CHAPTERXVII
\"THEPRINCESSANDTHEPAUPER\"
ItwasintheearlytwilightthatMr。Jacktoldthestory。He，Jill，andDavidwereontheveranda，asusualwatchingthetowersofSunnycrestturnfromgoldtosilverasthesundroppedbehindthehills。ItwasJillwhohadaskedforthestory。
\"Aboutfairiesandprincesses，youknow，\"shehadordered。
\"ButhowwillDavidlikethat？\"Mr。Jackhaddemurred。\"Maybehedoesn’tcareforfairiesandprincesses。\"
\"Ireadoneonceaboutaprince——’twas’ThePrinceandthePauper，’andIlikedthat，\"averredDavidstoutly。
Mr。Jacksmiled；thenhisbrowsdrewtogetherinafrown。Hiseyesweremoodilyfixedonthetowers。
\"Hm-m；well，\"hesaid，\"Imight，Isuppose，tellyouastoryaboutaPRINCESSand——aPauper。I——knowonewellenough。\"
\"Good！——thentellit，\"criedbothJillandDavid。AndMr。Jackbeganhisstory。
\"ShewasnotalwaysaPrincess，andhewasnotalwaysaPauper，——andthat’swherethestorycamein，Isuppose，\"sighedtheman。\"Shewasjustagirl，once，andhewasaboy；andtheyplayedtogetherand——likedeachother。Helivedinalittlehouseonahill。\"
\"Likethis？\"demandedJill。
\"Eh？Oh——er——yes，SOMETHINGlikethis，\"returnedMr。Jack，withanoddhalf-smile。\"Andshelivedinanotherbitofahouseinatownfarawayfromtheboy。\"
\"Thenhowcouldtheyplaytogether？\"questionedDavid。
\"Theycouldn’t，ALWAYS。Itwasonlysummerswhenshecametovisitintheboy’stown。Shewasverynearhimthen，fortheoldauntwhomshevisitedlivedinabigstonehousewithtowers，onanotherhill，inplainsightfromtheboy’shome。\"
\"Towerslikethose——wheretheLadyoftheRoseslives？\"askedDavid。
\"Eh？What？Oh——er——yes，\"murmuredMr。Jack。\"We’llsaythetowersweresomethinglikethoseoverthere。\"Hepaused，thenwentonmusingly：\"Thegirlusedtosignal，sometimes，fromoneofthetowerwindows。Onewaveofthehandkerchiefmeant，’I’mcoming，over’；twowaves，withalittlepausebetween，meant，’Youaretocomeoverhere。’Sotheboyusedtowaitalways，afterthatfirstwavetoseeifanotherfollowed；sothathemightknowwhetherheweretobehostorguestthatday。Thewavesalwayscameateighto’clockinthemorning，andveryeagerlytheboyusedtowatchforthemallthroughthesummerwhenthegirlwasthere。\"
\"Didtheyalwayscome，everymorning？\"AskedJill。
\"No；sometimesthegirlhadotherthingstodo。Herauntwouldwanthertogosomewherewithher，orothercousinswereexpectedwhomthegirlmustentertain；andsheknewtheboydidnotlikeothergueststobetherewhenhewas，sosheneveraskedhimtocomeoveratsuchtimes。Onsuchoccasionsshedidsometimesrunuptothetowerateighto’clockandwavethreetimes，andthatmeant，’DeadDay。’Sotheboy，afterall，neverdrewarealbreathofreliefuntilhemadesurethatnodreadedthirdwavewastofollowtheoneorthetwo。\"
\"Seemstome，\"observedDavid，\"thatallthiswassortofone-sided。Didn’ttheboysayanything？\"
\"Oh，yes，\"smiledMr。Jack。\"Buttheboydidnothaveanytowertowavefrom，youmustremember。Hehadonlythelittlepiazzaonhistinybitofahouse。Butheriggedupapole，andheaskedhismothertomakehimtwolittleflags，aredandablueone。
Theredmeant’Allright’；andthebluemeant’Gottowork’；andtheseheusedtorunuponhispoleinanswertoherwaving’I’mcomingover，’or’Youaretocomeoverhere。’So，yousee，occasionallyitwastheboywhohadtobringthe’DeadDay，’asthereweretimeswhenhehadtowork。And，bytheway，perhapsyouwouldbeinterestedtoknowthatafterawhilehethoughtupathirdflagtoanswerherthreewaves。Hefoundanoldblacksilkhandkerchiefofhisfather’s，andhemadethatintoaflag。
Hetoldthegirlitmeant’I’mheartbroken，’andhesaiditwasasignofthedeepestmourning。Thegirllaughedandtippedherheadsaucilytooneside，andsaid，’Pooh！asifyoureallycared！’Buttheboystoutlymaintainedhisposition，anditwasthat，perhaps，whichmadeherplaythelittlejokeoneday。
\"Theboywasfourteenthatsummer，andthegirlthirteen。Theyhadbeguntheirsignalsyearsbefore，buttheyhadnothadtheblackonesolong。OnthisdaythatItellyouof，thegirlwavedthreewaves，whichmeant，’DeadDay，’youremember，andwatcheduntiltheboyhadhoistedhisblackflagwhichsaid，’I’mheart-broken，’inresponse。Then，asfastashermischievouslittlefeetcouldcarryher，sheraceddownonehillandacrosstotheother。Verystealthilysheadvancedtillshefoundtheboybentoverapuzzleonthebackstoop，and——andhewaswhistlingmerrily。
