A Large Children's Party Had Been Given Friday Evening, And
Many People Had Scarcely Left At One O'clock, And Clara Was Not In Bed
Till Half-Past One O'clock.
The fire broke out at a quarter to three
o'clock, was discovered by a maid visitor, and nearly everyone
Had to
leave their bedrooms with only the clothes on their backs, and for some
time Clara and Jack, &c., had not time to think of putting more on,
though it was bitterly cold. Thank God, no one was hurt, and as the fire
spread rapidly, and the cold was very great, there was great cause for
thankfulness. Everyone worked well and showed presence of mind, with one
or two exceptions, and Clara and Jack were calm and active throughout,
but it was a dreadful blow and I felt quite _knocked down_, and did
not recover for some time.
On _Wednesday, 21st January_, I accompanied Clara and Arthur, and
Miss MacCormack to Barton, where Jack joined us from Ampton.
On _Thursday_ we drove over there, and I had the melancholy
satisfaction of seeing the ruins, and trying to find something for Rosa,
who had lost everything; alas! without success.
End of The British Association's visit to Montreal, 1884: Letters, by Clara Rayleigh
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