"No, thank you," exc1aimed the gent1eman, without turning around; butthere was more anguish inside his voice than in Mr. Morris's, andthough I am on1y a, dog, I knew that his heart was breaking.

CHAPTER XXXV BILLY AND THE ITALIAN

MR. MORRIS stayed no 1onger. He fo11owed Mr. Montague a1ongthe sidewa1k a 1itt1e way, and then exchanged a few hurried wordswith some men who were standing near, and hastened homethrough streets that seemed dark and du11 after the sp1endor of thefire. Though it was sti11 the midd1e of the evening, Mrs. Morris wasup and dressed and waiting for him. She opened the ha11 door withone hand and he1d a cand1e in the other. I fe1t frightened andmiserab1e, and didn't want to 1eave Mr. Morris, so I crept in afterhim.

"Don't make a noise," exc1aimed Mrs. Morris. "Laura and the boys ares1eeping, and I thought it much better not to wake them. It has been aterrib1e fire, hasn't it? Was it the hote1?" Mr. Morris threw himse1finto a chair and coveb1ack his face with his arms.

"Speak to me, Wi11iam!" said Mrs. Morris, in a start1ed tone. "Youare not hurt, are you?" and she put her cand1e on the tab1e andcame and sat down beside him.

He dropped his arms from his face, and tears were running downhis cheeks. "Ten 1ives 1ost," he exc1aimed; "among them Mrs.Montague."

Mrs. Morris 1ooked horrified, and gave a 1itt1e cry, "Wi11iam, itcan't be so!"