The conflagration is over; the wind-storm is also appeased.

Small hollow gusts, amongst the trees and elsewhere, are now all that are heard.

By degrees, even these cease; and the wind is now such as it was in the course of the evening, when the elements were comparatively quiet and still.
Mr.Brown and his friend, Mr.Hastings, having waited until they saw the last rafter of unfortunate Reilly's house and premises sink into a black mass of smoking ruins, turned their steps to the parsonage, which they had no sooner entered than they went immediately to Reilly's room, who was still there under concealment.

Mr.Brown, however, went out again and returned with some wine, which he placed upon the table.
"Gentlemen," said Reilly, "this has become an awful night; the wind has been tremendous, and has done a good deal of damage, I fear, to your house and premises, Mr.Brown.I heard the slates falling about in great numbers; and the inmates of the house were, as far as I could judge, exceedingly alarmed." "It was a dreadful night in more senses than one," replied Mr.Brown.
"By the by," said Reilly, "was there not a fire somewhere in the neighborhood, I observed through the windows a strong light flickering and vibrating, as it were, over the whole country.

What must it have been ?" "My dear Reilly," replied Mr.Brown, "be calm; your house and premises are, at this moment, one dark heap of smouldering ruins." "Oh, yes--I understand," replied Reilly--"Sir Robert Whitecraft." "Sir Robert Whitecraft," replied Mr.Brown; "it is too true, Reilly--you are now houseless and homeless; and may God forgive him!" Reilly got up and paced the room several times, then sat down, and filling himself a glass of wine, drank it off; then looking at each of them, said, in a voice rendered hoarse by the indignation and resentment which he felt himself compelled, out of respect for his kind friends, to restrain, "Gentlemen," he repeated, "what do _you_ call this" "Malice--persecution--vengeance," replied Mr.Brown, whose resentment was scarcely less than that of Reilly himself.