The days went on peacefully after the new arrangements for the shortwood. Every other day, at twelve o'clock, one of Theodore King's cars waited for Jinnie at the head of the path leading into the marsh.
When the weather was stormy, Bennett, the chauffeur, took the wood, telling Jinnie to run along home.
All this made it possible for Jinnie to study profitably during the warm months, and by the last of August she had mastered many difficult subjects. Lafe helped her when he could, but often shook his head despondently as she sat down beside him on the bench, asking his advice.
"The fact is, honey, I ain't got much brains," he said to her one afternoon. "If I hung by my neck till I could see through them figures, I'd be as dead as Moses."
One Thursday morning, as she climbed into the big car with her load, Bennett said, "I ain't goin' to pay you this mornin'! The boss'll do it. Mr. King wants to see you."
Jinnie nodded, her heart pounding.
It was delightful to contemplate seeing him once more. She wondered where he had been all these days and if he had thought of her. Jinnie's pulses were galloping along like a race horse. She stood quietly until the master was called, and he came quickly without making her wait.
"I'm going to ask you to do me a favor," he said, coming forward, holding out his hand.
Now when Jinnie first heard that he wished to see her, she thought her heart could beat no faster, but his words made that small organ tattoo against her sides like the flutter of a bird's wing in fright. She could do something for him! Oh, what joy! What unutterable joy!
"We're going to have some friends here Sunday evening----"
The sudden upfling of Jinnie's head cut off his words.
What difference would his having friends make to her? Oh, yes, they wanted more wood. How gladly she would get it for him; search all day for the driest pieces if he needed them!
"I was wondering," proceeded Mr. King, "if you would come here with your violin and play for--for--us?"
Jinnie's knees relaxed and she staggered back against the wall.
"You musn't feel embarrassed about it," he hurried on. "I'd be very much indebted to you if you thought you could."
Tears were so perilously near Jinnie's lids that some of them rolled into her throat. To regain her self-possession enough to speak, she swallowed several times in rapid succession. Such a compliment she'd never been paid before. She brought her hands together appealingly, and Mr. King noticed that his request had heightened her color.