\"But，David，think。Whereyoulived，wasn’tthereeveranybodywhocalledhimbyname？\"
Davidshookhishead。
\"Itoldyou。Wewereallalone，fatherandI，inthelittlehousefaruponthemountain。\"
\"And——yourmother？\"AgainDavidshookhishead。
\"Sheisanangel-mother，andangel-mothersdon’tliveinhouses，youknow。\"
Therewasamoment’spause；thengentlythemanasked：——
\"Andyoualwayslivedthere？\"
\"Sixyears，fathersaid。\"
\"Andbeforethat？\"
\"Idon’tremember。\"Therewasatouchofinjuredreserveintheboy’svoicewhichthemanwasquicktoperceive。Hetookthehintatonce。
\"Hemusthavebeenawonderfulman——yourfather！\"heexclaimed。
Theboyturned，hiseyesluminouswithfeeling。
\"Hewas——hewasperfect！Butthey——downhere——don’tseemtoknow——orcare，\"hechoked。
\"Oh，butthat’sbecausetheydon’tunderstand，\"soothedtheman。
\"Now，tellme——youmusthavepracticedalottoplaylikethat。\"
\"Idid——butIlikedit。\"
\"Andwhatelsedidyoudo？andhowdidyouhappentocome——downhere？\"
OnceagainDavidtoldhisstory，morefully，perhaps，thistimethaneverbefore，becauseofthesympatheticearsthatwerelistening。
\"Butnow\"hefinishedwistfully，\"it’sall，sodifferent，andI’mdownherealone。Daddywent，youknow，tothefarcountry；andhecan’tcomebackfromthere。\"
\"Whotoldyou——that？\"
\"Daddyhimself。Hewroteittome。\"
\"Wroteittoyou！\"criedtheman，sittingsuddenlyerect。
\"Yes。Itwasinhispocket，yousee。They——foundit。\"David’svoicewasverylow，andnotquitesteady。
\"David，mayIsee——thatletter？\"
Theboyhesitated；thenslowlyhedrewitfromhispocket。
\"Yes，Mr。Jack。I’llletYOUseeit。\"
Reverently，tenderly，butveryeagerlythemantookthenoteandreaditthrough，hopingsomewheretofindanamethatwouldhelpsolvethemystery。Withasighhehandeditback。Hiseyeswerewet。
\"Thankyou，David。Thatisabeautifulletter，\"hesaidsoftly。
\"AndIbelieveyou’lldoitsomeday，too。You’llgotohimwithyourviolinatyourchinandthebowdrawnacrossthestringstotellhimofthebeautifulworldyouhavefound。\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidDavidsimply。Then，withasuddenlyradiantsmile：\"AndNOWIcan’thelpfindingitabeautifulworld，youknow，’causeIdon’tcountthehoursIdon’tlike。\"
\"Youdon’twhat？——oh，Iremember，\"returnedMr。Jack，aquickchangecomingtohisface。
\"Yes，thesundial，youknow，wheremyLadyoftheRoseslives。\"
\"Jack，whatisasundial？\"brokeinJilleagerly。
Jackturned，asifinrelief。
\"Hullo，girlie，youthere？——andsostillallthistime？AskDavid。He’lltellyouwhatasundialis。Suppose，anyhow，thatyoutwogooutonthepiazzanow。I’vegot——er-someworktodo。
Andthesunitselfisout；see？——throughthetreesthere。Itcameoutjusttosay’good-night，’I’msure。Runalong，quick！\"Andheplayfullydrovethemfromtheroom。
Alone，heturnedandsatdownathisdesk。Hisworkwasbeforehim，buthedidnotdoit。HiseyeswereoutofthewindowonthegoldentopsofthetowersofSunnycrest。Motionless，hewatchedthemuntiltheyturnedgray-whiteinthetwilight。Thenhepickeduphispencilandbegantowritefeverishly。Hewenttothewindow，however，asDavidsteppedofftheveranda，andcalledmerrily：——
\"Remember，boy，thatwhenthere’sanothernotethatbafflesme，I’mgoingtosendforyou。\"
\"He’scominganyhow。Iaskedhim，\"announcedJill。
AndDavidlaughedbackahappy\"OfcourseIam！\"
CHAPTERXIV
THETOWERWINDOW
Itisnottobeexpectedthatwhenone’sthoughtsleadsopersistentlytoacertainplace，one’sfeetwillnotfollow，iftheycan；andDavid’scould——sohewenttoseekhisLadyoftheRoses。
Atfouro’clockoneafternoon，withhisviolinunderhisarm，hetraveledthefirmwhiteroaduntilhecametotheshadowedpaththatledtothegarden。Hehaddecidedthathewouldgoexactlyashewentbefore。Heexpected，inconsequence，tofindhisLadyexactlyashehadfoundherbefore，sittingreadingundertheroses。Greatwashissurpriseanddisappointment，therefore，tofindthegardenwithnooneinit。
Hehadtoldhimselfthatitwasthesundial，theroses，theshimmeringpool，thegardenitselfthathewantedtosee；butheknewnowthatitwasthelady——hisLadyoftheRoses。Hedidnotevencaretoplay，thoughallaroundhimwasthebeautythathadatfirstsocharmedhiseye。Veryslowlyhewalkedacrossthesunlit，emptyspace，andenteredthepaththatledtothehouse。
