"Bobsie," said he to the blind boy, "call Peggy, will you?"

When the woman and child came in hand in hand, Peggy bowed awkwardly to Mr. King. Somehow, when this young man appeared with his aristocratic manner and his genial, friendly advances, she was always embarra.s.sed.

Theodore cleared his throat.

"For some time," he began, "I've had in mind a little plan for Miss Jinnie, and I do hope you'll concur with me in it."

He glanced from the cobbler to his wife, and Lafe replied,

"You've been too kind already, Mr. King----"

"It isn't a question of kindness, my dear Mr. Grandoken. As I've told you before, I'm very much interested in your niece."

Bobbie slipped from Mrs. Grandoken and went close to the speaker.

"She's my Jinnie," breathed the boy with a saintly smile.

Theodore laughed.

"Yes, I know that, my lad, but you want her to be happy, don't you?"

"She is happy," interjected Lafe, trembling.

"You might tell us your plan," broke in Peg sourly, who always desired to get the worst over quickly.

"Well, it is to send her away to school for a few years."

Bobbie gave a little cry and staggered to Peg, holding out his hands.

She picked him up, with bitterness depicted in her face. But when she looked at her husband she was shocked, for he was leaning against the wall, breathing deeply.

"I knew the thought of letting her go would affect you, Mr.

Grandoken," soothed Theodore. "That's why I came alone. Jinnie's so tender-hearted I feared the sight of your first grief might cause her to refuse."

"Does she know you was goin' to ask us this?" demanded Peg suspiciously.

Mr. King shook his head.

"Of course not! If she had, she and I would have asked it together."

"G.o.d bless 'er!" murmured Lafe. "You see it's like this, sir: Peg and me don't want to stand in her light."

"I won't let my Jinnie go," sighed Bobbie. "I haven't any stars when she's gone."

"The poor child's devoted to her," excused Lafe. "That's what makes him act so about it."

Theodore's sympathy forced him to his feet.

"So I see," said he. "Come here, young man! I want to talk to you a minute."

Reluctantly Bobbie left Mrs. Grandoken, and Theodore, sitting again, took him on his knee.

"Now, Bobbie, look at me."

Bobbie turned up a wry, tearful face.

"I've got my eyes on you, sir," he wriggled.

"That's right! Don't you want your Jinnie to learn a lot of things and be a fine young lady?"

"She is a fine young lady now," mumbled Bobbie stubbornly, "and she's awful pretty."

"True," acquiesced Theodore, much amused, "but she must study a lot more."

"Lafe could learn her things," argued Bobbie, sitting up very straight. "Lafe knows everything."

Mr. King smiled and glanced at the cobbler, but Lafe's face was so drawn and white that Theodore looked away again. He couldn't make it seem right that he should bring about such sorrow as this, yet the thought of Jinnie and what he wanted her to be proved a greater argument with him than the grief of her family.

"I've told you, sir," Lafe repeated, "and I say again, my wife and me don't want to stand in our girl's light. She'll decide when she comes home."

Theodore got up, placing Bobbie on his feet beside him.

"I hope she'll think favorably of my idea, then," said he, "and to-morrow I'll see her and make some final arrangements."

After he had gone, Peggy and Lafe sat for a long time without a word.

"Go to the kitchen, Bobbie," said Mrs. Grandoken presently, "and give Happy Pete a bit of meat."

The boy paused in his stumbling way to the kitchen.

"I don't want my Jinnie to go away," he mumbled.

When the door closed on the blind child, Peggy shook her shoulders disdainfully.

"She'll go, of course," she sneered.

"An' we can't blame 'er if she does, Peg," answered Lafe sadly. "She's young yet, an' such a chance ain't comin' every day."

The woman got heavily to her feet.

"I hate 'er, but the house's dead when she ain't in it," and she went rapidly into the other room.

Jinnie came into the shop wearily, but one look at the cobbler brought her to a standstill. She didn't wait to take off her hat before going directly to him.

"Lafe--Lafe dear, you're sick. Why, honey dear----"

"I ain't very well, Jinnie darlin'. Would you mind askin' Peggy to come in a minute?"

Mrs. Grandoken looked up as the girl came in.