“Poor child!” said Theodore sympathetically.
Just then Jinnie came into the room shyly. Bobbie had excitedly whispered to her that “the beautiful big man with the nice hands” wanted her. She hesitated at the sight of Mr. King, but advanced as Lafe held out his hand to her.
Before Theodore could explain, she had told him: 188
“The master isn’t giving me a lesson to-day, but he will to-morrow because you’re coming.”
With pride in her voice, she said it radiantly, the color mantling high in her cheeks. Molly’s importunate insistence escaped Theodore’s mind. When with Jinnie, ordinary matters generally did fade away.
“I’m very glad,” he replied. “I hope you’ve progressed a lot.”
“She has, sir, she sure has,” Lafe put in. “You’ll be surprised! How long since you’ve heard her play?”
“A long time,” answered Theodore, and still forgetting Molly, he went on, “I wonder if you’d like to come to the house to-morrow to dinner and play for us. My mother was speaking about how much she’d enjoy it only a short time ago.”
Jinnie’s eyes sparkled.
“I should love to come,” she answered gladly.