breasts of the firemen, rendered the Priory one mass of general confusion; and, for further safety, it was even now thought necessary to remove every valuable within the repository of the stone chapel, belonging to the Priory, in a long gallery of which chapel hung the rich and magnificent paintings of Sir Mildred's noble ancestors, which had been handed down from generation to generation, till they became the property of the present possessor. To this gallery was likewise added a spacious saloon fitted up in the gothic style, and to this saloon it was presently determined that the whole family should repair, as the most commodious and convenient place of safety; but scarcely had they all assembled in this consecrated spot, Sir Mildred Austincourt, lady Austincourt, her daughters, and two sons Frederic and Edmund, the former of whom rejoiced that he had succeeded in placing Nancy beyond the reach of danger, and every individual of the family and belonging to the Priory were present, and as they fancied in perfect security, when lady Theodora, who was stationed with Fanny Roseberry near one of the gothic windows, in pensive contemplation of the scene around her, uttered a sudden and piercing shriek. Adolphus flew towards her, and beheld from the windows the cause of her almost involuntary cry of horror. It was part of the east wing of the Priory enveloped in one complete blaze; and in the agitation of the spirits of Adolphus, he did not till this moment recollect that the apartments which Miss Grandison had occupied were situated in this quarter. The same reflection now darted across the mind of Theodora, and she exclaimed with an indescribable expression of mental agony,-"Oh Miss Grandison, dear good Miss Grandison, what will become of her? she will perish in the flames, I am sure she will! yonder is her chamber! Almighty Powers! will nobody fly to save her!" "Oh, Miss Grandison!" was now repeated from every mouth. "Oh Camilla Grandison," exclaimed lady Austincourt, wringing her hands. "Dear Camilla Grandison, I shall never behold you more." "I will give five hundred pounds reward," cried Sir Mildred, looking round to his numerous domestics that flocked together in the chapel, "to that brave fellow who will step forward in this hour of peril to save the life of that worthy woman !?? "And I would give all I am worth in the world; though I were left the poorest beggar," uttered the sweet and compassionate Theodora, sobbing as if her heart would break. "My sweet miss and noble master the attempt would be useless," cried the boldest of the firemen. "If she has slept on any chamber of the east wing, I am sorry to say it is by this time pretty nigh demolished. I care not for life- a man can die but once; but to throw it away without any service is but poor. work, as a body may say." - "God of heaven! must she then be left to perish," cried Sir Mildred, "amidst devouring flames, while her friends, the wretched spectators of her fate, dare not stretch forth a hand to save her?" "Not for my soul's eternal peace will Adolphus Walsingham stand by and see Miss Grandison perish,” cried Adolphus, rushing from the side of Lady Theodora, and presenting himself before his uncle. "My life is indeed,” he exclaimed," of little value, but it would be less were it not now' exerted in the cause of such goodness and humanity, uncle. I fly to save or perish with Miss Grandison!" The scene faded before the sight of the Orphan Boy. It was in vain that Sir Mildred and his beloved Edmund cautioned him to desist; and while with one effort of determined resolution he flung from their outstretched arms, the next moment beheld him precipitated into the burning flames, that now threatened destruction on every side to all beneath its direful influence. Adolphus saw nothing, he heard nothing, save the agonized cry which had burst from the lips of Theodora ; and he flew, unconscious of the scorching flames that every where opposed his entrance, and reached, in the midst of sulphur and of smoke, the staircase leading to the passage which communicated with the apartments of Miss Grandison; but, to his inexpressible agony and horror, found that he could proceed no further, as he expected instant annihilation, from the huge columns of smoke which encompassed him, and completely frustrating every effort that he then could make of saving the unfortunate victim of inevitable calamity. He uttered an exclamation of horror; his senses were bewildered; and hopelessly rushing from a spot which every moment promised death, he was preparing to retrace his way back, when a faint moan arrested his attention; it seemed to breathe the voice of an expiring sufferer; and though he could not distinguish from whence it proceeded, yet Adolphus judged it to be no other than the voice of poor Miss Grandison, who having crept from her chamber at the beginning of the fire, had H groped her way into some passage; fainted through terror, and was now expiring in the midst of this dreadful conflagration. Adolphus had not a moment to reflect on a thought so shockingly terrific, and which harrowed up his very soul; for as he gavė an involuntary motion with his right foot against the pannel of a door through which he was obliged to pass, his left rested on something which rolled beneath it. He stopped-he gasped for breath-he groped with his hands towards it-it was a human form that his hands encircled-it was Camilla Grandison! "Alive!" exclaimed Adolphus, " Alive! Oh! if yet alive, Camilla Grandison, I may save thee!" } Adolphus knew not what he did; he knew not what he uttered, only that he held Miss Grandison in his arms; and as he bore her with the rapidity of lightning from the surrounding flames, he felt the pulsation of her heart beat against his, and his joy was too great for utterance. He heeded not the scorching heat which oppressed him, and was now nearly overpowering him; nor parted with his charge till he resigned her to the arms of Sir Mildred and Lady Austincourt! One shout of general acclamation and of joy burst from the lips of the surrounding spectators; and though not insensible of the valuable gem that he had preserved at the hazard of his own existence, yet was Adolphus covered with confusion, when the ́oldest and most practiced of the firemen declared that he had achieved one of the most daring and perilous actions they ever remembered to have been done in the whole course of their experience, while tears of rapturous affection and congratulation chased each other down the face of the excellent Sir Mildred. |