Itwasaginpalace。Maryalmostwishedherselfaway，sofearfulasMargarethadsaidwasthesightwhentheyjoinedthecrowdassembledtowitnessthefire。Therewasamurmurofmanyvoiceswhenevertheroaringoftheflamesceasedforaninstant。Itwaseasytoperceivethemassweredeeplyinterested。“Whatdotheysay？“askedMargaretofaneighhourinthecrowd，asshecaughtafewwords，clearanddistinctfromthegeneralmurmur。“Thereneverisanyoneinthemill，surely!“exclaimedMary，astheseaofupward-turnedfacesmovedwithoneaccordtotheeasternend，lookingintoDunhamStreet，thenarrowbacklanealreadymentioned。Thewesternendofthemill，whithertheragingflamesweredrivenbythewind，wascrownedandturretedwithtriumphantfire。Itsentforthitsinfernaltonguesfromeverywindowhole，lickingtheblackwallswithamorousfiercenessitwasswayedorfellbeforethemightygale，onlytorisehigherandyethigher，toravageandroaryetmorewildly。Thispartoftherooffellinwithanastoundingcrash，whilethecrowdstruggledmoreandmoretopressintoDunhamStreet，forwhatweremagnificentterribleflames——whatwerefallingtimbersortotteringwalls，incomparisonwithhumanlife？There，wherethedevouringflameshadbeenrepelledbytheyetmorepowerfulwind，butwhereyetblacksmokegushedoutfromeveryaperture——thereatoneofthewindowsonthefourthstory，orratheradoor-waywhereacranewasfixedtohoistupgoods，mightoccasionallybeseen，whenthethickgustsofsmokeclearedpartiallyawayforaninstant，theimploringfiguresoftwomen。Theyhadremainedaftertherestoftheworkmen，forsomereasonorother，and，owingtothewindhavingdriventhefireintheoppositedirection，hadperceivednosightorsoundofalarm，tilllongafterifanythingcouldbecalledlonginthatthrongofterrorswhichpassedbyinlessthanhalfanhourthefirehadconsumedtheoldwoodenstaircaseattheotherendofthebuilding。Iamnotsurewhetheritwasnotthefirstsoundoftherushingcrowdbelowthatmadethemfullyawareoftheirawfulposition。“Wherearetheengines？“askedMargaretofherneighbour。“They’recoming，nodoubt；but，blessyou，Ithinkit’sbaretenminutessincewefirstfoundoutth’fire；itragessowi’thiswind，andallsodry-like。““Isnoonegoneforaladder？“gaspedMary，asthemenwereperceptibly，thoughnotaudibly，prayingthegreatmultitudebelowforhelp。“Ay，Wilson’ssonandanothermanwereofflikeashot，well-nighfiveminutesagone。Butth’masons，andslaters，andsuchlike，havelefttheirwork，andlockeduptheyards。“Wilson!then，wasthatmanwhosefigureloomedoutagainsttheever-increasingdullhotlightbehind，wheneverthesmokewasclear，——wasthatGeorgeWilson？
　　Marysickenedwithterror。SheknewheworkedforCarsons；butatfirstshehadnoideathatanyliveswereindanger；andsinceshewasawareofthis，theheatedair，theroaringflames，thedizzylight，andtheagitatedandmurmuringcrowd，hadbewilderedherthoughts。“Oh!letusgohome，MargaretIcannotstay。““Wecannotgo!Seehowwearewedgedinbyfolks。PoorMary!yewon’thankerafterafireagain。Hark!listen!“Forthroughthehushedcrowd，pressingroundtheangleofthemill，andfillingupDunhamStreet，mightbeheardtherattleoftheengine，theheavy，quicktreadofloadedhorses。“ThankGod!“saidMargaret’sneighbour，“theengine’scome。“Anotherpause；theplugswerestiff，andwatercouldnotbegot。Thentherewasapressurethroughthecrowd，thefrontrowsbearingbackonthosebehind，tillthegirlsweresickwiththecloserammingconfinement。
