Jinnie changed her position that she might see to better advantage the plain little dress she was wearing.
“But I’ve got to go, Lafe; oh, I’ve got to!” she insisted. “Mr. King wants me.... Please, Lafe, please!”
“Call Peggy, Bobbie,” said Lafe, in answer to Jinnie’s impetuous speech.
Bobbie felt his way to the door, and Peggy came in answer to the child’s call.
“I only thought of the twenty-five dollars and the fiddling, Peggy,” said Jinnie as Mrs. Grandoken rolled her hands in her apron and sat down. “Did you say I couldn’t go in these clothes?”
“I did; I sure did. You can’t go in them clothes, an’ what you’re goin’ to wear is more’n I can make out. I’ll have to think.... Just let me alone for a little while.”
It was after Jinnie had gone to bed with Bobbie that Peg spoke about it again to Lafe.
“I’ve only got one thing I could rig her a dress out of,” she said. “I don’t want to do it because I hate her so! If I hated her any worse, I’d bust!”
The cobbler raised his hand, making a gesture of denial.
“Peggy, dear, you don’t hate the poor little lass.”