Liane feigned a polite interest, and she added:
"One was a man, a language teacher in a boarding school. I didn't like his looks much. He is dark and Spanish looking, but he paid my price in advance, so that reconciled me to his scowling brow and black whiskers. The other is a seamstress, very neat and ladylike, and I believe I shall find her real pleasant. Her name is Sophie Nutter, and his is Carlos Cisneros."
Liane's eyes brightened as she exclaimed:
"There used to be a lady's maid at Cliffdene named Sophie Nutter. I wonder if it can be the same?"
"You might make a little call on her and see. Her room is next yours, and your granny has gone out to buy some baked beans for her supper."
Liane was glad that granny had not seen her come home in the carriage, she hated having to explain everything to the ill-natured old crone, and she started to go upstairs, but looked back to ask:
"Who was granny's caller?"
"I don't know. She was in such a bad temper when she went away, I didn't dare ask. The young lady was all in silk and fur, with a thick veil over her face, but some locks of hair peeped out at the back of her neck, and they were thick and red as copper. She stayed upstairs with granny as much as an hour, and when she left the old woman seemed to be perfectly devilish in her temper. Seems to me I'd be afraid to live with her if I was you, Liane!"
"So I am, Mrs. Brinkley, but she is old and poor, and it would be wicked for me to desert her, you know!"