It was open,
and his room was clearer of smoke than any other, from the wind blowing
through the open window.
There he lay in a deep sleep! She sprang to the bedside, seized and
shook the arm of the sleeper.
"Uncle! uncle! wake, for God's sake, wake! the house is on fire!"
"Hum-m-m-e!" muttered the old man, giving a great heave and plunge, and
turning over into a heavier sleep than before.
"Uncle! uncle! You will be burned to death if you don't wake up!" cried
Jacquelina, shaking him violently.
"Humph! Yes, Jacquelina! um--um--um--Grim! um--um--Luckenough!"
muttered the dreamer, flinging about his great arms.
"Luckenough is in flames! Uncle! wake! wake!" she cried, shaking him
frantically.
"Ah! ha! yes! d--d little rascal is at her tricks again!" he said,
laughing in his sleep.
At that moment there was the sound of a falling rafter in the adjoining
room. Every instant was worth a life, and there he lay in a sodden,
hopeless sleep.
Suddenly Sans Souci ran to the ewer; it was empty. There was no time to
be lost! every second was invaluable! He must be instantly roused, and
Jacquelina was not fastidious as to the means in doing so!
Leaping upon the bolster behind his great, stupid head, she reached
over, and, seizing the mass of his gray, grizzly beard, she pulled up
the wrong way with all her might, until, roaring with pain, he started
up in a fury, and, seeing her, exclaimed:
"Oh! you abominable little vixen! is that you: Do you dare! Are you
frantic, then? Oh, you outrageous little dare-devil! Won't I send you to
a mad-house, and have you put in a strait-jacket, till you know how to
behave yourself! You infernal little wretch, you!"
A sudden thought struck Sans Souci to move him by his affection for
herself.
Pages:
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93