\"Howsheteasedhimthen！Howshetauntedhimwith’Heart-broken，indeed——andwhistlinglikethat！’Invainheblushedandstammered，andprotestedthathiswhistlingwasonlytokeepuphisspirits。Thegirlonlylaughedandtossedheryellowcurls；
thenshehuntedtillshefoundsomelittlejinglingbells，andtheseshetiedtotheblackbadgeofmourningandpulledithighupontheflagpole。Thenextinstantshewasoffwitharunandaskip，andasaucywaveofherhand；andtheboywasleftallalonewithanhour’sworkaheadofhimtountietheknotsfromhisdesecratedbadgeofmourning。
\"Andyettheywerewonderfullygoodfriends——thisboyandgirl。
Fromtheveryfirst，whentheyweresevenandeight，theyhadsaidthattheywouldmarryeachotherwhentheygrewup，andalwaystheyspokeofitastheexpectedthing，andlaidmanyhappyplansforthetimewhenitshouldcome。Tobesure，astheygrewolder，itwasnotmentionedquitesooften，perhaps；buttheboyatleastthought——ifhethoughtofitall——thatthatwasonlybecauseitwasalreadysowellunderstood。\"
\"Whatdidthegirlthink？\"ItwasJillwhoaskedthequestion。
\"Eh？Thegirl？Oh，\"answeredMr。Jack，alittlebitterly，\"I’mafraidIdon’tknowexactlywhatthegirldidthink，but——itwasn’tthat，anyhow——thatis，judgingfromwhatfollowed。\"
\"Whatdidfollow？\"
\"Well，tobeginwith，theoldauntdied。Thegirlwassixteenthen。Itwasinthewinterthatthishappened，andthegirlwasfarawayatschool。Shecametothefuneral，however，buttheboydidnotseeher，saveinthedistance；andthenhehardlyknewher，sostrangedidshelookinherblackdressandhat。Shewasthereonlytwodays，andthoughhegazedwistfullyupatthegraytower，heknewwellenoughthatofcourseshecouldnotwavetohimatsuchatimeasthat。Yethehadhoped——almostbelievedthatshewouldwavetwowavesthatlastday，andlethimgoovertoseeher。
\"Butshedidn’twave，andhedidn’tgoover。Shewentaway。Andthenthetownlearnedawonderfulthing。Theoldlady，heraunt，whohadbeenconsideredjustfairlyrich，turnedouttobethepossessorofalmostfabulouswealth，owingtohergreatholdingsofstockinaWesterngoldminewhichhadsuddenlystruckitrich。Andtothegirlshewilleditall。Itwasthen，ofcourse，thatthegirlbecamethePrincess，buttheboydidnotrealizethat——justthen。Tohimshewasstill’thegirl。’
\"Forthreeyearshedidnotseeher。Shewasatschool，ortravelingabroad，heheard。He，too，hadbeenawaytoschool，andwas，indeed，justreadytoentercollege。Then，thatsummer，heheardthatshewascomingtotheoldhome，andhisheartsangwithinhim。Remember，tohimshewasstillthegirl。Heknew，ofcourse，thatshewasnottheLITTLEgirlwhohadpromisedtomarryhim。Buthewassureshewasthemerrycomrade，thetrue-heartedyounggirlwhousedtosmilefranklyintohiseyes，andwhomhewasnowtowinforhiswife。Youseehehadforgotten——quiteforgottenaboutthePrincessandthemoney。Suchafoolish，foolishboyashewas！
\"Sohegotouthisflagsgleefully，andoneday，whenhismotherwasn’tinthekitchen，heironedoutthewrinklesandsmoothedthemallreadytoberaisedonthepole。Hewouldbereadywhenthegirlwaved——forofcourseshewouldwave；hewouldshowherthathehadnotforgotten。Hecouldseejusthowthesparklewouldcometohereyes，andjusthowthelittlefinelinesofmischiefwouldcrinklearoundhernosewhenshewasreadytogivethatfirstwave。Hecouldimaginethatshewouldliketofindhimnapping；thatshewouldliketotakehimbysurprise，andmakehimscurryaroundforhisflagstoanswerher。
\"Buthewouldshowher！Asifshe，agirl，weretobeathimattheiroldgame！Hewonderedwhichitwouldbe：’I’mcomingover，’
or，’Youaretocomeoverhere。’Whicheveritwas，hewouldanswer，ofcourse，withthered’Allright。’Still，itWOULDbeajoketorunuptheblue’Gottowork，’andthenslipacrosstoseeher，justasshe，solongago，hadplayedthejokeonhim！Onthewhole，however，hethoughttheredflagwouldbebetter。Anditwasthatonewhichhelaiduppermostreadytohishand，whenhearrangedthem。
\"Atlastshecame。Heheardofitatonce。Itwasalreadypastfouro’clock，buthecouldnotforbear，eventhen，tolooktowardthetower。Itwouldbelikeher，afterall，towavethen，thatverynight，justsoastocatchhimnapping，hethought。Shedidnotwave，however。Theboywassureofthat，forhewatchedthetowertilldark。
\"Inthemorning，longbeforeeighto’clock，theboywasready。Hedebatedforsometimewhethertostandoutofdoorsonthepiazza，ortohidebehindthescreenedwindow，wherehecouldstillwatchthetower。Hedecidedatlastthatitwouldbebetternottoletherseehimwhenshelookedtowardthehouse；thenhistriumphwouldbeallthemorecompletewhenhedashedouttorunuphisanswer。
