The Black Swan

He seized rugs and quickly beat out the worst of the flames, and by that time Mrs. Emery with Phillida and most of the servants had arrived. Mr. Emery took charge of the situation and soon we were all bringing water to the smoldering bed; and within half an hour of the discovery of the fire it was out. Mr. Emery was the hero of the occasion. Phillida kept telling him how wonderfully he had done and at the same time embracing me fervently. “Thank God,” she kept muttering to herself. “Thank God.”

It was about one thirty when Mrs. Emery took charge.

“Now, Miss Lucie, you can’t go back there tonight.” She was ordering two of the servants to make my old room ready.

She said, “As for the rest of you, it’s time you were in bed. There’s nothing more to be done till morning. We could have had a bad fire but for Mr. Emery, and we should all be thankful to him that we are alive and kicking.”

Mr. Emery said, “It was nothing much. I’m only thankful Miss Lucie woke up when she did... before it got under way.”

“It was a blessing,” said Mrs. Emery. She looked at me. “I think a little something would be good for Mr. Emery,” she went on. “And you, Miss Fitzgerald and Miss Lucie, could do with a pick-me-up too.”

“Come to the library,” I said. “And we’ll have some brandy.”

We sat there together, the Emerys, Phillida and I.

“I can’t stop asking myself how it could have happened,” said Phillida. “What do you think it could have been, Lucie?”

“I’ve no idea.”

“Emery’s theory was that it had been the candle. It had been hot and could have tumbled over and set the velvet smoldering.”

“But I had been asleep,” I said. “It was some little while after I had blown it out.”

“It could have toppled at that time when you doused it. Sometimes things smolder for quite a while before bursting into flames.”

“Well, anyway,” I said. “It happened and we have to thank you, Mr. Emery, for getting it under control before much damage was done.”

“The curtains are ruined,” said Phillida, somewhat ruefully. “And imagine what the bed will be like after all that water!” She laughed a little hysterically. “What does that matter as long as you are safe? I keep thinking what might have happened. How could I have told Roland!”

“Oh, Phillida!” I cried. “It didn’t happen. It was just ... an accident. Thank goodness it was nothing more.” A sudden thought struck me. “I haven’t seen Belinda....”

Phillida cried out: “Oh... yes. I’d forgotten she was here. All this happening ...”

“Surely she couldn’t have slept all through this?” I said. “I’m going to see if she’s all right.”

I ran out of the room, Phillida close behind me ... up the stairs, past the ruined bedroom to that of Belinda.

I opened the door, calling softly, “Belinda.”

There was no answer.

Belinda was lying on her back, fast asleep. There was a faint smile about her lips, as though her dreams were pleasant.

Phillida was beside me. I glanced at her and put my finger to my lips. We tiptoed out.

“She must have slept through it all,” said Phillida.

“It seems incredible.”

The Emerys were just behind us.

“Is she all right?” asked Mrs. Emery.

“She’s fast asleep. Let’s go back to the library and finish our drink.”

“She must be a deep sleeper,” said Mrs. Emery. “Some are.”

“I think she was rather exhausted,” I said. “She mentioned having had a bad night previously.”

“If I’d known, I would have given her one of my nightcaps,” said Phillida. “Obviously she didn’t need it,” I said. “Although, I remember now... she drank the one Kitty brought up for me. Perhaps that is why she slept through it all and I didn’t.”

Phillida laughed. “Thank God,” she murmured. Then, “It’s not meant to send you off like that. It’s just to bring about a peaceful natural sleep.”

“She’s a heavy sleeper, that’s what,” said Mrs. Emery. “Some people are like that.”

I yawned and said, “I do think we ought to try and get some sleep now.”

“Your room will be ready,” said Mrs. Emery.

“Thank you, Mrs. Emery. Then I think I’ll go up.”

So there I was, in my old room. I could not help going to the window and looking out at the oak tree and the haunted seat.

It had been a wild night and, as I expected, I slept little.

1

Belinda and I did not leave next morning. After what had happened it was not possible. The household was obsessed by the topic of the fire. Everyone had to inspect the damage. Phillida was really upset. She kept looking at me with a mingling of horror and affection.

“Oh, Phillida,” I said, “it didn’t happen.”

“No... but it might have. If you hadn’t wakened... I keep thinking of it. I just could not have borne it, Lucie. I keep thinking of Roland. What could I have said to him?”

“But it did not happen.”

“Thank God.”

Belinda expressed amazement when she heard what had happened.

“A fire! In your room! Good Heavens! And there was I, fast asleep.”

She inspected the damage.