"And what a dreadful noise!" exclaimed Margaret, getting quickly out of bed; "and what a strange light upon the window! And do you hear, they are crying' fire!'" added she, turning pale with terror.

In a moment the recollections of the past night flashed upon Rose's mind. "The house is on fire! The house is on fire!" screamed she, snatching aside the curtain. “ Why did not Captain Wilton believe me, when I told him what was going to happen?"

"Rose, pray don't scream so, or you will frighten me to death!" cried Margaret, trembling in every limb. "Do let

us run to Aunt Tatchet."

And now the noise and shouting outside became almost deafening. The whole neighbourhood was alarmed. Cries of fire! fire! fire!" had roused the cottagers from their slumbers; and in a few minutes, Aunt Tatchet's garden, so prettily and trimly kept, was trampled down by the crowd, and became a scene of the wildest confusion.

In the house itself, the greatest terror prevailed. Miss Tatchet wrung her hands, and gave herself up for lost, while the two little girls clung to her as if for protection. Poor Barbara lost her presence of mind altogether, and hid herself in a corner, sobbing and crying like a child. But the fire made rapid progress, and Captain Wilton thought it necessary to remove Miss Tatchet and the children from the house. Accordingly, Mr. Elton's carriage was brought, and Miss Tatchet, wrapped in all her shawls, was carried down and placed within it. The two little girls followed close be

hind. But scarcely had Rose reached the bottom of the stairs, than she remembered all at once her poor dove, its danger, and the utter impossibility of its getting free. She even fancied she could hear its cries, as though it were calling to her for help; and horror-struck at the thought, she forgot her indignation, her desire to be rid of it, and all the trouble and disgrace it had brought upon

her.

Quick as lightning she darted back, and flew along the passage to the lumber-room. It was densely filled with smoke, and she could hardly see the cage in which the poor bird was lying, quite stupified, and with its wings stretched out as though it were dead.

"Poor little thing, you may well be frightened,” cried Rose, snatching the cage in her hand with a sensation of delight; "but now you are safe, and I can run back in a moment."

She turned quickly to the door; but here what a terrible scene presented itself! The flames, with a roaring noise, had closely followed in her steps. They swept along the passage, they blocked up the entrance, they mounted to the wooden rafters.

On every side was "fire! fire! fire!"

Rose now became fully aware of her danger, and how madly she had risked her life, for the sake of the talking bird. She felt the flames breathe hot and burning into her face, and looked wildly round for some means of escape. She flew to the window, and would have leaped out, but the height made her head grow dizzy. A sudden faintness came over her, and a thick film spread itself before her

eyes. She remembered no more. The burning house, the dove, the crowd, all were blotted out together, and Rose sank into a state of insensibility. For a moment the child was on the very brink of destruction; and when her pale terrified face appeared at the window, a loud cry of terror burst from the crowd.

But succour was at hand. In a few seconds a ladder was brought, and Captain Wilton was by her side. He raised her in his arms; and while the lookers on held their breath in suspense, he reappeared, carrying his poor little niece, safe indeed, but totally unconscious. Nor was the black dove forgotten, for in his hand he held the cage, where the talking bird was lying, stupified with

fear.

Rose then was saved! but for many days she remained insensible, and a thousand strange images danced constantly before her. It seemed to her, as if she were compelled to follow the tiny old woman along a rugged path, that grew steeper and more dangerous at every step. Her limbs ached, and she felt ready to die with fatigue; but in vain she begged permission to return. The tiny old woman only shook her fist, and pointed onwards with an angry scowl. They came at last upon a dreary common, and Rose sank down exhausted, and unable to proceed.

All at once there was a rushing sound, and the common was on fire. The flames made directly towards her, and in spite of her fatigue, she fled before them. The talking bird settled on her shoulder. At first she did not heed it, but it grew heavier and heavier, until she could