\"Eighto’clockcameandpassed。Theboywaiteduntilnine，buttherewasnosignoflifefromthetower。Theboywasangrythen，athimself。Hecalledhimself，indeed，afool，tohideashedid。
Ofcourseshewouldn’twavewhenhewasnowhereinsight——whenhehadapparentlyforgotten！Andherewasawholepreciousdaywasted！
\"Thenextmorning，longbeforeeight，theboystoodinplainsightonthepiazza。Asbeforehewaiteduntilnine；andasbeforetherewasnosignoflifeatthetowerwindow。Thenextmorninghewasthereagain，andthenext，andthenext。Ittookjustfivedays，indeed，toconvincetheboy——ashewasconvincedatlast——thatthegirldidnotintendtowaveatall。\"
\"Buthowunkindofher！\"exclaimedDavid。
\"Shecouldn’thavebeenniceonebit！\"decidedJill。
\"Youforget，\"saidMr。Jack。\"ShewasthePrincess。\"
\"Huh！\"gruntedJillandDavidinunison。
\"Theboyremembereditthen，\"wentonMr。Jack，afterapause，——\"aboutthemoney，andthatshewasaPrincess。Andofcourseheknew——whenhethoughtofit——thathecouldnotexpectthataPrincesswouldwavelikeagirl——justagirl。Besides，verylikelyshedidnotcareparticularlyaboutseeinghim。
Princessesdidforget，hefancied，——theyhadsomuch，soverymuchtofilltheirlives。Itwasthisthoughtthatkepthimfromgoingtoseeher——this，andtherecollectionthat，afterall，ifshereallyHADwantedtoseehim，shecouldhavewaved。
\"Therecameaday，however，whenanotheryouth，whodidnotdaretogoalone，persuadedhim，andtogethertheypaidheracall。
Theboyunderstood，then，manythings。HefoundthePrincess；
therewasnosignofthegirl。ThePrincesswastallanddignified，withacoldlittlehandandasmooth，sweetvoice。
Therewasnofranksmileinhereyes，neitherwerethereanymischievouscrinklesabouthernoseandlips。Therewasnomentionoftowersorflags；noreferencetowavingsortochildhood’sdays。Therewasonlyastifflypolitelittleconversationaboutcollegesandtravels，withawordortwoaboutbooksandplays。Thenthecallerswenthome。Onthewaytheboysmiledscornfullytohimself。Hewastryingtopicturethebeauteousvisionhehadseen，thisunapproachablePrincessinherfilmylacegown，——standinginthetowerwindowandwaving——wavingtoabitofahouseontheoppositehill。Asifthatcouldhappen！
\"Theboy，duringthoselastthreeyears，hadknownonlybooks。Heknewlittleofgirls——onlyonegirl——andheknewstilllessofPrincesses。Sowhen，threedaysafterthecall，therecameachancetojoinasummercampwithamanwholovedbooksevenbetterthandidtheboyhimself，hewentgladly。Oncehehadrefusedtogoonthisverytrip；butthentherehadbeenthegirl。NowtherewasonlythePrincess——andthePrincessdidn’tcount。\"
\"Likethehoursthataren’tsunshiny，\"interpretedDavid。
\"Yes，\"corroboratedMr。Jack。\"Likethehourswhenthesundoesn’tshine。\"
\"Andthen？\"promptedJill。
\"Well，then，——therewasn’tmuchworthtelling，\"rejoinedMr。
Jackgloomily。\"Twomoreyearspassed，andthePrincessgrewtobetwenty-one。Shecameintofullcontrolofherpropertythen，andafterawhileshecamebacktotheoldstonehousewiththetowersandturneditintoafairylandofbeauty。Shespentmoneylikewater。Allmannerofartists，fromthemanwhopaintedherceilingstothemanwhoplantedherseeds，cameandbowedtoherwill。Fromthefourcornersoftheearthshebroughthertreasuresandlavishedthemthroughthehouseandgrounds。Then，everysummer，shecameherself，andlivedamongthem，averyPrincessindeed。\"
\"Andtheboy？——whatbecameoftheboy？\"demandedDavid。\"Didn’theseeher——ever？\"
Mr。Jackshookhishead。
\"Notoften，David；andwhenhedid，itdidnotmakehimany——happier。Yousee，theboyhadbecomethePauper；youmustn’tforgetthat。\"
\"Buthewasn’taPauperwhenyoulefthimlast。\"
\"Wasn’the？Well，then，I’lltellyouaboutthat。Yousee，theboy，eventhoughhedidgoaway，soonfoundoutthatinhisheartthePrincesswasstillthegirl，justthesame。Helovedher，andhewantedhertobehiswife；soforalittle——foraverylittle——hewaswildenoughtothinkthathemightworkandstudyanddogreatthingsintheworlduntilhewasevenaPrincehimself，andthenhecouldmarrythePrincess。\"
\"Well，couldn’the？\"
\"No。Tobeginwith，helosthishealth。Then，awaybackinthelittlehouseonthehillsomethinghappened——asomethingthatleftaverypreciouschargeforhimtokeep；andhehadtogobackandkeepit，andtotrytoseeifhecouldn’tfindthatlosthealth，aswell。Andthatisall。\"