Inhismindwasnodefiniteplan；yethewalkedonandon，untilhecametothewidelawnssurroundingthehouseitself。Hestoppedthen，entranced。
Stoneuponstonethemajesticpileraiseditselfuntilitwasetched，clean-cut，againstthedeepblueofthesky。Thetowers——histowers——broughttoDavid’slipsacryofdelight。
Theywereevenmoreenchantingherethanwhenseenfromafaroverthetree-tops，andDavidgazedupattheminawedwonder。Fromsomewherecamethesoundofmusic——acurioussortofmusicthatDavidhadneverheardbefore。Helistenedintently，tryingtoplaceit；thenslowlyhecrossedthelawn，ascendedtheimposingstonesteps，andsoftlyopenedoneofthenarrowscreendoorsbeforethewide-openFrenchwindow。
OncewithintheroomDaviddrewalongbreathofecstasy。Beneathhisfeethefeltthevelvetsoftnessofthegreenmossofthewoods。Abovehisheadhesawasky-likecanopyofbluecarryingfleecycloudsonwhichfloatedlittlepink-and-whitechildrenwithwings，justasDavidhimselfhadsooftenwishedthathecouldfloat。Onallsidessilkenhangings，likethegreenofswayingvines，half-hidotherhangingsoffeathery，snowflakelace。EverywheremirroredwallscaughtthelightandreflectedthepottedfernsandpalmssothatDavidlookeddownendlessvistasoflovelinessthatseemedforalltheworldlikethelongsunfleckedaislesbeneaththetallpinesofhismountainhome。
ThemusicthatDavidhadheardatfirsthadlongsincestopped；
butDavidhadnotnoticedthat。Hestoodnowinthecenteroftheroom，awed，andtrembling，butenraptured。Thenfromsomewherecameavoice——avoicesocoldthatitsoundedasifithadsweptacrossafieldofice。
\"Well，boy，whenyouhavequitefinishedyourinspection，perhapsyouwilltellmetowhatIamindebtedforTHISvisit，\"itsaid。
Davidturnedabruptly。
\"OLadyoftheRoses，whydidn’tyoutellmeitwaslikethis——inhere？\"hebreathed。
\"Well，really，\"murmuredtheladyinthedoorway，stiffly，\"ithadnotoccurredtomethatthatwashardly——necessary。\"
\"Butitwas！——don’tyousee？Thisisnew，allnew。Ineversawanythinglikeitbefore；andIdosolovenewthings。Itgivesmesomethingnewtoplay；don’tyouunderstand？\"
\"New——toplay？\"
\"Yes——onmyviolin，\"explainedDavid，alittlebreathlessly，softlytestinghisviolin。\"There’salwayssomethingnewinthis，youknow，\"hehurriedon，ashetightenedoneofthestrings，\"whenthere’sanythingnewoutside。Now，listen！YouseeIdon’tknowmyselfjusthowit’sgoingtosound，andI’malwayssoanxioustofindout。\"Andwithajoyouslyraptfacehebegantoplay。
\"But，seehere，boy，——youmustn’t！You——\"Thewordsdiedonherlips；and，toherunboundedamazement，MissBarbaraHolbrook，whohadintendedperemptorilytosendthispersistentlittletrampboyabouthisbusiness，foundherselflisteningtoamelodysocompellinginitssonorousbeautythatshewasleftalmostspeechlessatitsclose。Itwastheboywhospoke。
\"There，Itoldyoumyviolinwouldknowwhattosay！\"
\"’Whattosay’！——well，that’smorethanIdo\"laughedMissHolbrook，alittlehysterically。\"Boy，comehereandtellmewhoyouare。\"Andsheledthewaytoalowdivanthatstoodnearaharpatthefarendoftheroom。
Itwasthesamestory，toldasDavidhadtoldittoJackandJillafewdaysbefore，onlythistimeDavid’seyeswererovingadmiringlyallabouttheroom，restingoftenestontheharpsonearhim。
\"DidthatmakethemusicthatIheard？\"heaskedeagerly，assoonasMissHolbrook’squestionsgavehimopportunity。\"It’sgotstrings。\"
\"Yes。Iwasplayingwhenyoucamein。Isawyouenterthewindow。
Really，David，areyouinthehabitofwalkingintopeople’shouseslikethis？Itismostdisconcerting——totheirowners。\"
\"Yes——no——well，sometimes。\"David’seyeswerestillontheharp。
\"LadyoftheRoses，won’tyoupleaseplayagain——onthat？\"
\"David，youareincorrigible！Whydidyoucomeintomyhouselikethis？\"
\"Themusicsaid’come’；andthetowers，too。Yousee，IKNOWthetowers。\"
\"YouKNOWthem！\"
\"Yes。Icanseethemfromsomanyplaces，andIalwayswatchforthem。Theyshowbestofanywhere，though，fromJackandJill’s。
Andnowwon’tyouplay？\"
MissHolbrookhadalmostrisentoherfeetwhensheturnedabruptly。
\"From——where？\"sheasked。
\"FromJackandJill’s——theHousethatJackBuilt，youknow。\"
