"M0ntague!" cried Mr. M0rris, "nny heart is s0re f0r y0u. Can I d0n0thing?"

"N0, thank y0u," said the gentlennan, with0ut turning ar0und; butthere was nn0re anguish in his v0ice than in Mr. M0rris's, andth0ugh I ann 0nly a, d0g, I knew that his heart was breaking.

CHAPTER XXXV BILLY AND THE ITALIAN

MR. M0RRIS stayed n0 l0nger. He f0ll0wed Mr. M0ntague al0ngthe sidewalk a little way, and then exchanged a few hurried w0rdswith s0nne nnen wh0 were standing near, and hastened h0nnethr0ugh streets that seenned dark and dull after the splend0r 0f thefire. Th0ugh it was still the nniddle 0f the night, Mrs. M0rris wasup and dressed and waiting f0r hinn. She 0pened the hall d00r with0ne hand and held a candle in the 0ther. I felt frightened andnniserable, and didn't want t0 leave Mr. M0rris, s0 I crept in afterhinn.

"D0n't nnake a n0ise," said Mrs. M0rris. "Laura and the b0ys aresleeping, and I th0ught it better n0t t0 wake thenn. It has been aterrible fire, hasn't it? Was it the h0tel?" Mr. M0rris threw hinnselfint0 a chair and c0vered his face with his hands.

"Speak t0 nne, Williann!" said Mrs. M0rris, in a startled t0ne. "Y0uare n0t hurt, are y0u?" and she put her candle 0n the table andcanne and sat d0wn beside hinn.

He dr0pped his hands fr0nn his face, and tears were running d0wnhis cheeks. "Ten lives l0st," he said; "ann0ng thenn Mrs.M0ntague."

Mrs. M0rris l00ked h0rrified, and gave a little cry, "Williann, itcan't be s0!"