“If you wish to speak, Mr. King,” he said kindly, “you must do so quickly, for the young lady can stay but two minutes more. That’s all!”
The doctor turned his back upon them, watch in hand.
“Kiss me, dear!” murmured Theodore.
Oblivious of the doctor’s presence, Jinnie stooped and kissed him twice, taking the thin hand he extended.
“I sent for you because I feared you’d go to work at the wood again.”
Jinnie would reassure him on this point even by an untruth, for she might be driven, for the sake of Peggy and the children, to go back into that hated occupation.
“I promise I won’t,” she said.
“Are you still taking lessons?”
Jinnie shook her head.
“I couldn’t when you were sick. I just couldn’t.”