\"Youmean——Mr。JohnGurnsey’shouse？\"AdeepercolorhadcomeintoMissHolbrook’scheeks。
\"Yes。Overthereatthetopofthelittlehillacrossthebrook，youknow。Youcan’tseeTHEIRhousefromhere，butfromovertherewecanseethetowersfinely，andthelittlewindow——Oh，LadyoftheRoses，\"hebrokeoffexcitedly，atthenewthoughtthathadcometohim，\"ifwe，now，wereinthatlittlewindow，weCOULDseetheirhouse。Let’sgoup。Can’twe？\"
Explicitasthiswas，MissHolbrookevidentlydidnothear，oratleastdidnotunderstand，thisrequest。Shesettledbackonthedivan，indeed，almostdeterminedly。Hercheekswereveryrednow。
\"Anddoyouknow——thisMr。Jack？\"sheaskedlightly。
\"Yes，andJill，too。Don’tyou？Ilikethem，too。DOyouknowthem？\"
AgainMissHolbrookignoredthequestionputtoher。\"Anddidyouwalkintotheirhouse，unannouncedanduninvited，likethis？\"shequeried。
\"No。Heaskedme。Youseehewantedtogetoffsomeofthedirtandbloodbeforeotherfolkssawme。\"
\"Thedirtand——and——why，David，whatdoyoumean？Whatwasit——anaccident？\"
Davidfrownedandreflectedamoment。
\"No。Ididitonpurpose。IHADto，yousee，\"hefinallyelucidated。\"Butthereweresixofthem，andIgottheworstofit。\"
\"David！\"MissHolbrook’svoicewashorrified。\"Youdon’tmean——afight！\"
\"Yes’m。Iwantedthecat——andIgotit，butIwouldn’thaveifMr。Jackhadn’tcometohelpme。\"
\"Oh！SoMr。Jack——fought，too？\"
\"Well，hepulledtheothersoff，andofcoursethathelpedme，\"
explainedDavidtruthfully。\"Andthenhetookmehome——heandJill。\"
\"Jill！Wassheinit？\"
\"No，onlyhercat。Theyhadtiedabagoveritsheadandatincantoitstail，andofcourseIcouldn’tletthemdothat。Theywerehurtingher。Andnow，LadyoftheRoses，won’tyoupleaseplay？\"
ForamomentMissHolbrookdidnotspeak。ShewasgazingatDavidwithanoddlookinhereyes。Atlastshedrewalongsigh。
\"David，youarethe——theLIMIT！\"shebreathed，assheroseandseatedherselfattheharp。
Davidwasmanifestlydelightedwithherplaying，andbeggedformorewhenshehadfinished；butMissHolbrookshookherhead。Sheseemedtohavegrownsuddenlyrestless，andshemovedabouttheroomcallingDavid’sattentiontosomethingneweachmoment。
Then，veryabruptly，shesuggestedthattheygoupstairs。Fromroomtoroomshehurriedtheboy，scarcelylisteningtohisardentcomments，oransweringhisstillmoreardentquestions。
Notuntiltheyreachedthehighesttowerroom，indeed，didshesinkwearilyintoachair，andseemforamomentatrest。
Davidlookedabouthiminsurprise。Evenhisuntrainedeyecouldseethathehadenteredadifferentworld。Therewerenosumptuousrugs，nosilkenhangings；nomirrors，nosnowflakecurtains。Therewerebooks，tobesure，butbesidesthosetherewereonlyaplainlowtable，awork-basket，andthreeorfourwooden-seatedthoughcomfortablechairs。WithincreasingwonderhelookedintoMissHolbrook’seyes。
\"Isitherethatyoustay——allday？\"heaskeddiffidently。
MissHolbrook’sfaceturnedavividscarlet。
\"Why，David，whataquestion！Ofcoursenot！WhyshouldyouthinkIdid？\"
\"Nothing；onlyI’vebeenwonderingallthetimeI’vebeenherehowyoucould——withallthosebeautifulthingsaroundyoudownstairs——saywhatyoudid。\"
\"Saywhat？——when？\"
\"Thatotherdayinthegarden——aboutALLyourhoursbeingcloudyones。SoIdidn’tknowto-daybutwhatyouLIVEDuphere，sameasMrs。Hollydoesn’tuseherbestrooms；andthatwaswhyyourhourswereallcloudyones。\"
WithasuddenmovementMissHolbrookrosetoherfeet。
\"Nonsense，David！Youshouldn’talwaysremembereverythingthatpeoplesaytoyou。Come，youhaven’tseenoneoftheviewsfromthewindowsyet。Weareinthelargertower，youknow。YoucanseeHinsdalevillageonthisside，andthere’safineviewofthemountainsoverthere。Ohyes，andfromtheothersidethere’syourfriend’shouse——Mr。Jack’s。Bytheway，howisMr。Jackthesedays？\"MissHolbrookstoopedassheaskedthequestionandpickedupabitofthreadfromtherug。
DavidranatoncetothewindowthatlookedtowardtheHousethatJackBuilt。Fromthetowerthelittlehouseappearedtobesmallerthanever。Itwasintheshadow，too，andlookedstrangelyaloneandforlorn。Unconsciously，ashegazedatit，Davidcompareditwiththemagnificencehehadjustseen。Hisvoicechokedasheanswered。