　　Thenarelaxation，andabreathingfreelyoncemore。“’TwasyoungWilsonandafiremanwi’aladder，“saidMargaret’sneighbour，atallmanwhocouldoverlookthecrowd。“Oh，telluswhatyousee？“beggedMary。“They’vegettenitfixedagainstthegin-shopwall。Oneo’themeni’thefactoryhasfellback；dazedwi’thesmoke，I’llwarrant。Thefloor’snotgivenwaythere。God!“saidhe，bringinghiseyelowerdown，“theladder’stooshort!It’sa’overwi’them，poorchaps。Th’fire’scomingslowandsuretothatend，andaforethey’veeithergettenwater，oranotherladder，they’llbedeadoutandout。Lordhavemercyonthem!“Asob，asifofexcitedwomen，washeardinthehushofthecrowd。Anotherpressureliketheformer!MaryclungtoMargaret’sarmwithapinchinggrasp，andlongedtofaint，andbeinsensible，toescapefromtheoppressingmiseryofhersensations。Aminuteortwo。“They’vetakentheladderintoth’TempleofApollor。Can’tpressbackwithittotheyarditcamefrom。Amightyshoutarose；asoundtowakethedead。Uponhigh，quiveringintheair，wasseentheendoftheladder，protrudingoutofagarretwindow，inthegableendoftheginpalace，nearlyoppositetothedoorwaywherethemenhadbeenseen。Thoseinthecrowdnearestthefactory，andconsequentlybestabletoseeuptothegarretwindow，saidthatseveralmenwereholdingoneend，andguidingbytheirweightitspassagetothedoorway。Thegarretwindow-framehadbeentakenoutbeforethecrowdbelowwereawareoftheattempt。Atlength——foritseemedlong，measuredbybeatinghearts，thoughscarcetwominuteshadelapsed——theladderwasfixed，anaerialbridgeatadizzyheight，acrossthenarrowstreet。Everyeyewasfixedinunwinkinganxiety，andpeople’sverybreathingseemedstilledinsuspense。Themenwerenowheretoheseen，butthewindappeared，forthemoment，higherthanever，anddrovebacktheinvadingflamestotheotherend。MaryandMargaretcouldseenowrightabovethemdancedtheladderinthewind。Thecrowdpressedbackfromunder；firemen’shelmetsappearedatthewindow，holdingtheladderfirm，whenaman，withquick，steadytread，andunmovinghead，passedfromonesidetotheother。Themultitudedidnotevenwhisperwhilehecrossedtheperilousbridge，whichquiveredunderhim；butwhenhewasacross，safecomparativelyinthefactory，acheeraroseforaninstant，checked，however，almostimmediately，bytheuncertaintyoftheresult，andthedesirenotinanywaytoshakethenervesofthebravefellowwhohadcasthislifeonsuchadie。“Thereheisagain!“sprungtothelipsofmany，astheysawhimatthedoorway，standingasifforaninstanttobreatheamouthfulofthefresherair，beforehetrustedhimselftocross。Onhisshouldersheboreaninsensiblebody。“It’sJemWilsonandhisfather，“whisperedMargaret；butMaryknewitbefore。Thepeopleweresickwithanxiousterror。Hecouldnolongerbalancehimselfwithhisarms；everythingmustdependonnerveandeye。Theysawthelatterwasfixed，bythepositionofthehead，whichneverwavered；theladdershookunderthedoubleweight；butstillhenevermovedhishead——hedarednotlookbelow。Itseemedanagebeforethecrossingwasaccomplished。
