He's all I've got now, and I can't have anything happen to him.

He can't go with you, and there ain't any stable here, and there ain't a neighbor round here that will hitch up and carry you there to-night, and--I suppose you know, if you've got common-sense, that if you set out to walk there, the way you are, you don't stand much chance of gettin' there alive." Madelon stared at her.
"I don't really know myself what you and my son have been talkin' about," continued Mrs.Otis, "but near's I can make out you think you've done something wrong, and somebody's in prison you want to get out.

I suppose you've got sense enough to know that if you freeze to death going home to-night you can't do anything more to get him out.
Then there's another thing--it's night.

You can't do much to get him out anyway before morning.

I don't believe they ever let folks out at night, and my son shall carry you over just as soon as it's fit in the morning, and you'll do just as much good as if you went to-night." Still Madelon stood staring at her.