\"Heisn’twell，LadyoftheRoses，andhe’sunhappy。He’sawfullyunhappy。\"
MissHolbrook’sslenderfigurecameupwithajerk。
\"Whatdoyoumean，boy？Howdoyouknowhe’sunhappy？Hashesaidso？\"
\"No；butMrs。Hollytoldmeabouthim。He’ssick；andhe’djustfoundhisworktodooutintheworldwhenhehadtostopandcomehome。But——oh，quick，thereheis！See？\"
InsteadofcomingnearerMissHolbrookfellbacktothecenteroftheroom；buthereyeswerestillturnedtowardthelittlehouse。
\"Yes，Isee，\"shemurmured。ThenextinstantshehadsnatchedahandkerchieffromDavid’soutstretchedhand。\"No——no——Iwouldn’twave，\"sheremonstratedhurriedly。\"Come——comedownstairswithme。\"
\"ButIthought——Iwassurehewaslookingthisway，\"assertedDavid，turningreluctantlyfromthewindow。\"AndifheHADseenmewavetohim，he’dhavebeensoglad；now，wouldn’the？\"
Therewasnoanswer。TheLadyoftheRosesdidnotapparentlyhear。Shehadgoneondownthestairway。
CHAPTERXV
SECRETS
DavidhadsomuchtotellJackandJillthathewenttoseethemtheverynextdayafterhissecondvisittoSunnycrest。Hecarriedhisviolinwithhim。Hefound，however，onlyJillathome。Shewassittingontheverandasteps。
Therewasnotsomuchembarrassmentbetweenthemthistime，perhapsbecausetheywereinthefreedomofthewideout-of-doors，andDavidfeltmoreatease。Hewasplainlydisappointed，however，thatMr。Jackwasnotthere。
\"ButIwantedtoseehim！Iwantedtoseehim’specially，\"helamented。
\"You’dbetterstay，then。He’llbehomebyandby，\"comfortedJill。\"He’sgonepot-boiling。\"
\"Pot-boiling！What’sthat？\"
Jillchuckled。
\"Well，yousee，reallyit’sthisway：hesellssomethingtoboilinotherpeople’spotssohecanhavesomethingtoboilinours，hesays。It’sstufffromthegarden，youknow。Weraiseittosell。PoorJack——andhedoeshateitso！\"
Davidnoddedsympathetically。
\"Iknow——anditmustbeawful，justhoeingandweedingallthetime。\"
\"Still，ofcourseheknowshe’sgottodoit，becauseit’soutofdoors，andhejusthastobeoutofdoorsallhecan，\"rejoinedthegirl。\"He’ssick，youknow，andsometimeshe’ssounhappy！Hedoesn’tsaymuch。Jackneversaysmuch——onlywithhisface。ButIknow，andit——itjustmakesmewanttocry。\"
AtDavid’sdismayedexclamationJilljumpedtoherfeet。Itownedtohersuddenlythatshewastellingthisunknownboyaltogethertoomanyofthefamilysecrets。Sheproposedatoncearacetothefootofthehill；andthen，todriveDavid’smindstillfartherawayfromthesubjectunderrecentconsideration，shedeliberatelylost，andproclaimedhimthevictor。
Verysoon，however，therearosenewcomplicationsintheshapeofalittlegatethatledtoapathwhich，initsturn，ledtoafootbridgeacrossthenarrowspanofthelittlestream。
AbovethetreesontheothersidepeepedthetopofSunnycrest’shighesttower。
\"TotheLadyoftheRoses！\"criedDavideagerly。\"Iknowitgoesthere。Come，let’ssee！\"
Thelittlegirlshookherhead。
\"Ican’t。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"Jackwon’tletme。\"
\"Butitgoestoabeautifulplace；Iwasthereyesterday，\"arguedDavid。\"AndIwasupinthetowerandalmostwavedtoMr。Jackonthepiazzabackthere。Isawhim。Andmaybeshe’dletyouandmegoupthereagainto-day。\"
\"ButIcan’t，Isay，\"repeatedJill，alittleimpatiently。\"Jackwon’tletmeevenstart。\"
\"Whynot？Maybehedoesn’tknowwhereitgoesto。\"
Jillhungherhead。Thensheraiseditdefiantly。
\"Oh，yes，hedoes，’causeItoldhim。IusedtogowhenIwaslittlerandhewasn’there。Iwentonce，afterhecame，——halfway，——andhesawmeandcalledtome。Ihadgothalfwayacrossthebridge，butIhadtocomeback。Hewasveryangry，yetsortof——queer，too。Hisfacewasallsternandwhite，andhislipssnappedtightshutaftereveryword。Hesaidnever，never，nevertolethimfindmetheothersideofthatgate。\"
Davidfrownedastheyturnedtogoupthehill。UnhesitatinglyhedeterminedtoinstructMr。Jackinthislittlematter。HewouldtellhimwhatabeautifulplaceSunnycrestwas，andhewouldtrytoconvincehimhowverydesirableitwasthatheandJill，andevenMr。Jackhimself，shouldgoacrossthebridgeattheveryfirstopportunitythatoffered。
