Jinnie came into the shop wearily, but one look at the cobbler brought her to a standstill. She didn’t wait to take off her hat before going directly to him.
“Lafe—Lafe dear, you’re sick. Why, honey dear––”
“I ain’t very well, Jinnie darlin’. Would you mind askin’ Peggy to come in a minute?”
Mrs. Grandoken looked up as the girl came in.
“Lafe wants you, Peg. He’s sick, isn’t he? What happened to him, Peggy?”
Bobbie uttered a whining cry.
“Jinnie,” he called, “Jinnie, come here!”
Peg pushed the girl back into the little hall.
“You shut up, Bobbie,” she ordered, “and sit there! Jinnie’ll come back in a minute.”
Then the speaker shoved the girl ahead of her into the shop and stood with her arms folded, austerely silent.