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 an outrage that I will not tolerate." And Robert showed plainly how thoroughly he meant what he had said.

"But is it not most unseemly that a young woman should be out in a boat, and at night and alone?"

"What! That from you! And who put her on a boat to be alone, day and night, for perhaps two days, and with a man, too, she detests? The less you say of all this the better, or the tide will turn against you and swallow you up, as I only wish it would. What did happen may have been unfortunate, but it was necessary, and now let us come back to business. You have reckoned all along without your host, as you will find out. You said just now Ruth's fair name might be tarnished, but there'll be no washing the blot from the name of the step-father, if I read aright the world's way of thinking. Yes, I know where she is, and can prove the truth of my assertion. She is under this roof, safe and happy, and her only wish is that her mother shall know this. I did not intend to tell you at first, but I