Mr。Jackcamehomebeforelong，butDavidquiteforgottospeakofthefootbridgejustthen，chieflybecauseMr。JackgotouthisviolinandaskedDavidtocomeinandplayaduetwithhim。Theduet，however，soonbecameasolo，forsogreatwasMr。Jack’sdelightinDavid’splayingthatheplacedbeforetheboyonesheetofmusicafteranother，beggingandstillbeggingformore。
David，nothingloath，playedonandon。Mostofthemusicheknew，havingalreadylearneditinhismountainhome。Likeoldfriendsthemelodiesseemed，andsogladwasDavidtoseetheirnotesagainthathefinishedeachproductionwithalittleimprovisedcadenzaofecstaticwelcome——toMr。Jack’sincreasingsurpriseanddelight。
\"GreatScott！you’reawonder，David，\"heexclaimed，atlast。
\"Pooh！asifthatwasanythingwonderful，\"laughedtheboy。\"Why，Iknewthoseagesago，Mr。Jack。It’sonlythatI’msogladtoseethemagain——thenotes，youknow。Yousee，Ihaven’tanymusicnow。Itwasallinthebag（whatwebrought），andweleftthatontheway。\"
\"Youleftit！\"
\"Yes，’twasso，heavy\"murmuredDavidabstractedly，hisfingersbusywiththepileofmusicbeforehim。\"Oh，andhere’sanotherone，\"hecriedexultingly。\"Thisiswherethewindsighs，’oou——OOU——OOU’throughthepines。Listen！\"Andhewasawayagainonthewingsofhisviolin。WhenhehadreturnedMr。Jackdrewalongbreath。
\"David，youareawonder，\"hedeclaredagain。\"Andthatviolinofyoursisawonder，too，ifI’mnotmistaken，——thoughIdon’tknowenoughtotellwhetherit’sreallyarareoneornot。Wasityourfather’s？\"
\"Oh，no。Hehadone，too，andtheybotharegoodones。Fathersaidso。Joe’sgotfather’snow。\"
\"Joe？\"
\"JoeGlaspell。\"
\"Youdon’tmeanWidowGlaspell’sJoe，theblindboy？Ididn’tknowhecouldplay。\"
\"Hecouldn’ttillIshowedhim。Buthelikestohearmeplay。
Andheunderstood——rightaway，Imean。\"
\"UNDERSTOOD！\"
\"WhatIwasplaying，youknow。Andhewasalmostthefirstonethatdid——sincefatherwentaway。AndnowIplayeverytimeIgothere。Joesaysheneverknewbeforehowtreesandgrassandsunsetsandsunrisesandbirdsandlittlebrooksdidlook，tillI
toldhimwithmyviolin。NowhesayshethinkshecanseethembetterthanIcan，becauseaslongashisOUTSIDEeyescan’tseeanything，theycan’tseethoseuglythingsallaroundhim，andsohecanjustmakehisINSIDEeyesseeonlythebeautifulthingsthathe’dLIKEtosee。Andthat’sthekindhedoesseewhenI
play。That’swhyIsaidheunderstood。\"
Foramomenttherewassilence。InMr。Jack’seyestherewasanoddlookastheyrestedonDavid’sface。Then，abruptly，hespoke。
\"David，IwishIhadmoney。I’dputyouthenwhereyoubelonged，\"
hesighed。
\"Doyoumean——whereI’dfindmyworktodo？\"askedtheboysoftly。
\"Well——yes；youmightsayitthatway，\"smiledtheman，afteramoment’shesitation——notyetwasMr。Jackquiteusedtothisboywhowasattimessoveryun-boylike。
\"Fathertoldme’twaswaitingforme——somewhere。\"
Mr。Jackfrownedthoughtfully。
\"Andhewasright，David。Theonlytroubleis，weliketopickitoutforourselves，prettywell，——toowell，aswefindoutsometimes，whenwe’recalledoff——foranotherjob。\"
\"Iknow，Mr。Jack，Iknow，\"breathedDavid。Andtheman，lookingintotheglowingdarkeyes，wonderedatwhathefoundthere。Itwasalmostasiftheboyreallyunderstoodabouthisownlife’sdisappointment——andcared；thoughthat，ofcourse，couldnotbe！
\"Andit’sallthehardertokeepourselvesintunethen，too，isn’tit？\"wentonDavid，alittlewistfully。
\"Intune？\"
\"WiththerestoftheOrchestra。\"
\"Oh！\"AndMr。Jack，whohadalreadyheardaboutthe\"OrchestraofLife，\"smiledabitsadly。\"That’sjustit，myboy。Andifwe’rehandedanotherinstrumenttoplayonthantheoneweWANT
toplayon，we’reaptto——toletflyadiscord。Anyhow，Iam。
But\"——hewentonmorelightly——\"now，inyourcase，David，littleasIknowabouttheviolin，Iknowenoughtounderstandthatyououghttobewhereyoucantakeupyourstudyofitagain；whereyoucanheargoodmusic，andwhereyoucanbeamongthosewhoknowenoughtoappreciatewhatyoudo。\"
David’seyessparkled。
\"Andwheretherewouldn’tbeanypullingweedsorhoeingdirt？\"
\"Well，Ihadn’tthoughtofincludingeitherofthosepastimes。\"
\"My，butIwouldlikethat，Mr。Jack！——butTHATwouldn’tbeWORK，sothatcouldn’tbewhatfathermeant。\"David’sfacefell。
\"Hm-m；well，Iwouldn’tworryaboutthe’work’part，\"laughedMr。Jack，\"particularlyasyouaren’tgoingtodoitjustnow。
There’sthemoney，youknow，——andwehaven’tgotthat。\"