　　Atlastthewindowwasgained；thebearerrelievedfromhisburden；bothhaddisappeared。Thenthemultitudemightshout；andabovetheroaringflames，louderthantheblowingofthemightywind，arosethattremendousburstofapplauseatthesuccessofthedaringenterprise。Thenashrillcrywasheard，asking，“Istheoudmanalive，andlikelytodo？““Aye，“answeredoneofthefirementothehushedcrowdbelow。“He’scomingroundfinely，nowhe’shadadashofcowdwater。“Hedrewbackhishead；andtheeagerinquiries，theshouts，thesea-likemurmursofthemovingrollingmassbeganagaintobeheardbutonlyforaninstant。InfarlesstimethaneventhatinwhichIhaveendeavouredbrieflytodescribethepauseofevents，thesameboldherosteppedagainupontheladder，withevidentpurposetorescuethemanyetremainingintheburningmill。Hewentacrossinthesamequicksteadymannerasbefore，andthepeoplebelow，madelessacutelyanxiousbyhisprevioussuccess，weretalkingtoeachother，shoutingoutintelligenceoftheprogressofthefireattheotherendofthefactory，tellingoftheendeavoursofthefiremenatthatparttoobtainwater，whilethecloselypackedbodyofmenheavedandrolledfromsidetoside。Itwasdifferentfromtheformersilentbreathlesshush。Idonotknowifitwerefromthiscause，orfromtherecollectionofperilpast，orthathelookedbelow，inthebreathingmomentbeforereturningwiththeremainingpersonaslightlittlemanslungacrosshisshoulders，butJemWilson’sstepwaslesssteady，histreadmoreuncertain；
　　heseemedtofeelwithhisfootforthenextroundoftheladder，towaver，andfinallytostophalf-way。Bythistimethecrowdwasstillenough；
　　intheawfulinstantthatintervenednoonedurstspeak，eventoencourage。
　　Manyturnedsickwithterror，andshuttheireyestoavoidseeingthecatastrophetheydreaded。Itcame。Thebravemanswayedfromsidetoside，atfirstasslightlyasifonlybalancinghimself；buthewasevidentlylosingnerve，andevensense；itwasonlywonderfulhowtheanimalinstinctofself-preservationdidnotovercomeeverygenerousfeeling，andimpelhimatoncetodropthehelpless，inanimatebodyhecarried；perhapsthesameinstincttoldhim，thatthesuddenlossofsoheavyaweightwouldofitselfbeagreatandimminentdanger。“Helpme；she’sfainted，“criedMargaretButnooneheeded。Alleyesweredirectedupwards。Atthispointoftimearope，witharunningnoose，wasdexterouslythrownbyoneofthefiremen，afterthemannerofalasso，overtheheadandroundthebodiesofthetwomen。True，itwaswithrudeandslightadjustment；butslightasitwas，itservedasasteadyingguide；
　　itencouragedthesinkingheart，thedizzyhead。OncemoreJemsteppedonwards。Hewasnothurriedbyanyjerkorpull。Slowlyandgraduallytheropewashauledin，slowlyandgraduallydidhemakethefourorfivepacesbetweenhimandsafety。Thewindowwasgained，andallweresaved。Themultitudeinthestreetabsolutelydancedwithtriumph，andhuzzaedandyelledtillyouwouldhavefanciedtheirVerythroatswouldcrack；andthen，withalltheficklenessofinterestcharacteristicofalargebodyofpeople，pressedandstumbled，andcursedandswore，inthehurrytogetoutofDunhamStreet，andbacktotheimmediatesceneofthefire，themightydiapasonofwhoseroaringflamesformedanawfulaccompanimenttothescreams，andyells，andimprecations，ofthestrugglingcrowd。Astheypressedaway，Margaretwasleft，paleandalmostsinkingundertheweightofMary’sbody，whichshehadpreservedinanuprightpositionbykeepingherarmstightroundMary’swaist，dreading，withreason，thetramplingofunheedingfeet。Now，however，shegentlyletherdownonthecoldcleanpavement；andthechangeofposture，andthedifferenceintemperature，nowthatthepeoplehadwithdrawnfromtheircloseneighbourhood，speedilyrestoredhertoconsciousness。