\"All！Youdon’tmeanthatthatistheend！\"exclaimedJill。
\"That’stheend。\"
\"Butthatisn’tamiteofaniceend，\"complainedDavid。\"Theyalwaysgetmarriedandlivehappyeverafter——instories。\"
\"Dothey？\"Mr。Jacksmiledalittlesadly。\"Perhapstheydo，David，——instories。\"
\"Well，can’ttheyinthisone？\"
\"Idon’tseehow。\"
\"Whycan’thegotoherandaskhertomarryhim？\"
Mr。Jackdrewhimselfupproudly。
\"ThePauperandthePrincess？Never！Paupersdon’tgotoPrincesses，David，andsay，’Iloveyou。’\"
Davidfrowned。
\"Whynot？Idon’tseewhy——iftheywanttodoit。Seemsasifsomehowitmightbefixed。\"
\"Itcan’tbe，\"returnedMr。Jack，hisgazeonthetowersthatcrownedtheoppositehill；\"notsolongasalwaysbeforethePauper’seyestherearethosegraywallsbehindwhichhepicturesthePrincessinthemidstofhergoldenluxury。\"
ToneitherDavidnorJilldidthechangetothepresenttenseseemstrange。Thestorywasmuchtoorealtothemforthat。
\"Well，anyhow，Ithinkitoughttobefixed，\"declaredDavid，asherosetohisfeet。
\"SodoI——butwecan’tfixit，\"laughedJill。\"AndI’mhungry。
Let’sseewhatthereistoeat！\"
CHAPTERXVIII
DAVIDTOTHERESCUE
Itwasabeautifulmoonlightnight，butforonceDavidwasnotthinkingofthemoon。AllthewaytotheHollyfarmhousehewasthinkingofMr。Jack’sstory，\"ThePrincessandthePauper。\"Itheldhimstrangely。Hefeltthathenevercouldforgetit。Forsomereasonthathecouldnothaveexplained，itmadehimsad，too，andhisstepwasveryquietashewentupthewalktowardthekitchendoor。
Itwasaftereighto’clock。DavidhadtakensupperwithMr。JackandJill，andnotforsomehourshadhebeenatthefarmhouse。Inthedoorwaynowhestoppedshort；theninstinctivelyhesteppedbackintotheshadow。Inthekitchenakerosenelightwasburning。ItshowedMrs。Hollycryingatthetable，andMr。Holly，white-facedandstern-lipped，staringatnothing。ThenMrs。Hollyraisedherface，drawnandtear-stained，andaskedatremblingquestion。
\"Simeon，haveyouthought？Wemightgo——toJohn——for——help。\"
Davidwasfrightenedthen，soangrywasthelookthatcameintoSimeonHolly’sface。
\"Ellen，we’llhavenomoreofthis，\"saidthemanharshly。
\"Understand，I’dratherlosethewholethingand——andstarve，thangoto——John。\"
Davidfledthen。Upthebackstairshecrepttohisroomandlefthisviolin。AmomentlaterhestoledownagainandsoughtPerryLarsonwhomhehadseensmokinginthebarndoorway。
\"Perry，whatisit？\"heaskedinatremblingvoice。\"Whathashappened——inthere？\"Hepointedtowardthehouse。
Themanpuffedforamomentinsilencebeforehetookhispipefromhismouth。
\"Well，sonny，Is’poseImayaswelltellye。You’llhaveterknowitsometime，seein’as’twon’tbenosecretlong。They’vehadastrokeo’badluck——Mr。an’Mis’Hollyhas。\"
\"Whatisit？\"
Themanhitchedinhisseat。
\"Bysugar，boy，Is’poseifItellye，thereain’tnosartintythatyou’llsenseitatall。Ireckonitain’tinyourclass。\"
\"Butwhatisit？\"
\"Well，it’smoney——andonemightaswelltalkmoonshinetoyouasmoney，Is’pose；butheregoesit。It’sathousanddollars，boy，thattheyowed。Here，likethis，\"heexplained，rummaginghispocketsuntilhehadfoundasilverdollartolayonhisopenpalm。\"Now，jestimagineathousandofthem；that’sheapsan’
heaps——more’nIeverseeinmylife。\"
\"Likethestars？\"guessedDavid。
Themannodded。
\"Ex-ACTLY！Well，theyowedthis——Mr。an’Mis’Hollydid——andtheyhadagreedterpayitnextSat’day。Andtheywasallright，too。
Theyhaditplumsavedinthebank，an’wasgoin’terdrawitThursday，termakesure。An’theywasfeelin’mightypertoverit，too，whenter-dayalongcomesthenewsthatsomethin’sbrokekersmashinthatbank，an’they’veshetitup。An’naryacentcantheHollysgitnow——an’maybenever。Anyhow，not’foreit’stoolateforthisjob。\"
\"Butwon’thewait？——thatmantheyoweitto？Ishouldthinkhe’dhaveto，iftheydidn’thaveittopay。\"
\"Notmuchhewill，whenit’soldStreeterthat’sgotthemortgageonagoodfatfarmlikethis！\"
Daviddrewhisbrowstogetherperplexedly。
\"Whatisa——amortgage？\"heasked。\"Isitanythinglikeaporte-cochere？IKNOWwhatthatis，’causemyLadyoftheRoseshasone；butwehaven’tgotthat——downhere。\"
PerryLarsonsighedinexasperation。
\"Gosh，ifthatain’t’boutwhatIexpectedofye！No，itain’tevensecondcousintoa——a-thatthingyou’rea-talkin’of。Inplainwordin’，it’sjestthis：Mr。Holly，hesaysterStreeter：
