"Where did you learn that wonderful music?" he smiled.... "I mean the music itself."
"Out of my heart," she said simply. "I couldn't get it anywhere else."
"She's very delightful!" said the stranger, turning to Theodore. "I've forgotten her name?"
He was so near her that Jinnie shrank back, and the master of the house noted her embarrassment.
"Her name is Grandoken, Miss Grandoken.... Come," he said, holding out his hand to Jinnie, and as she placed her fingers in his, he led her away.
A large car was waiting at the front door, and he held her hand in his for a few seconds. The touch of her fingers thrilled him through and through. He noticed her head just reached his shoulder and a conscious desire to draw her to him for one blessed moment surged insistent within him. He dropped her hand suddenly.
"I wish now," he said, smiling, "I had sent for you to come here before. It was such a treat!"
Jinnie shrank away as he offered her a roll of bills. An unutterable shyness crept over her.
"I don't want it," she said, gulping hard. "I'd love to fiddle for you all day long."
"But you must take it," insisted King. "Now then, I want to know where you live. I'm coming to see your uncle very, very soon."
Lafe and his wife were waiting for the girl, and the cobbler noticed Peggy's eyes were misty as Jinnie gave her the money. Over and over she told them all about it.
"And he's coming to see you, Lafe," she cried with a tremulous laugh. "Mr. King says some day I'll be a great player. Will I, Lafe? Will I, Peggy?"
"You may," admitted Peggy, "but don't get a swelled head, 'cause you couldn't stop fiddlin' any more'n a bird could stop singin'.... Go to bed now, this minute."
And as Jinnie slept her happy sleep in Paradise Road, another woman was walking to and fro with a tall man under the trees at Theodore King's home.
"I thought I'd scream with laughter when she came in," said Molly the Merry. "If it hadn't been for Theo's warning, I'm sure most of us would.... Did you ever see such a ridiculous dress, Jordan?"
The man was quiet for a meditative moment. "I forgot about the dress when she began to play," he mused. "The sight of her face would drive all thoughts of incongruity out of a man's mind."
"Yes, she's very pretty," admitted Molly, reluctantly. "And Jordan, do you know there's something strangely familiar about her face?... I can't tell where I've seen her."