life would be gone if there was no fires."

"If _I_ had the making of the laws," exclaimed Mary, flushing with
indignation as she thought of her own recent risks and losses in
consequence of fire-raising, "I'd have every man that set light to his
house _hanged_!"

"Ah; an' if 'e could also be draw'd and quartered," added Bob, "and 'ave
the bits stuck on the weathercocks of Saint Paul's, or atop of Temple
Bar, it would serve 'im right."

"We must have you into Parliament some day, Molly," said Joe, with a
smile. "Women are tryin' hard, I believe, to get the right to vote for
members; w'y not go the whole hog and vote themselves in?"

"They'd make splendid firemen too," said Clazie, "at least if they were
only half as vigorous as your little May. By the way, Joe," continued
Bob, "has Sparks been took yet?"

"Not yet. It is rumoured that the crossin'-sweeper who chased him down
so smartly, suddenly favoured his escape at last, from some
unaccountable cause or other. I suppose that Sparks bribed him."

"You're sure it was Sparks, are you?" inquired Bob.

"Quite sure. It is true I only saw his confederate, but one of the men
who had often seen Sparks in company with Crashington, his
brother-in-law, knew him at once and saw him run off, with the boys
after him. He's a bad lot, but I hope he'll escape for poor Mrs
Crashington's sake."

"And _I_ hope he won't escape, for poor Martha Reading's sake!" said
Mary with much decision of tone.

"That's his sweet-'eart--a friend of Molly's!" said Joe to Bob in
explanation.

At this point in the conversation, Master Fred Crashington, in his
frantic efforts to reach an elevated part of the cupboard, fell
backwards, drawing a shelf and all its contents on the top of himself
and May. Neither of them was hurt, though both were much frightened.

"I think _that_ must have put the fire out at last," said Joe, with a
laugh, as he took the panting rosebud on his knee and smoothed her soft
little head. "We'll sit quiet now and have a chat."

A knock at the outer door here called Mrs Dashwood from the room.

"Fire!" exclaimed May, holding up her finger and listening with eager
expectation.

"No, little woman," said Joe, "they would ring loud if it was fire."

Meanwhile Mrs Dashwood opened the door and found herself confronted by
a boy, with his hands in his pockets and his cap thrown in a reckless
way half on the side and half on the back of his head.

"Oh, I suppose y