"Wood's awful heavy," Jinnie decided, irrelevantly.
"Sure," soothed Lafe again. He hesitated a minute, drew his hand across his eyes, and continued, "An', by the way, Jinnie----"
Jinnie's receptive face caused the cobbler to proceed: "I wouldn't have nothin' to do with Bates' son Maudlin, if I was you.... He's a bad lot."
Jinnie's head drooped. She flushed to her hair.
"I saw him to-day," she replied. "He's got wicked eyes. I hate boys who wink!"
A look of desperation clouded the fair young face, and the cobbler, looking at the slender girlish figure, and thinking the while of Maudlin Bates, suddenly put out his hand.
"Come here, lassie," he said.
Another flame of color mounted to Jinnie's tousled hair. With hanging head, she pushed Milly Ann from her lap and walked to the cobbler's side.
"What did Maudlin say to you?" he demanded.
"He said he'd--he'd crack my twigs for me if--if I'd kiss him, and he pinched me when I wouldn't."
Anger and deep resentment displayed themselves on Lafe's pale face.
"Jinnie, lass," he breathed. "I c'n trust you, child. Can't I trust you? You wouldn't----"
Jinnie drew away from Lafe's embrace.
"I guess I'd rather be killed'n have Maudlin kiss me," she cried passionately.
Just then Peg came to the door.
"Run to the butcher's for a bit of chopped steak, Jinnie," she ordered, "an' make your head save your heels by bringin' in some bread."
Jinnie jumped up quickly.
"Please use some of my money to buy 'em, Peggy," she begged. "Oh, please do."
Peggy eyed her sternly.
"Kid," she warned. "I want to tell you something before you go any farther in life. You may be smart, but 'tain't no credit to you, 'cause you didn't make yourself. I'm tellin' you this for fear makin' so much money'll turn your head.... Here's your ten cents.... Now go along."
After Jinnie had gone, Mrs. Grandoken sat down opposite her husband.
"The girl looks awful tired," she offered, after a moment's silence.
"She's been earnin' her livin' by the sweat of her brow," replied Lafe, with a wan smile.
"Mebbe she'll get used to it," growled Peg. "Of course I don't like her, but I don't want her hurt. 'Twon't make her sick, will it?"
"No, she's as strong as a little ox. She's got enough strength in her body to work ten times harder, but Peg----" Here Lafe stopped and looked out to the hill beyond the tracks, "but, Peggy, perhaps we c'n find her somethin' else after a while, when there ain't so much fear of her uncle. To make a long story short, Peg, danger of him's the only thing that'll keep the kid luggin' wood."