’YougivemeathousanddollarsandI’llpayyebackonasartinday；ifIdon’tpay，youcansellmyfarmfurwhatit’llbring，an’TAKEyerpay。Well，nowhere’tis。Mr。Hollycan’tpay，an’
soStreeterwillputupthefarmfursale。\"
\"What，withMr。andMrs。HollyLIVINGhere？\"
\"Sure！Onlythey’llhavetergitout，yeknow。\"
\"Where’lltheygo？\"
\"TheLordknows；Idon’t。\"
\"AndisTHATwhatthey’recryingfor——inthere？——becausethey’vegottogo？\"
\"Sure！\"
\"Butisn’tthereanything，anywhere，thatcanbedoneto——stopit？\"
\"Idon’tseehow，kid，——notunlesssomeoneponiesupwiththemoney’forenextSat’day，——an’athousando’themthingsdon’tgrowonev’rybush，\"hefinished，gentlypattingthecoininhishand。
AtthewordsaswiftchangecametoDavid’sface。Hischeekspaledandhiseyesdilatedinterror。Itwasasifaheadofhimhesawayawningabyss，eagertoengulfhim。
\"Andyousay——MONEYwould——fixit？\"heaskedthickly。
\"Ex-ACT-ly！——athousando’them，though，’twouldtake。\"
AdawningreliefcameintoDavid’seyes——itwasasifhesawabridgeacrosstheabyss。
\"Youmean——thattherewouldn’tANYTHINGdo，onlysilverpieces——likethose？\"hequestionedhopefully。
\"Sugar，kid，’coursetherewould！Gosh，butyouBEacheckerboardo’sensean’nonsense，an’nomistake！Anymoneywoulddothejob——anymoney！Don’tyesee？Anythingthat’smoney。\"
\"Wouldg-golddoit？\"David’svoicewasveryfaintnow。
\"Sure！——gold，orsilver，orgreenbacks，or——oracheck，ifithadthedoughbehindit。\"
Daviddidnotappeartohearthelast。Withanoddlystrainedlookhehadhungupontheman’sfirstwords；butattheendofthesentenceheonlymurmured，\"Oh，thankyou，\"andturnedaway。
Hewaswalkingslowlynowtowardthehouse。Hisheadwasbowed。
Hissteplagged。
\"Now，ain’tthatjestlikethatchap，\"mutteredtheman，\"terslinkofflikethatasifhewasawhippedcur。I’llbettwocentsan’adoughnut，too，thatinfiveminuteshe’llbewhathecalls’playin’it’onthat’erefiddleo’his。An’I’llbederned，too，ifIain’tcuriousterseewhatheWILLmakeofit。
Itstrikesmethisoughtterfetchsomethin’firstcousintoadirge！\"
OntheporchstepsDavidpausedabreathlessinstant。FromthekitchencamethesoundofMrs。Holly’ssobsandofasternvoicepraying。Withashudderandalittlechokingcrytheboyturnedthenandcreptsoftlyupstairstohisroom。
Heplayed，too，asPerryLarsonhadwagered。Butitwasnotthetragedyoftheclosedbank，northehonorofthethreatenedfarm-sellingthatfellfromhisviolin。Itwas，instead，theswansongofalittlepileofgold——goldwhichlaynowinachimneycupboard，butwhichwassoontobeplacedatthefeetofthemourningmanandwomandownstairs。Andinthesongwasthesobofaboywhoseeshishouseofdreamsburntoashes；whoseeshiswonderfullifeandworkoutinthewideworldturntoendlessdaysofweed-pullinganddirt-digginginanarrowvalley。Therewasinthesong，too，somethingofthestruggle，thefierceyeaandnayoftheconflict。But，attheend，therewasthewildburstofexaltationofrenunciation，sothatthemaninthebarndoorbelowfairlysprangtohisfeetwithanangry：——
\"Gosh！ifhehain’tturnedthethingintoajig——durnhim！Don’theknowmore’nthatatsuchatimeasthis？\"
Later，averylittlelater，theshadowyfigureoftheboystoodbeforehim。
\"I’vebeenthinking，\"stammeredDavid，\"thatmaybeI——couldhelp，aboutthatmoney，youknow。\"
\"Now，looka-here，boy，\"explodedPerry，inopenexasperation，\"asIsaidinthefirstplace，thisain’tinyourclass。’Tain’tnopinkcloudsailin’inthesky，norabluebirdsingin’inablackb’rrybush。An’youmight’playit’——asyoucallit——tilldoomsday，an’’twouldn’tdonogood——thoughI’mfreeterconfessthatyourplayin’ofthem’ereotherthingssoundsrealpertan’chirkyattimes；but’twon’tdonogoodhere。\"
Davidsteppedforward，bringinghissmall，anxiousfacefullintothemoonlight。
\"But’twasthemoney，Perry；Imeantabout，themoney，\"heexplained。\"Theyweregoodtomeandwantedmewhentherewasn’tanyoneelsethatdid；andnowI’dliketodosomethingforthem。
Therearen’tsoMANYpieces，andtheyaren’tsilver。There’sonlyonehundredandsixofthem；Icounted。Butmaybethey’dhelpsome。It——itwouldbea——start。\"Hisvoicebrokeovertheoncebelovedword，thenwentonwithrenewedstrength。\"There，see！Wouldthesedo？\"Andwithbothhandshehelduptoviewhiscapsaggingunderitsweightofgold。
