My name, as you heard me say, is Byles Gridley.

Your husband will know it, perhaps; at any rate I will wait until he comes back.

This child is of good family and of good name.

I know her well, and mean, with your kind help, to save her from the consequences which her foolish adventure might have brought upon her.

Before the bells ring for meeting to-morrow morning this girl must be in her bed at her home, at Oxbow Village, and we must keep her story to ourselves as far as may be.