her hair in Maud's room, then she
hurried towards the study. She would like to be there, quiet and alone;
she wanted to get rid of that horrible feeling of holding on to an
impossible position. She had fancied herself braver. Pups wouldn't
have turned a hair over it--neither would she formerly. This life of
luxury was unnerving her; how glad, how very glad she was that her will
had been altered. She heaved a sigh of relief as she opened the door.
Then she stood still thunderstruck! The room was not empty, Maud was
talking eagerly to Edward Lang and they were close to each other and he
was holding her hand. How horrid of Maud! What would Lewis think?
"Ehem!" said Toney in a loud voice, and the two flew apart, Maud turning
round with a crimson face.
"Oh, Toney, we--I didn't think you would come here---- I was telling
Mr. Lang----"
"Oh I say, Miss Whitburn, I'll take a leaf out of your book---- I want
Maud to marry me and she won't say 'yes!'"
Toney nearly said, "How dishonourable," then by a sudden inspiration her
mind was illumined. She must have imagined, all--the other thing? A
great weight seemed to be suddenly lifted from her heart, she felt light
as air so that she actually burst out laughing.
"Oh! Stars and Stripes!--Maud--you never told me---- Is it really
true--or----"
Edward Lang's eyes were so blue and so kind, he seized Maud's hand.
"She'll obey you, Miss Whitburn--tell her to say 'yes'--and you can't
say I love her for her money--because she has none, and if she will just
reform this extravagant personage we shall be as happy as----"
"Gracious stars! Maud--do you----"
"He's most unworthy," said Maud laughing, "but I have a slight regard
for him only--it's all very well promising to reform but----"
"You can't tell unless you try me," he answered, looking really in
earnest, "but be witness, Miss Whitburn, 'pon my honour I will, Maud
says I must work, and really I mean in future to be less of a lazy dog,
but if Maud throws me up----"
"A gentleman always keeps his word, Maud," said Toney, "and indeed, Mr.
Lang, Maud won't always be penniless, I've just made my will, and when
Aunt Dove dies, you'll have two thousand a year, Maud--it's my wedding
gift to you."
The lovers stared hard, then Maud actually cried and ended by laughing.
"Oh, Toney! We can't--he won't reform if I'm not a beggar!"
"Aunt Dove's got an awfully good constitution, so there's no hurry,"
said Toney, "but I'm so very, very glad, Mr. Lang, though of course,
Maud is too good for you, only----"
They all laughed, and Maud seeing Toney's tired look, suggested she
should lie down and be left alone.
"Yes, I think I'll curl up," said Toney, "I'm still a bit dazed--but,
oh, Maud--I never guessed!"
The lovers went out and Toney called Trick, then literally curled
herself round on the big sofa, feeling that it would take a long time to
re-adjust her ideas. Why had she believed Aunt Dove, and--oh, it was all
a mistake--what about Lewis' strange coldness? But even the new sweet,
strange puzzle, and the great lightness of heart, could not keep her
weary eyes open, though she did not want to sleep but to see Sir Evas
directly he appeared, so she took her little book out of her pocket and
opened it at the place where the little boy saw St. Francis in a wood,
surrounded with heavenly visitors, and she read how St. Francis,
returning home, stumbled over the boy, and then lifted him in his arms,
"as doth a good shepherd with his sheep," and Toney thought of the
terrible moments on the sill, and thanked God that she had been upheld
by the Good Shepherd till help had come, for she heard Jim tell someone
that it was a miracle how Miss Tonia had held on---- Then "The Little
Flowers of St. Francis" dropped from her hands and Toney fell asleep.
* * * * *
Sir Evas, getting out at Winchley Station, stumbled against Lewis
Waycott.
"Bless my soul, you came too, Waycott! How can you spare the time?
There's a fly waiting, come with me, I wanted to talk about your lions,
but all this has driven everything out of my head."
"The lions will wait," said Lewis gravely. Then Sir Evas spoke a few
words to the Station Master, after which both men hurried into the fly.
"It might have been worse, but Ingram says it was a near shave for
Toney. However, now the fire is got under. She saved her aunt's life,
Ingram says. What a fright I had, but Toney's safe; I'm as fond of that
girl as if she was my own."
"Of course," said Lewis, "I'm sure she never thought of herself."
"Always was foolhardy--but coming down I was reading a letter from
Staines, he's terribly upset. What do you think Toney did yesterday?"
"Yesterday! Was she in town?"
