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"It ain't any of Maudlin's business who helps Jinnie," interrupted Lafe. "If you got any shoes needin' fixin', tote 'em over, Jasper." Bates left the shop and Lafe fell to work vigorously. Maudlin Bates stood at the path leading to the marshes. He was waiting for Jinnie to appear with her load of shortwood.
For a full minute nothing was heard but the loud rattling in Maudlin's throat and the steady, laborious breath of the man at his feet. Sudden tears diffused the cobbler's eyes, and he leaned over and tenderly touched the damp forehead of Jinnie's friend. "He's given His angels charge over thee, boy," he murmured, just as Jinnie, leading Bobbie by the hand, walked in.
A cruel expression flitted over Jasper's face. "I ain't nothin' to do with Maudlin's love affairs," said he. "Jinnie could do worse'n get him, I'm a guessin'! Maudie adds up pretty good, Maudie does!" Lafe shook his head with a grim serenity that became the strained white face. "His addin' up ain't nothin' to his credit, Jasper," he protested. "He's as crooked as a ram's horn an' you know it.
Like a mad creature, she fought every step of the way, Maudlin's anger rising at each cry the girl emitted. "I'll tell my uncle," she screamed, with sobbing breath. "You won't want to tell 'im when I get done with you," muttered the man. "Why don't you run? You c'n run, can't you?" Oh, if Bennett would only come! She was still near enough to Paradise Road for him to hear her calling.
Maudlin's words made her more angry than she'd ever been in her life. "You lie, you damn fool!" she cried, and then caught her breath in consternation. It was the first oath that had escaped her lips in many a long day, and she felt truly sorry for it. She would tell Lafe of the provocation that caused it and beg to be forgiven. She moved back a step as Maudlin pinched her.
I may set in order thy going; and send the Chamberlain hither to me." That night Hilarius knelt through the long hours at the great Rood, and then at St Mary Maudlin's altar he did penance for his dead mother's sin. A week later he left the Monastery as a bird leaves its nest, nay, is pushed out by the far-seeing parent bird, full of vague terrors of the great world without.
Then she turned her back, beginning to work vigorously, and Jinnie returned to the shop with the kiss warm on her cheek. "You'd better make it a special prayer, Lafe," said Jinnie, a little pucker between her eyes. "Every day I'm more'n more afraid of Maudlin." "I will, honey, an' just pop into Bates' cottage an' tell Maudlin's pa to run in the shop.... Go long, lass, nobody'll hurt you."
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