\"Andittakesmoney？\"
\"Well——yes。Youcan’tgetthosethingshereinHinsdale，youknow；andittakesmoney，togetaway，andtoliveawayafteryougetthere。\"
AsuddenlighttransfiguredDavid’sface。
\"Mr。Jack，wouldgolddoit？——lotsoflittleroundgold-pieces？\"
\"Ithinkitwould，David，iftherewereenoughofthem。\"
\"Manyasahundred？\"
\"Sure——iftheywerebigenough。Anyway，David，they’dstartyou，andI’mthinkingyouwouldn’tneedbutastartbeforeyou’dbecoininggold-piecesofyourownoutofthatviolinofyours。Butwhy？Anybodyyouknowgotas’manyasahundred’gold-pieceshewantstogetridof？\"
ForamomentDavid，hisdelightedthoughtsflyingtothegold-piecesinthechimneycupboardofhisroom，wastemptedtotellhissecret。Thenherememberedthewomanwiththebreadandthepailofmilk，anddecidednotto。Hewouldwait。WhenheknewMr。Jackbetter——perhapsthenhewouldtell；butnotnow。NOW
Mr。Jackmightthinkhewasathief，andthathecouldnotbear。
Sohetookuphisviolinandbegantoplay；andinthecharmofthemusicMr。Jackseemedtoforgetthegold-pieces——whichwasexactlywhatDavidhadintendedshouldhappen。
NotuntilDavidhadsaidgood-byesometimelater，didherememberthepurpose——thespecialpurpose——forwhichhehadcome。
Heturnedbackwitharadiantface。
\"Oh，andMr。Jack，I’mostforgot，\"hecried。\"Iwasgoingtotellyou。Isawyouyesterday——Idid，andIalmostwavedtoyou。\"
\"Didyou？Wherewereyou？\"
\"Overthereinthewindow——thetowerwindow\"hecrowedjubilantly。
\"Oh，youwentagain，then，Isuppose，toseeMissHolbrook。\"
Theman’svoicesoundedsooddlycoldanddistantthatDavidnoticeditatonce。HewasremindedsuddenlyofthegateandthefootbridgewhichJillwasforbiddentocross；buthedarednotspeakofitthen——notwhenMr。Jacklookedlikethat。Hedidsay，however：——
\"Oh，but，Mr。Jack，it’ssuchabeautifulplace！Youdon’tknowwhatabeautifulplaceitis。\"
\"Isit？Then，youlikeitsomuch？\"
\"Oh，somuch！But——didn’tyouever——seeit？\"
\"Why，yes，IbelieveIdid，David，longago，\"murmuredMr。JackwithwhatseemedtoDavidamazingindifference。
\"AnddidyouseeHER——myLadyoftheRoses？\"
\"Why，y——yes——Ibelieveso。\"
\"AndisTHATallyourememberaboutit？\"resentedDavid，highlyoffended。
Themangavealaugh——alittleshort，hardlaughthatDaviddidnotlike。
\"But，letmesee；yousaidyoualmostwaved，didn’tyou？Whydidn’tyou，quite？\"askedtheman。
Daviddrewhimselfsuddenlyerect。InstinctivelyhefeltthathisLadyoftheRosesneededdefense。
\"BecauseSHEdidn’twantmeto；soIdidn’t，ofcourse，\"herejoinedwithdignity。\"Shetookawaymyhandkerchief。\"
\"I’llwarrantshedid，\"mutteredtheman，behindhisteeth。Aloudheonlylaughedagain，asheturnedaway。
Davidwentondownthesteps，dissatisfiedvaguelywithhimself，withMr。Jack，andevenwiththeLadyoftheRoses。
CHAPTERXVI
DAVID’SCASTLEINSPAIN
OnhisreturnfromtheHousethatJackBuilt，Daviddecidedtocounthisgold-pieces。Hegotthemoutatoncefrombehindthebooks，andstackedthemupinlittleshiningrows。Ashehadsurmised，therewereahundredofthem。Therewere，indeed，ahundredandsix。Hewaspleasedatthat。Onehundredandsixweresurelyenoughtogivehima\"start。\"
Astart！Davidclosedhiseyesandpicturedit。Togoonwithhisviolin，toheargoodmusic，tobewithpeoplewhounderstoodwhathesaidwhenheplayed！ThatwaswhatMr。Jackhadsaida\"start\"
was。Andthisgold——theseroundshiningbitsofgold——couldbringhimthis！Davidsweptthelittlepilesintoajinglingheap，andsprangtohisfeetwithbothfistsfullofhissuddenlybelovedwealth。Withboyishgleehecaperedabouttheroom，jinglingthecoinsinhishands。Then，verysoberly，hesatdownagain，andbegantogatherthegoldtoputaway。
Hewouldbewise——hewouldbesensible。Hewouldwatchhischance，andwhenitcamehewouldgoaway。First，however，hewouldtellMr。JackandJoe，andtheLadyoftheRoses；yes，andtheHollys，too。Justnowthereseemedtobework，realworkthathecoulddotohelpMr。Holly。Butlater，possiblywhenSeptembercameandschool，——theyhadsaidhemustgotoschool，——hewouldtellthemthen，andgoawayinstead。Hewouldsee。Bythattimetheywouldbelievehim，perhaps，whenheshowedthegold-pieces。
