Just David

avid watched Mrs. Holly in silence while she

lp?" he asked at last

glance at the boy's brown l

thank you," she

avid was silent; then, stil

you've been doing al

from the dishpan and held them

! What a silly question! What put

's so different from what

fere

hes, and getting meals, and clearing up,-and he d

hwashing with some asperity. "Well, I should t

avid pleasantly. Then, after a moment, he queri

alk?

he woods and fi

T WALKING? Land's sake, boy, I

expressed sympathetic regret. "And it's suc

eyebrows and an expressive glance. "But whether it does or do

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

red and threw up her hands with a

ejaculated feebly, as sh

hey 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 f

cing back at the hesitating boy in the doorway. "

n this room before

, little boy, nor the bedroom there, either. This is the company room, for ministers and funeral

ut just you and Mr. Holly, and Mr. Perry Larson

h with a little catch, and glanced at the f

ed David. "Why, daddy and I only had two rooms, and not har

y began to dust hurriedly, but carefully. He

ut you say you don't use th

action Mrs. Holly stop

ny other rooms you can live in thos

ted the woman, still too uncompre

clean them and clean them, like this, every day? Cou

ss in a protective embrace each last endangered treasure of mat and tidy. "Boy, are you crazy? These things

. "And up on the mountain I had them always. There was the sunrise, and the sunset

with a vexed ges

such things as these. Throw them away, indeed!" And she fell to work again; but this time her fingers carr

table, watched her with troubled eyes

f these things, you could maybe go to walk more-to-day, and other

only shook her

. I dare say you meant all right. Y

to the side porch. A minute later, having seated himself on the porch steps, he had taken from his pocket t

es on the far-away hills. "And he said if I'd play, my mountains would come to me here, and I

id tucked the note back into his

opped her work, tiptoed to the door, and listened breathlessly. W

t to thinking of-John," she sighed to her

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,

eon Holly opened his eyes and sat up, stern-li

just for to-night. He's lonesome-poor little fellow." And Simeon Ho

ome, David, it's bedtime for little boys. I'll go upstairs with you.

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. B

n the wall, David undressed himself. Then, before blowing out the candle, he

was beginning to wonder just

nd another thing; where was he to live? Could he stay where he was? It was not home, to be sure; but there was the little room over the kitchen where he might sleep, a

that he did not have to go to the store and buy; and there was nothing else, apparently, that he could use them for. They were heavy, and disagreeable to carry; yet he did not li

ace, too,-the little cupboard behind the chimney there in this very room! And with a satisfied sigh, David got to his feet, gathered all the little yellow disks from his pockets, and tucked

e, when Simeon Holly asked him to fill the woodbox, David resolutely ignored every ent

re dinner, Perry Larson came into the

little boy there, an' somethin' ails 'em. She can't talk English, an' I'm blest

began Mrs. Holly. But she tu

y perhaps ten years old at her side. Upon catching sight of Mrs. Holly she burst int

g eyes toward her husband who at that mom

you tell wh

scene, the strange woman began a

ng scrutiny of the gesticulating woman. "She's t

tered Perry Larson. "An' whatever

" questioned Mrs

nglish at all?" de

nge land who cannot understand or make others understand. She had turned away with a despairing sh

out onto the porch and was speaking to the woman-and his

stared. Simeon Holly inter

understand th

and-" But the woman had hurried forward a

to find the look of stupefact

he want?" asked Si

the train this morning. Her husband stopped off a minute somewhere, she says, and got left behind.

"Reads her just like a book, don't he? There's a French family over in

ovingly on David's face. It was plain to be seen that Sime

I was goin' over ter West Hinsdale in a day or two ter see Harlow about t

on Holly curtly, his eye

nd that he was to take her where she undoubtedly wished to go. The woman still looked uncomprehending, however, and David pro

she's hungry?" ventu

with a smile, when he had received his ans

the kitchen," directed Mrs.

are you?" said Si

oudly. "I'm an American. Father said I

t you can speak

ng, he added: "Same as I learned German and other things with father, ou

Holly, stalking away with

little boy. The woman's face was wreathed with smiles, and her last ad

y to accompany him, but she had refused, though she was not sweeping or dusting at the time. She was doing nothing more

but his refusal was even more strang

useless walk now-or any time, for

unconsciously, thoug

sir. Father said nothing was useless t

tu

d there was nothing like a walk to put him back again. I-I was feeling a little out of tune mysel

impertinence, you understand!" And he

ow in his heart had starte