"You need not send for more help," he said; "we have all the
engines in town here, and have stirred up all the towns in the
neighborhood; there's no use in springing any more alarms. I can't
find the fire yet, but we have water pouring all over the house."
Elizabeth Eliza waved her telegram in the air.
"We are only trying to send a telegram to my father and brother,
who are in town," she endeavored to explain.
"If it is necessary," said the chief engineer, "you might send it
down in one of the hackney carriages. I see a number standing
before the door. We'd better begin to move the heavier furniture,
and some of you women might fill the carriages with smaller
things."
Mrs. Peterkin was ready to fall into hysterics. She controlled
herself with a supreme power, and hastened to touch another
knob.
Elizabeth Eliza corrected her telegram, and decided to take the
advice of the chief engineer and went to the door to give her
message to one of the hackmen, when she saw a telegraph boy
appear. Her mother had touched the right knob. It was the fourth
from the beginning; but the beginning was at the other end!
She went out to meet the boy, when, to her joy, she saw behind
him her father and Agamemnon. She clutched her telegram, and
hurried toward them.
Mr. Peterkin was bewildered. Was the house on fire? If so, where
were the flames?
He saw the row of carriages.
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