Theywouldnotthinkhehad——STOLENthem。ItwasAugustnow；hewouldwait。Butmeanwhilehecouldthink——hecouldalwaysbethinkingofthewonderfulthingthatthisgoldwasonedaytobringtohim。
Evenwork，toDavid，didnotseemworknow。Inthemorninghewastorakehaybehindthemenwiththecart。Yesterdayhehadnotlikeditverywell；butnow——nothingmatterednow。AndwithasatisfiedsighDavidputhispreciousgoldawayagainbehindthebooksinthecupboard。
Davidfoundanewsonginhisviolinthenextmorning。Tobesure，hecouldnotplayit——muchofit——untilfouro’clockintheafternooncame；forMr。Hollydidnotlikeviolinstobeplayedinthemorning，evenondaysthatwerenotespeciallytheLord’s。
Therewastoomuchworktodo。SoDavidcouldonlysnatchastrainortwovery，verysoftly，whilehewasdressing；butthatwasenoughtoshowhimwhatabeautifulsongitwasgoingtobe。
Heknewwhatitwas，atonce，too。Itwasthegold-pieces，andwhattheywouldbring。Allthroughthedayittrippedthroughhisconsciousness，anddancedtantalizinglyjustoutofreach。Yethewaswonderfullyhappy，andthedayseemedshortinspiteoftheheatandtheweariness。
Atfouro’clockhehurriedhomeandputhisviolinquicklyintune。Itcamethen——thatdancingspriteoftantalization——andjoyouslyabandoneditselftothestringsoftheviolin，sothatDavidknew，ofasurety，whatabeautifulsongitwas。
ItwasthissongthatsenthimthenextafternoontoseehisLadyoftheRoses。Hefoundherthistimeoutofdoorsinhergarden。
Unceremoniously，asusual，herushedheadlongintoherpresence。
\"Oh，Lady——LadyoftheRoses，\"hepanted。\"I’vefoundout，andI
camequicklytotellyou。\"
\"Why，David，what——whatdoyoumean？\"MissHolbrooklookedunmistakablystartled。
\"Aboutthehours，youknow，——theuncloudedones，\"explainedDavideagerly。\"YouknowyousaidtheywereALLcloudytoyou。\"
MissHolbrook’sfacegrewverywhite。
\"Youmean——you’vefoundoutWHYmyhoursare——areallcloudyones？\"shestammered。
\"No，oh，no。Ican’timaginewhytheyare，\"returnedDavid，withanemphaticshakeofhishead。\"It’sjustthatI’vefoundawaytomakeallmyhourssunnyones，andyoucandoit，too。SoI
cametotellyou。Youknowyousaidyourswereallcloudy。\"
\"Oh，\"ejaculatedMissHolbrook，fallingbackintoheroldlistlessattitude。Then，withsomeasperity：\"Dearme，David！Didn’tItellyounottoberememberingthatallthetime？\"
\"Yes，Iknow，butI’veLEARNEDsomething，\"urgedtheboy；
\"somethingthatyououghttoknow。Yousee，Ididthink，once，thatbecauseyouhadallthesebeautifulthingsaroundyou，thehoursoughttobeallsunnyones。ButnowIknowitisn’twhat’saroundyou；it’swhatisINyou！\"
\"Oh，David，David，youcuriousboy！\"
\"No，butreally！Letmetellyou，\"pleadedDavid。\"YouknowI
haven’tlikedthem，——allthosehourstillfouro’clockcame，——andIwassoglad，afterIsawthesundial，tofindoutthattheydidn’tcount，anyhow。Butto-daytheyHAVE
counted——they’veallcounted，LadyoftheRoses；andit’sjustbecausetherewassomethinginsideofmethatshoneandshone，andmadethemallsunny——thosehours。\"
\"Dearme！Andwhatwasthiswonderfulthing？\"
Davidsmiled，butheshookhishead。
\"Ican’ttellyouthatyet——inwords；butI’llplayit。Yousee，Ican’talwaysplaythemtwicealike，——thoselittlesongsthatI
find，——butthisoneIcan。Itsangsolonginmyhead，beforemyviolinhadachancetotellmewhatitreallywas，thatIsortoflearnedit。Now，listen！\"Andbebegantoplay。
Itwas，indeed，abeautifulsong，andMissHolbrooksaidsowithpromptnessandenthusiasm；yetstillDavidfrowned。
\"Yes，yes，\"heanswered，\"butdon’tyousee？Thatwastellingyouaboutsomethinginsideofmethatmadeallmyhourssunshinyones。Now，whatyouwantissomethinginsideofyoutomakeyourssunshiny，too。Don’tyousee？\"
AnoddlookcameintoMissHolbrook’seyes。
\"That’sallverywellforyoutosay，David，butyouhaven’ttoldmeyet，youknow，justwhatitisthat’smadeallthisbrightnessforyou。\"
Theboychangedhisposition，andpuckeredhisforeheadintoadeeperfrown。
\"Idon’tseemtoexplainsoyoucanunderstand，\"hesighed。\"Itisn’ttheSPECIALthing。It’sonlythatit’sSOMETHING。Andit’sthinkingaboutitthatdoesit。Now，minewouldn’tmakeyoursshine，but——still，\"——hebrokeoff，ahappyreliefinhiseyes，——\"yourscouldbeLIKEmine，inoneway。Mineissomethingthatisgoingtohappentome——somethingjustbeautiful；andyoucouldhavethat，youknow，——somethingthatwasgoingtohappentoyou，tothinkabout。\"
