“How dared you?” she uttered hoarsely. Her voice grew thin as it raised to the point of a question.
“Dare!” echoed Theodore, his expression changing.
Molly went nearer him with angry, sparkling eyes.
“Yes, how dared you ask that girl to come here when I dislike her? You know how I hate her––”
Mr. King tossed his cigar into the grass, gravity settling on his countenance.
“I hadn’t the slightest idea you disliked her,” he said.
Molly eagerly advanced into the space between them.
“She is trying to gain some sort of influence over you, Theo, just the same as she got over that Jewish cobbler.”
Theodore King gazed in amazement at the reddening, beautiful face. Surely he had not heard aright. Had she really made vile charges against the girl? To implicate Jinnie with a thought of conspiracy brought hot blood about his temples. He wouldn’t stand that even from an old-time friend. Of course he liked Molly very much, yes, very much indeed, but this new antagonistic spirit in her––
“What’s the matter with you, Molly?” he demanded abruptly. “You haven’t any reason to speak of the child that way.”