"Yes, I forgot to say so--Staines said she insisted on making an
immediate deed of gift to that confoun--well, that Stone House of hers
of L30,000, and to think of all the time I wasted on that girl's money
affairs! It's preposterous! I don't wonder Staines is nearly off his
head!"
"A deed of gift of L30,000!" repeated Lewis turning towards Sir Evas
with a flash of joy in his eyes.
"Yes, I thought you'd be as surprised as I am. Worse--Staines said he
would tell me--out of the remainder, she's given my wife L2,000
principal and interest, and at her death it's to go on to your Cousin
Maud."
"To Maud!"
"Yes, Toney's very fond of Maud, and--you know I expect she thought it
would help you."
"Help me! Why?"
"Oh she told me not to let the cat out of the bag, but I never could
keep a cat in anything. She heard you were engaged to Maud--keeping it
quiet--much better--I wouldn't have mentioned it but for this money."
"Good heavens! What else--she won't have much left."
"Confound it all--the rest, I suppose, will build Stone House, only----"
and Sir Evas chuckled,
"Staines has kept the coal mines as her share, and there's no knowing
what they are worth, unless the seam fails--there'll be pickings, but
only pickings. Such a fortune, a princely fortune. Stone couldn't have
foreseen it."
"I believe he did, Sir Evas, I believe it was his fashion of dispensing
charity."
"I don't know, he was a queer fish himself, gave lavishly in secret,
but--it's really enough to turn Staines' hair white."
Here Lewis Waycott laughed aloud; Sir Evas looked at him a little
reproachfully.
"I don't see the joke."
"Forgive me, Sir Evas--I do--but what made Toney say that about Maud?
What an absurd idea! I'm awfully fond of Maud--I think I told Toney
so--but I look upon these girls as my sisters. They're tremendously
improved, and it's Toney's doing."
"Then you're not engaged to Maud! I always said it surprised
me--Toney's too cute. Here we are--good heavens! It's not pleasant to
see your ancestral home looking like this!"
The two men were surrounded immediately by responsible and irresponsible
people. Sir Evas heard all that was known, and Lewis was shown where
Toney had stood and told how she had saved the lives of Lady Dove and
Miss Grossman. Lewis Waycott looked away. He was a strong man but at
that moment he felt faint.
"They are all at Waycott, Sir Evas," said Lewis, "I think I'll go on."
"Yes, do, say I am coming. I must thank my people for saving so much of
my property. There isn't a picture burnt, and much of the furniture is
saved."
Sir Evas had become very popular since Toney had rubbed his shyness off,
so now he went about among his tenants scattering kind words, and he was
almost overcome by their heartfelt sympathy. Though his treasures had
been at everybody's mercy, not the smallest thing had been injured.--"It
will soon be built up again, sir--'Twas a mercy everyone was saved--Her
ladyship wouldn't face the shoot at first, sir--If Miss Tonia hadn't
been there the two ladies would have been roasted alive--The ways of
Providence is wonderful! 'Tain't for such of us to understand them!"
On leaving Sir Evas, Lewis had stumbled on Jim.
"Jim, if you're not wanted, take me home in the motor--at least if it
isn't burnt."
"No, sir, the stables never suffered. Miss Tonia asked after Colon and
the others, sir, and the little dorg went near mad with joy. He tried
to run into the fire to find Miss Tonia. Trick ain't like other dorgs."
"I hear, Jim, you saved Miss Toney--you know we shan't forget that."
Jim grinned broadly, he was going faster than any regulation speed, so
he could not do more.
"That wasn't nothing, sir. I was so mad that they didn't move the shoot
quicker, I thought her ladyship must have stuck half-way, so I ran up a
ladder, and though it wasn't quite in the right place I managed, by
stretching out, to hold Miss Tonia for a minute till the shoot came. If
it hadn't been for that she couldn't have held on, how she did it at
all, sir, is a miracle, but she's got such a cool head has Miss Tonia,
'tain't another like her anywhere, sir."
"You're right, Jim, there isn't another like her, anywhere."
"Thought you had started for foreign parts, sir."
"I haven't started yet--I may go next week--or I may not. Tell me how
the fire began, Jim." And Jim's ideas on this point lasted till they
reached Waycott Hall gates.
"All right, Jim, I'll walk from here--I don't want to disturb the
ladies--they are not expecting me. Go back for Sir Evas." Lewis sneaked
into his own house like a thief. His brain seemed spinning round with a
multitude of ideas, as if it were on fire. He mentally saw Toney on
that ledge and--he muttered some savage words about himself for not
being there, adding, "Hang that Jim, he'll be unbearable for the rest of
his life."