His heart leaped at her unexpected concern for him.

"Maggie did that!" And then: "There wasn't any need; she should have known that I would know." "It was rather foolish in a way--but Maggie was too excited to use cool reason." His grandmother did not speak for a moment.

"Her losing her head and coming shows that she cares for you, Larry." He could make no response.

This was indeed the clearest evidence Maggie had yet given that possibly she might care.
"Maggie may have lost her head in her excitement," he managed to say; "but, grandmother, there was no reason for you to lose your head so far as to come away out here to tell me about the police." "I didn't come away out here to tell you about the police," she replied.
"I came to tell you something else." "Yes ?" "You're sure you really care for Maggie ?" "I told you that when I was down to see you this evening." Though the Duchess had decided, the desire to protect Larry remained tenaciously in her and made it hard for her jealous love to take a risk.

"You're sure she might turn out all right--that is, under better influences ?" "I'm sure, grandmother." He recalled how a few hours earlier at the Grantham the demand of Old Jimmie that she remain with him had seemed the force that had controlled her decision.