PerryLarson’sjawfellopen。Hiseyesbulged。Dazedlyhereachedoutandtouchedwithtremblingfingerstheheapofshiningdisksthatseemedinthemellowlightlikelittleearth-bornchildrenofthemoonitself。Thenextinstantherecoiledsharply。
\"Greatsnakes，boy，where’dyougitthatmoney？\"hedemanded。
\"Offather。Hewenttothefarcountry，youknow。\"
PerryLarsonsnortedangrily。
\"Seehere，boy，foronce，ifyecan，talkhorse-sense！Surely，evenYOUdon’texpectmeterbelievethathe’ssentyouthatmoneyfrom——fromwherehe’sgoneto！\"
\"Oh，no。Heleftit。\"
\"Leftit！Why，boy，youknowbetter！Therewa’n’tacent——hardly——foundonhim。\"
\"Hegaveittomebefore——bytheroadside。\"
\"Gaveittoyou！Whereinthenameofgoodnesshasitbeensince？\"
\"Inthelittlecupboardinmyroom，behindthebooks。\"
\"Greatsnakes！\"mutteredPerryLarson，reachingouthishandandgingerlypickinguponeofthegold-pieces。
Davideyedhimanxiously。
\"Won’tthey——do？\"hefaltered。\"Therearen’tathousand；there’sonlyahundredandsix；but——\"
\"Do！\"cutintheman，excitedly。Hehadbeenexaminingthegold-pieceatcloserange。\"Do！Well，Ireckonthey’lldo。ByJiminy！——andterthinkyou’vehadthisupyersleeveallthistime！Well，I’llbelieveanythin’ofyernow——anythin’！Youcan’tstumpmewithnuthin’！Comeon。\"Andhehurriedlyledthewaytowardthehouse。
\"Buttheyweren’tupmysleeve，\"correctedDavid，ashetriedtokeepupwiththelongstridesoftheman。\"ISAIDtheywereinthecupboardinmyroom。\"
Therewasnoanswer。Larsonhadreachedtheporchsteps，andhadpausedtherehesitatingly。Fromthekitchenstillcamethesoundofsobs。Asidefromthattherewassilence。Theboy，however，didnothesitate。Hewentstraightupthestepsandthroughtheopenkitchendoor。Atthetablesatthemanandthewoman，theireyescoveredwiththeirhands。
Withaswiftoverturningofhiscap，Daviddumpedhisburdenontothetable，andsteppedbackrespectfully。
\"Ifyouplease，sir，wouldthis——helpany？\"heasked。
AtthejingleofthecoinsSimeonHollyandhiswifeliftedtheirheadsabruptly。Ahalf-utteredsobdiedonthewoman’slips。A
quickcrycamefromtheman’s。Hereachedforthaneagerhandandhadalmostclutchedthegoldwhenasuddenchangecametohisface。Withasternejaculationhedrewback。
\"Boy，wheredidthatmoneycomefrom？\"hechallenged。
Davidsighedinadiscouragedway。Itseemedthat，always，theshowingofthisgoldmean’tquestioning——eternalquestioning。
\"Surely，\"continuedSimeonHolly，\"youdidnot——\"Withtheboy’sfrankgazeupturnedtohis，themancouldnotfinishhissentence。
BeforeDavidcouldanswercamethevoiceofPerryLarsonfromthekitchendoorway。
\"No，sir，hedidn’t，Mr。Holly；an’it’sallstraight，I’mthinkin’——thoughI’mfreeterconfessitdoessoundnutty。Hisdadgiveittohim。\"
\"His——father！Butwhere——wherehasitbeeneversince？\"
\"Inthechimneycupboardinhisroom，hesays，sir。\"
SimeonHollyturnedinfrowningamazement。
\"David，whatdoesthismean？Whyhaveyoukeptthisgoldinaplacelikethat？\"
\"Why，therewasn’tanythingelsetodowiihit，\"answeredtheboyperplexedly。\"Ihadn’tanyuseforit，youknow，andfathersaidtokeepittillIneededit。\"
\"’Hadn’tanyuseforit’！\"blusteredLarsonfromthedoorway。
\"Jiminy！Now，ain’tthatjestlikethatboy？\"
ButDavidhurriedonwithhisexplanation。
\"Weneverusedtousethem——fatherandI——excepttobuythingstoeatandwear；anddownhereYOUgivemethose，youknow。\"
\"Gorry！\"interjectedPerryLarson。\"Doyoureckon，boy，thatMr。
Hollyhimselfwasgivethemthingshegivesteryou？\"
Theboyturnedsharply，astartledquestioninhiseyes。
\"Whatdoyoumean？Doyoumeanthat——\"Hisfacechangedsuddenly。
Hischeeksturnedashamedred。\"Why，hedid——hedidhavetobuythem，ofcourse，justasfatherdid。AndInevereventhoughtofitbefore！Then，it’syours，anyway——itbelongstoyou，\"heargued，turningtoFarmerHolly，andshovingthegoldnearertohishands。\"Thereisn’tenough，maybe——but’twillhelp！\"
\"They’reten-dollargoldpieces，sir，\"spokeupLarsonimportantly；\"an’there’sahundredan’sixofthem。That’sjestonethousandan’sixtydollars，asImakeit。\"
SimeonHolly，self-controlledmanthathewas，almostleapedfromhischair。
\"Onethousandandsixtydollars！\"hegasped。Then，toDavid：
\"Boy，inHeaven’sname，whoareyou？\"
