CHAPTER XX.
STEPHEN'S TESTIMONY.
Mr. Wyley would not stir from the place where he could gaze upon his old
home burning to the ground. He stood rooted to the spot, like one
fascinated and enchained by a power he could not resist, grasping his
precious bundle to his breast, and clinging firmly to the arm of the
Longville doctor, who had been one of those who hastened to his rescue.
Now and then he broke out into a deep cry, which he did not seem to hear
himself; but even the grey dawn of the morning, brightening over the
rounded outlines of the mountains, did not awaken him from his trance of
terror and bewilderment. Miss Anne kept near to him all night, and
Stephen lingered about her, making a seat for her upon the grass, and
taking care that Martha also should be at hand to wait upon her. There
was a great buzzing of people about them, hurrying to and fro; and every
now and then they heard different conjectures as to how the fire began.
But it was not, generally known that the constables from Longville and
Botfield had contrived to arrest Black Thompson and Davies in the midst
of the confusion, and had quietly taken them off to the jail at
Longville.
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