replied Edward; "I'm not particular."

"I suppose not. Why should you be?" replied Phoebe, who was rather old
and rather cross. "If you mount the ladder that you will see against
the wall, you will find a good bed when you are at the top of it."

Oswald was about to remonstrate, but Edward held up his finger, and no
more was said.

As soon as they had finished their supper Phoebe proposed that they
should go to bed. It was late, and she would sit up no longer. Edward
rose and went out, followed by Oswald, who had given up the keeper's
house to the intendant and his daughter, and slept in the cottage of one
of the rangers, about a quarter of a mile off. After some conversation
they shook hands and parted, as Edward intended returning very early the
next morning, being anxious about old Jacob.

Edward went up the ladder into the loft. There was no door to shut out
the wind, which blew piercingly cold, and after a time he found himself
so chilled that he could not sleep. He rose to see if he could not find
some protection from the wind by getting more into a corner; for
although Phoebe had told him that there was plenty of straw, it proved
that there was very little indeed in the loft, barely enough to lie down
upon. Edward, after a time, descended the ladder to walk in the yard,
that by exercise he might recover the use of his limbs. At last,
turning to and fro, he cast his eyes up to the window of the bedroom
above the kitchen, where he perceived a light was still burning. He
thought it was Phoebe, the maid, going to bed; and with no very gracious
feelings towards her for having deprived him of his own night's rest, he
was wishing that she might have the toothache or something else to keep
her awake, when suddenly through the white window curtain he perceived a
broad light in the room--it increased every moment--and he saw the
figure of a female rush past it, and attempt to open the window--the
drawing of the curtains showed him that the room was on fire. A
moment's thought, and he ran for the ladder by which he had ascended to
the loft, and placed it against the window. The flames were less
bright, and he could not see the female who had been at the window when
he went for the ladder. He ascended quickly, and burst open the
casement--the smoke poured out in such volumes that it nearly suffocated
him, but he went in; and as soon as he was inside, he stumbled against
the body of the person who had attempt