\"Idon’tknow——onlyDavid。\"Theboyspokewearily，withagrievedsobinhisvoice。Hewasverytired，agooddealperplexed，andalittleangry。Hewished，ifnoonewantedthisgold，thathecouldtakeitupstairsagaintothechimneycupboard；or，iftheyobjectedtothat，thattheywouldatleastgiveittohim，andlethimgoawaynowtothatbeautifulmusichewastohear，andtothosekindpeoplewhowerealwaystounderstandwhathesaidwhenheplayed。
\"Ofcourse，\"venturedPerryLarsondiffidently，\"Iain’tprofessin’terknowanygreatshakesaboutthehandoftheLord，Mr。Holly，butitdostrikemethatthis’eregoldcomesmightynearbein’proverdential——furyou。\"
SimeonHollyfellbackinhisseat。Hiseyesclungtothegold，buthislipssetintorigidlines。
\"Thatmoneyistheboy’s，Larson。Itisn’tmine，\"hesaid。
\"He’sgiveittoye。\"
SimeonHollyshookhishead。
\"Davidisnothingbutachild，Perry。Hedoesn’trealizeatallwhatheisdoing，norhowvaluablehisgiftis。\"
\"Iknow，sir，butyouDIDtakehimin，whentherewouldn’tnobodyelsedoit，\"arguedLarson。\"An’，anyhow，couldn’tyoumakeakindofanIOUofit，evenifheisakid？Then，somedayyoucouldpayhimback。Meanwhileyou’dbea-keepin’him，an’
a-schoolin’him；an’that’ssomethin’。\"
\"Iknow，Iknow，\"noddedSimeonHollythoughtfully，hiseyesgoingfromthegoldtoDavid’sface。Then，aloud，yetasiftohimself，hebreathed：\"Boy，boy，whowasyourfather？Howcamehebyallthatgold——andhe——atramp！\"
Daviddrewhimselfsuddenlyerect。Hiseyesflashed。
\"Idon’tknow，sir。ButIdoknowthis：hedidn’tSTEALit！\"
AcrossthetableMrs。Hollydrewaquickbreath，butshedidnotspeak——savewithherpleadingeyes。Mrs。Hollyseldomspoke——savewithhereyes——whenherhusbandwassolvingaknottyproblem。Shewasdumfoundednowthatheshouldlistensopatientlytotheman，Larson，——thoughshewasnotmoresurprisedthanwasLarsonhimself。Forbothofthem，however，therecameatthismomentastillgreatersurprise。SimeonHollyleanedforwardsuddenly，thesternlinesquitegonefromhislips，andhisfaceworkingwithemotionashedrewDavidtowardhim。
\"You’reagoodson，boy，——agoodloyalson；and——andIwishyouweremine！Ibelieveyou。Hedidn’tstealit，andIwon’tstealit，either。ButIwilluseit，sinceyouaresogoodastoofferit。Butitshallbealoan，David，andsomeday，Godhelpingme，youshallhaveitback。Meanwhile，you’remyboy，David，——myboy！\"
\"Oh，thankyou，sir，\"rejoicedDavid。\"And，really，youknow，beingwantedlikethatisbetterthanthestartwouldbe，isn’tit？\"
\"Betterthan——what？\"
Davidshiftedhisposition。Hehadnotmeanttosayjustthat。
\"N——nothing，\"hestammered，lookingaboutforameansofquickescape。\"I——Iwasjusttalking，\"hefinished。AndhewasimmeasurablyrelievedtofindthatMr。Hollydidnotpressthematterfurther。
CHAPTERXIX
THEUNBEAUTIFULWORLD
Inspiteoftheexaltationofrenunciation，andinspiteofthejoyofbeingnewlyandespecially\"wanted，\"thoseearlySeptemberdaysweresometimeshardforDavid。Notuntilhehadrelinquishedallhopeofhis\"start\"didhefullyrealizewhatthathopehadmeanttohim。
Thereweretimes，tobesure，whentherewasnothingbutrejoicingwithinhimthathewasablethustoaidtheHollys。
Therewereothertimeswhentherewasnothingbutthesoreheartachebecauseofthegreatworkoutinthebeautifulworldthatcouldnowneverbedone；andbecauseoftheunlovelyworkathandthatmustbedone。Totellthetruth，indeed，David’sentireconceptionoflifehadbecomesuddenlyachaosofpuzzlingcontradictions。
ToMr。Jack，oneday，Davidwentwithhisperplexities。Notthathetoldhimofthegold-piecesandoftheunexpectedusetowhichtheyhadbeenput——indeed，no。Davidhadmadeuphismindnever，ifhecouldhelphimself，tomentionthosegold-piecestoanyonewhodidnotalreadyknowofthem。Theymeantquestions，andthequestions，explanations。Andhehadhadenoughofbothonthatparticularsubject。ButtoMr。Jackhesaidoneday，whentheywerealonetogether：——
\"Mr。Jack，howmanyfolkshaveyougotinsideofyourhead？\"
\"Eh——what，David？\"
Davidrepeatedhisquestionandattachedanexplanation。
\"Imean，thefolksthat——thatmakeyoudothings。\"
Mr。Jacklaughed。
\"Well，\"hesaid，\"Ibelievesomepeoplemakeclaimstoquiteanumber，andperhapsalmosteveryoneownstoaDr。JekyllandaMr。Hyde。\"
\"Whoarethey？\"
\"Nevermind，David。Idon’tthinkyouknowthegentlemen，anyhow。
They’reonlysomethinglikethelittlegirlwithacurl。Oneisvery，verygood，indeed，andtheotherishorrid。\"
\"Oh，yes，Iknowthem；they’retheonesthatcometome，\"
returnedDavid，withasigh。\"I’vehadthemalot，lately。\"
Mr。Jackstared。
\"Oh，haveyou？\"
