"Laura and the boys are sleeping, and I thought it better not to wake them.

It has been a terrible fire, hasn't it?
Was it the hotel ?" Mr.Morris threw himself into a chair and covered his face with his hands.
"Speak to me, William!" said Mrs.Morris, in a startled tone.

"You are not hurt, are you ?" and she put her candle on the table and came and sat down beside him.
He dropped his hands from his face, and tears were running down his cheeks.

"Ten lives lost," he said; "among them Mrs.Montague." Mrs.Morris looked horrified, and gave a little cry, "William, it can't be so!" It seemed as if Mr.Morris could not sit still.

He got up and walked to and fro on the floor.