“I’m goin’ to marry her,” he said, surlily.
“He isn’t,” cried Jinnie. “Oh, don’t believe him, Mr. King! He says Uncle Lafe said he can marry me, but he can’t.”
Once more Theodore turned on Maudlin, threateningly, his anger riding down his gentleness to Jinnie.
“Now get out of here,” he exclaimed, “and don’t ever let me hear of your even speaking to this child again.”
The shortwood gatherer stood his ground until Theodore, with raised fist, was almost upon him. 159
“I said to get out!” thundered Mr. King.
With a baffled cry, Bates turned, rushed back into the marsh, and for several seconds they heard him beating down the brushwood as he ran.
Theodore tenderly drew the girl into Paradise Road.
“I wanted to see your uncle to-day,” he explained, without waiting for the question which he read in Jinnie’s eyes, “so I came over myself instead of sending Bennett.... There, child! Don’t tremble so! Never mind the wood.”
Jinnie hung back.