"Heaven help me, it is true!" moaned Liane, as he looked at her for confirmation.
"Let me get at her! Let me get at her!" shrieked granny, intent on punishing the girl, and writhing in Devereaux's clutch.
But Devereaux, with one arm hanging helpless at his side, held her firmly with the other.
"You shall not touch her!" he said sternly. "You shall go to prison for this outrage."
At that both the old woman and the girl uttered a cry of remonstrance.
Devereaux looked at Liane inquiringly, and she faltered:
"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.
Cowed by his authority, she could not but choose to obey, but as she started, she flung back one shaft:
"Better come with me, Liane, than stay with him, my dear. Remember my warnings about rich young men and pretty, poor girls! A beating is safer than his love!"
Liane's cheeks flamed at the coarse thrust, but Devereaux said earnestly:
"Do not mind her taunt, Miss Lester. I will always be a true friend to you, believe me!"
"You are a true friend already. From what horrors have you saved me to-night?" Liane cried, bursting into tears. "Your poor arm, how helpless it hangs! Oh, I fear it has been broken in my defense," and suddenly sinking on her knees, in an excess of tenderest gratitude, she pressed her warm, rosy lips to the hand that had so bravely defended her from insult and injury.