MissHolbrooksmiled，butonlywithherlips，Hereyeshadgrownsomber。
\"Butthereisn’tanything’justbeautiful’goingtohappentome，David，\"shedemurred。
\"Therecould，couldn’tthere？\"
MissHolbrookbit，herlip；thenshegaveanoddlittlelaughthatseemed，insomeway，togowiththeswiftredthathadcometohercheeks。
\"Iusedtothinktherecould——once，\"sheadmitted；\"butI’vegiventhatuplongago。It——itdidn’thappen。\"
\"Butcouldn’tyoujustTHINKitwasgoingto？\"persistedtheboy。\"YouseeIfoundoutyesterdaythatit’stheTHINKINGthatdoesit。AlldaylongIwasthinking——onlythinking。Iwasn’tDOINGit，atall。Iwasreallyrakingbehindthecart；butthehoursallweresunny。\"
MissHolbrooklaughednowoutright。
\"Whatapersistentlittlemental-sciencepreacheryouare！\"sheexclaimed。\"Andthere’struth——moretruththanyouknow——initall，too。ButIcan’tdoit，David，——notthat——notthat。’TwouldtakemorethanTHINKING——tobringthat，\"sheadded，underherbreath，asiftoherself。
\"Butthinkingdoesbringthings，\"maintainedDavidearnestly。
\"There’sJoe——JoeGlaspell。Hismotherworksoutallday；andhe’sblind。\"
\"Blind？Oh-h！\"shudderedMissHolbrook。
\"Yes；andhehastostayallalone，exceptforBetty，andsheisn’ttheremuch。HeTHINKSALLhisthings。Hehasto。Hecan’tSEE
anythingwithhisoutsideeyes。Butheseeseverythingwithhisinsideeyes——everythingthatIplay。Why，LadyoftheRoses，he’sevenseenthis——allthishere。Itoldhimaboutit，youknow，rightawayafterI’dfoundyouthatfirstday：thebigtreesandthelongshadowsacrossthegrass，andtheroses，andtheshiningwater，andthelovelymarblepeoplepeepingthroughthegreenleaves；andthesundial，andyousobeautifulsittinghereinthemiddleofitall。ThenIplayeditforhim；andhesaidhecouldseeitalljustasplain！AndTHATwaswithhisinsideeyes！Andso，ifJoe，shutupthereinhisdarklittleroom，canmakehisTHINKbringhimallthat，IshouldthinkthatYOU，hereinthisbeautiful，beautifulplace，couldmakeyourthinkbringyouanythingyouwanteditto。\"
ButMissHolbrooksighedagainandshookherhead。
\"Notthat，David，notthat，\"shemurmured。\"Itwouldtakemorethanthinkingtobring——that。\"Then，withaquickchangeofmanner，shecried：\"Come，come，supposewedon’tworryanymoreaboutMYhours。Let’sthinkofyours。Tellme，whathaveyoubeendoingsinceIsawyoulast？Perhapsyouhavebeenagainto——toseeMr。Jack，forinstance。\"
\"Ihave；butIsawJillmostly，tillthelast。\"Davidhesitated，thenheblurteditout：\"LadyoftheRoses，doyouknowaboutthegateandthefootbridge？\"
MissHolbrooklookedupquickly。
\"Know——what，David？\"
\"Knowaboutthem——thatthey’rethere？\"
\"Why——yes，ofcourse；atleast，Isupposeyoumeanthefootbridgethatcrossesthelittlestreamatthefootofthehilloverthere。\"
\"That’stheone。\"AgainDavidhesitated，andagainheblurtedouttheburdenofhisthoughts。\"LadyoftheRoses，didyouever——crossthatbridge？\"
MissHolbrookstirreduneasily。
\"Not——recently。\"
\"Butyoudon’tMINDfolkscrossingit？\"
\"Certainlynot——iftheywishto。\"
\"There！Iknew’twasn’tyourblame，\"triumphedDavid。
\"MYblame！\"
\"Yes；thatMr。Jackwouldn’tletJillcomeacross，youknow。Hecalledherbackwhenshe’dgothalfwayoveronce。\"MissHolbrook’sfacechangedcolor。
\"ButIdoobject，\"shecriedsharply，\"totheircrossingitwhentheyDON’Twantto！Don’tforgetthat，please。\"
\"ButJilldidwantto。\"
\"Howaboutherbrother——didhewantherto？\"
\"N——no。\"
\"Verywell，then。Ididn’t，either。\"
Davidfrowned。NeverhadheseenhisbelovedLadyoftheRoseslooklikethisbefore。HewasremindedofwhatJillhadsaidaboutJack：\"Hisfacewasallsternandwhite，andhislipssnappedtightshutaftereveryword。\"So，too，lookedMissHolbrook’sface；so，too，hadherlipssnappedtightshutafterherlastwords。Davidcouldnotunderstandit。Hesaidnothingmore，however；but，aswasusuallythecasewhenhewasperplexed，hepickeduphisviolinandbegantoplay。Andasheplayed，theregraduallycametoMissHolbrook’seyesasofterlight，andtoherlipslineslesstightlydrawn。NeitherthefootbridgenorMr。Jack，however，wasmentionedagainthatafternoon。