Herfirstglancewasbewilderedanduncertain。Shehadforgottenwhereshewas。Hercold，hardbedfeltstrange；themurkyglareintheskyaffrightedher。Sheshuthereyestothink，torecollect。Hernextlookwasupwards。Thefearfulbridgehadbeenwithdrawn；thewindowwasunoccupied。“Theyaresafe，“saidMargaret。“All？Areallsafe，Margaret？“askedMary。“Askyonfireman，andhe’lltellyoumoreaboutitthanIcan。ButIknowthey’reallsafe。“ThefiremanhastilycorroboratedMargaret’swords。“WhydidyouletJemWilsongotwice？“askedMargaret。“Let!——why，wecouldnothinderhim。Assoonaseverhe’dheardhisfatherspeakwhichhewasnalongadoing，Jemwereofflikeashot；onlysayingheknowedbetternoruswheretofindt’otherman。We’dallha’gone，ifhehadnabeeninsuchahurry，fornoonecansayasManchesterfiremeniseverbackwardwhenthere’sdanger。“Sosaying，heranoff；andthetwogirls，withoutremarkordiscussion，turnedhomewards。TheywereovertakenbytheelderWilson，pale，grimy，andblear-eyed，butapparentlyasstrongandwellasever。Heloiteredaminuteortwoalongsideofthem，givinganaccountofhisdetentioninthemill；hethenhastilywishedgood-night，sayinghemustgohomeandtellhismissishewasallsafeandwell；butafterhehadgoneafewsteps，heturnedback，cameonMary’ssideofthepavement，andinanearnestwhisper，whichMargaretcouldnotavoidhearinghesaid，“Mary，ifmyboycomesacrossyouto-night，givehimakindwordortwoformysake。Do!blessyou，there’sagoodwench。“Maryhungherheadandanswerednotaword，andinaninstanthewasgone。Whentheyarrivedathome，theyfoundJohnBartonsmokinghispipe，unwillingtoquestion，yetverywillingtohearallthedetailstheycouldgivehim。
　　Margaretwentoverthewholestory，anditwasamusingtowatchhisgraduallyincreasinginterestandexcitement。First，theregularpuffingabated，thenceased。Thenthepipewasfairlytakenoutofhismouth，andheldsuspended。Thenherose，andateveryfurtherpointhecameastepnearertothenarrator。WhenitwasendedhesworeanunusualthingforhimthatifJemWilsonwantedMaryheshouldhaveherto-morrow，ifhehadnotapennytokeepher。Margaretlaughed，butMary，whowasnowrecoveredfromheragitation，poutedandlookedangry。Theworkwhichtheyhadleftwasresumedbutwithfullheartsfingersnevergoveryquickly；andIamsorrytosay，thatowingtothefire，thetwoyoungerMissOgdenswereinsuchgriefforthelossoftheirexcellentfather，thattheywereunabletoappearbeforethelittlecircleofsympathisingfriendsgatheredtogethertocomfortthewidow，andseethefuneralsetoff。
　　HowlittlecantherichmanknowOfwhatthepoormanfeels，WhenWant，likesomedarkdemonfoe，Nearerandnearersteals!Henevertramp’dthewearyroundAstrokeofworktogain，Andsicken’datthedreadedsoundTellinghim’twasinvain。Foot-sore，heart-sore，henevercameBackthroughthewinter’swind，Toadankcellar，therenoflame，Nolight，nofood，tofind。HeneversawhisdarlingslieShivering，thegrasstheirbed；Heneverheardthatmaddeningcry，“Daddy，abitofbread!“MANCHESTERSONG。JohnBartonwasnotfarwronginhisideathattheMessrsCarsonwouldnotbeover-muchgrievedfortheconsequencesofthefireintheirmill。
　　Theywerewellinsured；themachinerylackedtheimprovementsoflateyears，andworkedbutpoorlyincomparisonwiththatwhichmightnowbeprocured。