She made for the door, but Jim Otis stopped her.
"You cannot go back to Ware Centre to-night," he said.
Madelon looked at him with proud determination, although she could scarce stand.

"I must go," said she, and would have pressed past him, but he took hold of her arm.
"Mother," he said, "tell her she cannot go.

There has been no such night as this for forty years, and it is dark now.

To-morrow morning I will carry her home; but to-night, as she is, it is out of the question.

Tell her so, mother." Mrs.Otis gathered herself together then, and came forward and laid hold of Madelon's arm, and strove to pull her back towards the settle.