"Hush!" I cried, drawing nearer the angered old woman in my deep earnestness. "Don't say those things again in the presence of--her! They are lies! Everything you have said is a black, cowardly lie!" "Do yo' _dare_ to tell me that his rev'rence, that holy pries', lied to me? Yo'--yo'--" She thrust her hands toward my throat with her fingers working convulsively. I controlled myself, grasped her wrists and brought her arms down, then looked hard into her eyes as I answered: "No, Father John did not lie, but Beryl Drane did. I have never spoken a word of love to her. I have seen her only twice. Once when I got her out of the river when her boat upset, and a second time when I went to see Father John. I believe I offended her, unintentionally, at that time, but I have never made love to her for the best of reasons--I have no feeling for her but that of pity. She told a dangerous, dastardly falsehood when she declared to her uncle that I had spoken of love to her. All of this I swear to be the truth; on the cross, on the Bible, on my mother's sacred honor! And I respect and honor Lessie as I would my own sister!" Truth alone is a powerful weapon, and I could see that Granny was impressed, though not convinced. She still viewed me in truculence and disgust, but there was a subtle change in her demeanor. I could feel it more than I could see it. I waited, knowing that I must not be too eager in my disclaimers. Granny stood, plainly taken aback, and when she spoke her voice had sunk to its natural compass. "I dunno. It don't 'pear right to me.... Whut cause has a gal to make up sich a yarn as this?--tell me that!" She flung the question at me with a triumphant flare. I hesitated. Should I tell the true reason? Should I tell how this girl had tried to flirt with me, and then, when I had refused, had concocted this devilish scheme which only a bad woman could have thought of? I owed her nothing, not even consideration now, and she had made a bold stroke to blacken me irretrievably in the eyes of Celeste. But something held my tongue. I could not betray her baseness except as a last resort. I stood with eyes down, thinking. The old beldam facing me deemed it was from shame, and my inability to answer her question. I remained silent. "Yo' 've lied to me!" came her voice, shrill again, and carrying a victorious note. "Whut cause has she, I say? Yo' dunno. Cause 'nough, I 'low! 'N' yo' can't answer, git yo' gone frum these premises, 'n' never sot yo' foot on 'em ag'in!" I lifted my head at this, and replied in low, even words. "I know, but I cannot tell you. But believe me, I am innocent of this charge." Mingled with Granny's vindictive scream of derision was a heart-broken moan from the door-step. I turned quickly, to see my Celeste, hands over her eyes, run weeping in the house. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN IN WHICH I DESCEND INTO HELL I have descended into hell.