“The trailing veil brushed an ember, the material curling and shrinking as orange sparks raced up its fine weave.”

“There was a dead silence in the room except for the occasional crackle of the jumping embers inside the fireplace.”

“A moment passed, and Hargrove, the Hudson prospector of middle-age gathered an armful of cherry kindling after he had brushed away the embers.”

“A piece of wood dropped on the dying embers in the fire soon burst into flame.”