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and an expressive glance。 〃But whether it does or does n't won't make any
difference in my going to walk； I guess。〃
〃Oh； won't it？〃 beamed David； his face changing。 〃I'm so glad！ I don't
mind the rain； either。 Father and I used to go in the rain lots of times； only；
of course； we couldn't take our violins then； so we used to like the pleasant
days better。 But there are some things you find on rainy days that you
couldn't find any other time； aren't there？ The dance of the drops on the
leaves； and the rush of the rain when the wind gets behind it。 Don't you
love to feel it； out in the open spaces； where the wind just gets a good
chance to push？〃
Mrs。 Holly stared。 Then she shivered and threw up her hands with a
gesture of hopeless abandonment。
〃Land's sake； boy！〃 she ejaculated feebly； as she turned back to her
work。
From dishes to sweeping； and from sweeping to dusting； hurried Mrs。
Holly； going at last into the somber parlor； always carefully guarded from
sun and air。 Watching her； mutely； David trailed behind； his eyes staring a
little as they fell upon the multitude of objects that parlor contained： the
haircloth chairs； the long sofa； the marble…topped table； the curtains；
cushions； spreads； and 〃throws；〃 the innumerable mats and tidies； the hair…
wreath； the wax flowers under their glass dome； the dried grasses； the
marvelous bouquets of scarlet； green； and purple everlastings； the stones
and shells and many…sized； many…shaped vases arranged as if in line of
battle along the corner shelves。
〃Yyes； you may come in；〃 called Mrs。 Holly； glancing back at the
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hesitating boy in the doorway。 〃But you mustn't touch anything。 I'm going
to dust。〃
〃But I haven't seen this room before；〃 ruminated David。
〃Well； no；〃 deigned Mrs。 Holly； with just a touch of superiority。 〃We
don't use this room common； little boy； nor the bedroom there； either。 This
is the company room； for ministers and funerals； and〃 She stopped
hastily； with a quick look at David； but the boy did not seem to have
heard。
〃And doesn't anybody live here in this house； but just you and Mr。
Holly； and Mr。 Perry Larson？〃 he asked； still looking wonderingly about
him。
〃No； notnow。〃 Mrs。 Holly drew in her breath with a little catch； and
glanced at the framed portrait of a little boy on the wall。
〃But you've got such a lot of rooms andand things；〃 remarked David。
〃Why； daddy and I only had two rooms； and not hardly any THINGS。 It
was sodifferent； you know； in my home。〃
〃I should say it might have been！〃 Mrs。 Holly began to dust hurriedly；
but carefully。 Her voice still carried its hint of superiority。
〃Oh； yes；〃 smiled David。 〃But you say you don't use this room much；
so that helps。〃
〃Helps！〃 In her stupefaction Mrs。 Holly stopped her work and stared。
〃Why； yes。 I mean； you've got so many other rooms you can live in
those。 You don't HAVE to live in here。〃
〃 'Have to live in here'！〃 ejaculated the woman； still too
uncomprehending to be anything but amazed。
〃Yes。 But do you have to KEEP all these things； and clean them and
clean them； like this； every day？ Couldn't you give them to somebody； or
throw them away？〃
〃Throwthesethingsaway！〃 With a wild sweep of her arms； the
horrified woman seemed to be trying to encompass in a protective
embrace each last endangered treasure of mat and tidy。 〃Boy； are you
crazy？ These things areare valuable。 They cost money； and time andand
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labor。 Don't you know beautiful things when you see them？〃
〃Oh； yes； I love BEAUTIFUL things；〃 smiled David； with
unconsciously rude emphasis。 〃And up on the mountain I had them always。
There was the sunrise； and the sunset； and the moon and the stars； and my
Silver Lake； and the cloud…boats that sailed〃
But Mrs。 Holly； with a vexed gesture； stopped him。
〃Never mind； little boy。 I might have knownbrought up as you have
been。 Of course you could not appreciate such things as these。 Throw them
away； indeed！〃 And she fell to work again； but this time her fingers carried
a something in their touch that was almost like the caress a mother might
bestow upon an aggrieved child。
David； vaguely disturbed and uncomfortable； watched her with
troubled eyes； then； apologetically； he explained：
〃It was only that I thought if you didn't have to clean so many of these
things； you could maybe go to walk moreto…day； and other days； you
know。 You saidyou didn't have time；〃 he reminded her。
But Mrs。 Holly only shook her head and sighed：
〃Well； well； never mind； little boy。 I dare say you meant all right。 You
couldn't understand； of course。〃
And David； after another moment's wistful eyeing of the caressing
fingers； turned about and wandered out onto the side porch。 A minute later；
having seated himself on the porch steps； he had taken from his pocket
two small pieces of folded paper。 And then； through tear…dimmed eyes； he
read once more his father's letter。
〃He said I mustn't grieve； for that would grieve him；〃 murmured the
boy； after a time； his eyes on the far…away hills。 〃And he said if I'd play；
my mountains would come to me here； and I'd really be at home up there。
He said in my violin were all those things I'm wantingso bad！〃
With a little choking breath； David tucked the note back into his
pocket and reached for his violin。
Some time later； Mrs。 Holly； dusting the chairs in the parlor； stopped
her work； tiptoed to the door； and listened breathlessly。 When she turned
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back； still later； to her work； her eyes were wet。
〃I wonder why； when he plays； I always get to thinking ofJohn；〃 she
sighed to herself； as she picked up her dusting…cloth。
After supper that night； Simeon Holly and his wife again sat on the
kitchen porch； resting from the labor of the day。 Simeon's eyes were closed。
His wife's were on the dim outlines of the shed； the barn； the road； or a
passing horse and wagon。 David； sitting on the steps； was watching the
moon climb higher and higher above the tree…tops。 After a time he slipped
into the house and came out with his violin。
At the first long…drawn note of sweetness； Simeon Holly opened his
eyes and sat up； stern…lipped。 But his wife laid a timid hand on his arm。
〃Don't say anything； please；〃 she entreated softly。 〃Let him play； just
for to…night。 He's lonesomepoor little fellow。〃 And Simeon Holly； with a
frowning shrug of his shoulders； sat back in his chair。
Later； it was Mrs。 Holly herself who stopped the music by saying：
〃Come； David； it's bedtime for little boys。 I'll go upstairs with you。〃 And
she led the way into the house and lighted the candle for him。
Upstairs； in the little room over the kitchen； David found himself once
more alone。 As before； the little yellow…white nightshirt lay over the chair…
back； and as before； Mrs。 Holly had brushed away a tear as she had placed
it there。 As before； too； the big four…posted bed loomed tall and formidable
in the corner。 But this time the coverlet and sheet were turned back
invitinglyMrs。 Holly had been much disturbed to find that David had
slept on the floor the night before。
Once more； with his back carefully turned toward the impaled bugs
and moths on the wall； David undressed himself。 Then； before blowing out
the candle； he went to the window kneeled down； and looked up at the
moon through the trees。
David was sorely puzzled。 He was beginning to wonder just what was
to become of himself。
His father had said that out in the world there was a beautiful work for
him to do； but what was it？ How was he to find it？ Or how was he to do it
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if he did