Mrs. Shannon, in spite of the warm sunshine, sat inside, huddled over the stove. Her fingers were drawn out of shape with rheumatism. Her knees and her elbows were stiff. She sat with her back bent. Out of her shriveled, unlovely face her eyes gleamed balefully.
"Granny," asked Jeannette, rather doubtfully, "could you teach me to sew?"
"I could, but I won't," snapped the old woman. "Let your father do it—your his young one. If he'd make money like a man ought to, you could buy clothes ready-made. But he ain't no money-maker, and he never will be."
Jeanne backed hastily out of the shack. Even when Mrs. Shannon said pleasant things, which was not very often, she had a rasping, unpleasant voice. Clearly there was no hope in that quarter.
CHAPTER V
THE SEWING LESSON
Jeanne's father was out in the fishing boat with Barney; but Old Captain was mending a net near the door of his box-car. Perhaps he could help her with this new and perplexing problem. She would ask.
So, with her family trailing behind, she paid a visit to the Captain.
"Captain," said she, "can you mend anything besides nets?"