As to where Will had come from, or whither he was returning, after his marriage Joel Ford cared not. The youngster once wedded would be satisfied; and his uncle would be satisfied too. The procedure of marriage by license requires that one of the parties shall have resided within the Superintendent's district for a space of fifteen days preceding the giving of notice; then application in prescribed form is made to the Registrar; and his certificate and license are usually received one clear day later. Thus a resident in a district can be married at any time within eight-and-forty hours of his decision. Will Blanchard had to stop with his uncle nine or ten days more to complete the necessary fortnight, and as John Grimbal's marriage morning was as yet above three weeks distant, Phoebe's fate in no way depended upon him. Mr. Ford explained the position to Will, and the lover accepted it cheerfully. "As to the marriage, that'll be hard and fast as a bench of bishops can make it; but wedding a woman under age, against the wish of her legal guardian, is an offence against the law. Nobody can undo the deed itself, but Miller Lyddon will have something to say afterwards. And there's that blustering blackguard, John Grimbal, to reckon with. Unscrupulous scoundrel! Just the sort to be lawless and vindictive if what you tell me concerning him is true." "And so he be; let un! Who cares a brass button for him? 'T is awnly Miller I thinks of. What's worst he can do?" "Send you to prison, Will." "For how long?" "That I can't tell you exactly. Not for marrying his daughter of course, but for abduction--that's what he'll bring against you." "An' so he shall, uncle, an' I'll save him all the trouble I can. That's no gert hardship--weeks, or months even. I'll go like a lark, knawin' Phoebe's safe."