Theodore left Molly more angry than he'd ever been in his life. Instead of making him think less of Jinnie, Molly's aspersions drew him more tenderly toward the girl. As he strode through the road under the trees, his heart burned to see her. He looked at his watch--it was four o'clock. Jinnie had had her lesson in the morning, so he could not call for her at the master's. Just then he saw her walking quickly along the street, and she lifted shy, glad eyes as he spoke her name. By this time his temper had cooled, yet there lingered in his heart the stabbing hurt brought there by Molly's slurs. He felt as if in some way he owed an apology to Jinnie; as if he must make up for harm done her by a vile, gossiping tongue. He fell into step beside her and gently took the violin box from her hand. "And how is my little friend to-day?" he asked. His voice, unusually musical, made Jinnie spontaneously draw a little nearer him. "I'm very well," she returned, demurely, "and I've learned some very lovely things. I went up twice to-day--sometimes the master makes me come back in the afternoon." It eased his offended dignity to see her so happy, so vividly lovely. He had gone to Molly with the intention of asking her to go with him some day soon to Mottville. He thought of this now with a grim setting of his teeth; but looking at Jinnie, an idea more to his liking came in its place. He would take _her_ somewhere for a day. She needed just such a day to make her color a little brighter, although as he glanced at her again, he had to admit she was rosy enough. Nevertheless a great desire came over him to ask her; so when they had almost reached the cobbler's shop, he said: "How would a nice holiday suit you?" Jinnie looked up into his face, startled. "What do you mean by a holiday? Not to take lessons?" Theodore caught her thought, and laughed. "Oh, no, not that! But I was thinking if you would go with me into the country----" "For a whole day?" gasped Jinnie, stopping point blank. "Yes, for a whole day," replied Theodore, smiling. "Oh, I couldn't go. I couldn't." "Why?... Don't you want to?" Of course she wanted to go. Jinnie felt that if she knew she was going with him, she'd fly to the sky and back again. "Yes," she murmured. "I'd like to go, but I couldn't--for lots of reasons!... Lafe wouldn't let me for one, and then Bobbie needs me awfully." They started on, and Jinnie could see Lafe's window, but not the cobbler himself. "But I'd bring you back at dusk," Theodore assured her, "and you'd be happy----" "Happy! Happy!" she breathed, with melting eyes. "I'd be more'n happy, but I can't go." Theodore raised his hat quickly and left her without another word. CHAPTER XXVIII JINNIE DECIDES AGAINST THEODORE