Devereaux looked at Liane inquiringly, and she faltered:
"The disgrace would fall on me!"
"Yes, yes, she is my granddaughter," howled granny eagerly, seeing her advantage. Devereaux comprehended, too. He groaned:
"But what can you do? You must not be exposed again to her fury!"
Granny glared malevolently, while Liane bent her eyes to the ground, meditating a moment ere she looked up, and said timidly:
"I think you are right. I cannot live with granny any more, for she would surely kill me some day. Let her go home, and I will go and spend the night with Dolly Dorr, who lives not far from here."
"You hear what Miss Lester says? Will you go home peaceably, while she goes to her friend for safety?" demanded Devereaux, eager to close the scene, for he was faint from the pain of his broken arm.
Granny saw that she was cornered, and cunningly began to feign repentance, whimpering that she was sorry, and would never do so any more if Liane would only come home with her now, for she was afraid to spend the night alone.
"She shall not go with you, you treacherous cat," he answered sternly, releasing her and bidding her angrily to return home at once.