Page:Quartette - Kipling (1885).djvu/88

 fire, rapidly over and over Miss Clara with intent to "put her out" according to the plan recommended in books; and in this he certainly succeeded, for, when he was assisted to rise and I bent with infinite concern over the prostrate maiden, I found she was not in the least burn but very much dishevelled and out of breath. No bones were broken, however, and when I raised her the trembling girl laid her head on my shoulder and murmured—"Oh! Mr. Mudsworth, I am so frightened!"

She soon recovered her self-possession however, and was pronounced no worse for the accident. The fire was flattened out and burnt dim and blue, a good deal of claret was spilt and the company dispersed, leaving the Commissioner ruefully examining the durree and wondering how on earth he came to fall.

Mrs. Bubbleby insisted on my seeing them home in the family tonga; and, as I could not drive, it was arranged that I should sit behind with Clara and support her. I had to support her with my arm round her waist all the way. It was a thrilling experience.

As we drove up I saw through a window the tangled head of "poor dear Pa" bent over a writing-table preparing, as I afterwards learned to my sorrow, statements for my information. Mrs. Bubbleby was pleased to consider me Clara's "preserver," and I received the effusive thanks of the family, but a pressure of the dear girl's hand was worth all the rest; and full of the memory of this I returned to my quarters.