hundred pounds for it. You've burnt down my premises, between you, you and Glory there. You've robbed me of a hundred or two hundred pounds' worth of property with your wilfulness or carelessness. Now, I want to know, how is it you have not built up my farmhouse again?"
"I cannot do it. I haven't the money!" wailed Mrs. Sharland. "I am sure, Master Rebow, there was nothing but pure accident in the fire. I never thought"
"Pure accident!" scoffed Elijah. "Do you call that pure accident, soaking the whole chamber in spirits, with a fire burning on the hearth, and dashing the cask staves here and there, on the fire and off it."
Mehalah looked at him.
"Ah, ha! Glory! You think I don't know it. You think I didn't see you! Why, I was at the window. I saw you do it. Tell me, mother, did not Glory smash the keg I had just given you?"
"I believe she did, Elijah! I am very sorry. I did my best to stop her, but she is a perverse, rebellious girl. You must forgive her, she intended no harm."
"If you saw me do it, why did you let the house catch fire?" asked Mehalah, looking hard at Rebow's face.
"Could I help it?" he asked in reply. "There you sat by the hearth, and no harm came of it. At last you went out, and locked and double-locked the door. I went down to my boat. I tell you, I was uneasy, and I looked back, and I saw by the light in the room that the spirit had caught. I ran back and tried to get in. The floor was flaming."
"The floor was of brick," said Mehalah.
"The door was fast locked. You know best why you locked it. It never was fastened before that night. You screwed on the lock, then you went out of the place yourself, leaving the room on fire, and fastened the door that none might get in."
"A lie!" exclaimed the girl.
"Is it a lie ? I don't think it. I can't cipher out your doings any other way. I tried to break open the door, but you had put too stout a fastening on. Then I burst open the window, and when the wind got in, it made the fire rage worse. So I ran and shouted to my men in the