\"Yes；andthat’swhat’sthetrouble。Howcanyoudrivethemoff——theonethatisbad，Imean？\"
\"Well，really，\"confessedMr。Jack，\"I’mnotsureIcantell。Yousee——thegentlemenvisitmesometimes。\"
\"Oh，dothey？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"I’msoglad——thatis，Imean，\"amendedDavid，inanswertoMr。
Jack’supliftedeyebrows，\"I’mgladthatyouunderstandwhatI’mtalkingabout。Yousee，ItriedPerryLarsonlastnightonit，togethimtotellmewhattodo。Butheonlystaredandlaughed。Hedidn’tknowthenamesof’em，anyhow，asyoudo，andatlasthegotreallyalmostangryandsaidImadehimfeelso’buggy’and’creepy’thathewouldn’tdarelookathimselfintheglassifI
kepton，forfearsomeonehe’dneverknownwasthereshouldjumpoutathim。\"
Mr。Jackchuckled。
\"Well，Isuspect，David，thatPerryknewoneofyourgentlemenbythenameof’conscience，’perhaps；andIalsosuspectthatmaybeconsciencedoesprettynearlyfillthebill，andthatyou’vebeenhavingaboutwiththat。Eh？Now，whatisthetrouble？Tellmeaboutit。\"
Davidstirreduneasily。Insteadofanswering，heaskedanotherquestion。
\"Mr。Jack，itisabeautifulworld，isn’tit？\"
Foramomenttherewasno，answer；thenalowvoicereplied：——
\"Yourfathersaiditwas，David。\"
AgainDavidmovedrestlessly。
\"Yes；butfatherwasonthemountain。Anddownhere——well，downheretherearelotsofthingsthatIdon’tbelieveheknewabout。\"
\"What，forinstance？\"
\"Why，lotsofthings——toomanytotell。Ofcoursetherearethingslikecatchingfish，andkillingbirdsandsquirrelsandotherthingstoeat，andplaguingcatsanddogs。Fatherneverwouldhavecalledthosebeautiful。ThenthereareotherslikelittleJimmyClarkwhocan’twalk，andthemanattheMarstons’
who’ssick，andJoeGlaspellwhoisblind。ThentherearestilldifferentoneslikeMr。Holly’slittleboy。Perrysaysheranawayyearsandyearsago，andmadehispeopleveryunhappy。
Fatherwouldn’tcallthatabeautifulworld，wouldhe？Andhowcanpeoplelikethatalwaysplayintune？AndtherearethePrincessandthePauperthatyoutoldabout。\"
\"Oh，thestory？\"
\"Yes；andpeoplelikethemcan’tbehappyandthinktheworldisbeautiful，ofcourse。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"Becausetheydidn’tendright。Theydidn’tgetmarriedandlivehappyeverafter，youknow。\"
\"Well，Idon’tthinkI’dworryaboutthat，David，——atleast，notaboutthePrincess。Ifancytheworldwasverybeautifultoher，allright。ThePauper——well，perhapshewasn’tveryhappy。But，afterall，David，youknowhappinessissomethinginsideofyourself。Perhapshalfofthesepeoplearehappy，intheirway。\"
\"There！andthat’sanotherthing，\"sighedDavid。\"Yousee，I
foundthatout——thatitwasinsideofyourself——quiteawhileago，andItoldtheLadyoftheRoses。ButnowI——can’tmakeitworkmyself。\"
\"What’sthematter？\"
\"Well，youseethensomethingwasgoingtohappen——somethingthatIliked；andIfoundthatjustthinkingofitmadeitsothatI
didn’tmindrakingorhoeing，oranythinglikethat；andItoldtheLadyoftheRoses。AndItoldherthatevenifitwasn’tgoingtohappenshecouldTHINKitwasgoingto，andthatthatwouldbejustthesame，because’twasthethinkingthatmademyhourssunnyones。Itwasn’ttheDOINGatall。IsaidIknewbecauseIhadn’tDONEityet。See？\"
\"I——thinkso，David。\"
\"Well，I’vefoundoutthatitisn’tthesameatall；fornowthatIKNOWthatthisbeautifulthingisn’tevergoingtohappentome，Icanthinkandthinkallday，anditdoesn’tdoamiteofgood。Thesunisjustashot，andmybackachesjustashard，andthefieldisjustasbigandendlessasitusedtobewhenI
hadtocallitthatthosehoursdidn’tcount。Now，whatisthematter？\"
Mr。Jacklaughed，butheshookhisheadalittlesadly。
\"You’regettingintotoodeepwatersforme，David。Isuspectyou’reflounderinginaseathathasupsettheboatsofsagessincetheworldbegan。Butwhatisitthatwassonice，andthatisn’tgoingtohappen？PerhapsIMIGHThelponthat。\"
\"No，youcouldn’t，\"frownedDavid；\"andtherecouldn’tanybody，either，yousee，becauseIwouldn’tgobacknowandLETithappen，anyhow，aslongasIknowwhatIdo。Why，ifIdid，therewouldn’tbeANYhoursthatweresunnythen——noteventheonesafterfouro’clock；I——I’dfeelsomean！ButwhatIdon’tseeisjusthowIcanfixitupwiththeLadyoftheRoses。\"
\"Whathasshetodowithit？\"
\"Why，attheveryfirst，whenshesaidshedidn’thaveANY
sunshinyhours，Itoldher——\"
\"Whenshesaidwhat？\"interposedMr。Jack，comingsuddenlyerectinhischair。