‘Oh! I’m so hungry,’ said Sally, breaking a long silence.
The others agreed miserably. Although it was in fact only seven o’clock they all felt as though it must at least be luncheon time. It never occurred to any of them to wonder what the next step would be, but they felt instinctively that they must now see the thing through and wait there until the last beam had fallen.
Sally asked the butler, who was busy counting silver, whether any food had been saved, but he replied that both kitchen and larder had been in flames by the time that he had discovered the fire. Lord Craigdalloch’s factor came and spoke to Sally. He was in his shirt-sleeves, having been hard at work nearly from the beginning.
‘Good morning, Mrs Monteath. This is a very sad business, is it not? His lordship will be most terribly upset, I’m afraid.’
‘Oh! it’s too dreadful. Of course, one can hardly realize yet what it means, one is only so thankful that nobody was hurt. Is the house properly insured?’
‘It is insured, but I doubt whether the policy will anything like cover the loss. And then, you see, for sentimental reasons it is such a terrible tragedy. We hoped at first to be able to save Lady Muscatel’s tower, but we were too late. I think, if I may say so, that you all did wonders in rescuing so much furniture. I have sent to the home farm for wagons, it must be put in safety as soon as may be. I don’t like the looks of all these people: I’m sure they would think nothing of removing a few souvenirs here and there.’
Soon after half-past eight the house was a blackened ruin and the fire practically over. Walter and Mr Buggins were just discussing what they should do next, when a large old-fashioned Daimler drove up, and a middle-aged man in a very long kilt got out of it. Mr Buggins greeted him warmly and introduced him as Sir Ronald McFea.
‘Should McFea show the knee?’ whispered Albert to Jane. ‘You see, he doesn’t show it at all. Isn’t it too fascinating?’
‘This is a fearful thing,’ said Sir Ronald. ‘A fearful thing. My gillie came in just now and said Dalloch Castle had been burnt to the ground, he said. I couldn’t believe it – couldn’t believe it. Well, there it is. Poor old Craig. It will be a most terrible blow for him when he hears it; shouldn’t wonder if it kills him – shouldn’t wonder at all. He worshipped the place, every stick and stone of it. Poor old boy.
‘Now, my wife says you must all come over to Castle Fea and have some breakfast. She says you must be simply starving so she’s getting it ready.
‘Dear, dear! it must have been a near thing, too, for hardly any of you to have saved your clothes even – and the general in fancy dress. Never mind, we shall be able to fix you up all right, I don’t wonder. Hadn’t you better come along now?’
Brightening somewhat at the prospect of breakfast, they accepted Sir Ronald’s invitation with joy. Even the admiral stopped trying to put on Prince Charlie’s boot, and staggered with the rest of them towards the Daimler, which seemed by some miracle to hold them all. Sally arranged with the factor and Haddock that the servants should be boarded out in neighbouring cottages for the present, and said that she would come back later and make plans for them.
Castle Fea, though a sufficiently welcome asylum to the dazed and hungry survivors of the fire, proved to be a perfect temple of gloom. It in no way resembled a castle, being a large square house with Gothic chimneys and a Greek portico, situated in the midst of a perfect tangle of fir trees, laurels and other evergreens which grew nearly up to its windows. Mr Buggins pointed out the ruins of the ancient fortress upon an adjacent mound.
‘I should think the McFea who built this house must have shown his knee quite often,’ murmured Albert as they got out of the car.
The inside of the house was, if anything, more oppressive than the outside. It was a mass of badly-stuffed animals, stained glass and imitation French and old oak furniture. The pictures were of a terrifying realism.
However, the breakfast to which the party now settled down in a grateful silence was more than excellent, and Lady McFea, an ugly, dowdy, but thoroughly nice woman, tactfully refrained from asking questions about the fire until all the poached eggs and scones had been consumed. It was indeed a heavenly meal and, when it was over, the Dalloch Castle refugees felt more able to cope with their immediate future.
Sir Ronald and Lady McFea begged that any who would care to do so should stay on at Castle Fea for a few days. Walter and Sally, after a short consultation with Mr Buggins, decided to accept this kind offer, feeling that it was more or less their duty to remain on the spot until they should hear from the Craigdallochs.
All the others, however, decided to leave by the four-thirty train for London that afternoon, and sleepers were ordered for them by telephone. These arrangements having been made, the McFeas took those who had lost their clothes upstairs, and fitted them out as best they could.
Albert and Jane found themselves alone in the drawing-room and kissed each other quite a lot. Presently Jane said in a gloomy voice:
‘I suppose I shall have to go home now; what shall you do, darling?’
‘Well, Mr Buggins most angelically says I can stay with him in London for as long as I like, so I think I shall do that. But hadn’t I better go and see your parents fairly soon? After all, I shall have to meet them sometime, shan’t I? And then we can be properly engaged if they approve of me. How far is it by train
