just david(公正的大卫)-第24节
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the more welcome。
〃Oh； will we； indeed！〃 he retorted； a little sharply。 〃Don't trouble
yourself； I beg of you； boy。〃
〃But it isn't a mite of trouble； truly；〃 urged David； with an ardor that
ignored the sarcasm in the other's words。 〃I WANT to do it。〃
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Despite his annoyance； the man gave a short laugh。
〃Well； David； I believe you。 And I'll warrant you'd tackle this Brahms
concerto as nonchalantly as you did those six hoodlums with the cat the
other dayand expect to win out； too！〃
〃But； truly； this is easy； when you know how；〃 laughed the boy。 〃See！〃
To his surprise； the man found himself relinquishing the violin and
bow into the slim； eager hands that reached for them。 The next moment he
fell back in amazement。 Clear； distinct； yet connected like a string of
rounded pearls fell the troublesome notes from David's bow。 〃You see；〃
smiled the boy again； and played the phrase a second time； more slowly；
and with deliberate emphasis at the difficult part。 Then； as if in answer to
some irresistible summons within him； he dashed into the next phrase and；
with marvelous technique； played quite through the rippling cadenza that
completed the movement。
〃Well； by George！〃 breathed the man dazedly； as he took the offered
violin。 The next moment he had demanded vehemently： 〃For Heaven's
sake； who ARE you； boy？〃
David's face wrinkled in grieved surprise。
〃Why； I'm David。 Don't you remember？ I was here just the other day！〃
〃Yes； yes； but who taught you to play like that？〃
〃Father。〃
〃 'Father'！〃 The man echoed the word with a gesture of comic despair。
〃First Latin； then jiujitsu； and now the violin！ Boy； who was your father？〃
David lifted his head and frowned a little。 He had been questioned so
often； and so unsympathetically； about his father that he was beginning to
resent it。
〃He was daddyjust daddy； and I loved him dearly。〃
〃But what was his name？〃
〃I don't know。 We didn't seem to have a name likelike yours down
here。 Anyway； if we did； I didn't know what it was。〃
〃But； David；〃the man was speaking very gently now。 He had
motioned the boy to a low seat by his side。 The little girl was standing near；
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her eyes alight with wondering interest。 〃He must have had a name； you
know； just the same。 Didn't you ever hear any one call him anything？
Think； now。〃
〃No。〃 David said the single word； and turned his eyes away。 It had
occurred to him； since he had come to live in the valley； that perhaps his
father did not want to have his name known。 He remembered that once the
milk…and…eggs boy had asked what to call him； and his father had laughed
and answered： 〃I don't see but you'll have to call me 'The Old Man of the
Mountain；' as they do down in the village。〃 That was the only time David
could recollect hearing his father say anything about his name。 At the time
David had not thought much about it。 But since then； down here where
they appeared to think a name was so important； he had wondered if
possibly his father had not preferred to keep his to himself。 If such were
the case； he was glad now that he did not know this name； so that he might
not have to tell all these inquisitive people who asked so many questions
about it。 He was glad； too； that those men had not been able to read his
father's name at the end of his other note that first morningif his father
really did not wish his name to be known。
〃But； David； think。 Where you lived； wasn't there ever anybody who
called him by name？〃
David shook his head。
〃I told you。 We were all alone； father and I； in the little house far up on
the mountain。〃
〃Andyour mother？〃 Again David shook his head。
〃She is an angel…mother； and angel…mothers don't live in houses； you
know。〃
There was a moment's pause； then gently the man asked：
〃And you always lived there？〃
〃Six years； father said。〃
〃And before that？〃
〃I don't remember。〃 There was a touch of injured reserve in the boy's
voice which the man was quick to perceive。 He took the hint at once。
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〃He must have been a wonderful manyour father！〃 he exclaimed。
The boy turned； his eyes luminous with feeling。
〃He washe was perfect！ But theydown heredon't seem to know
or care；〃 he choked。
〃Oh； but that's because they don't understand；〃 soothed the man。 〃Now；
tell meyou must have practiced a lot to play like that。〃
〃I didbut I liked it。〃
〃And what else did you do？ and how did you happen to comedown
here？〃
Once again David told his story； more fully； perhaps； this time than
ever before； because of the sympathetic ears that were listening。
〃But now〃 he finished wistfully； 〃it's all； so different； and I'm down
here alone。 Daddy went； you know； to the far country； and he can't come
back from there。〃
〃Who told youthat？〃
〃Daddy himself。 He wrote it to me。〃
〃Wrote it to you！〃 cried the man； sitting suddenly erect。
〃Yes。 It was in his pocket； you see。 Theyfound it。〃 David's voice was
very low； and not quite steady。
〃David； may I seethat letter？〃
The boy hesitated； then slowly he drew it from his pocket。
〃Yes； Mr。 Jack。 I'll let YOU see it。〃
Reverently； tenderly； but very eagerly the man took the note and read it
through； hoping somewhere to find a name that would help solve the
mystery。 With a sigh he handed it back。 His eyes were wet。
〃Thank you； David。 That is a beautiful letter；〃 he said softly。 〃And I
believe you'll do it some day； too。 You'll go to him with your violin at your
chin and the bow drawn across the strings to tell him of the beautiful
world you have found。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said David simply。 Then； with a suddenly radiant smile：
〃And NOW I can't help finding it a beautiful world； you know； 'cause I
don't count the hours I don't like。〃
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〃You don't what？oh； I remember；〃 returned Mr。 Jack； a quick change
coming to his face。
〃Yes； the sundial； you know； where my Lady of the Roses lives。〃
〃Jack； what is a sundial？〃 broke in Jill eagerly。
Jack turned； as if in relief。
〃Hullo； girlie； you there？and so still all this time？ Ask David。 He'll
tell you what a sundial is。 Suppose； anyhow； that you two go out on the
piazza now。 I've goter…some work to do。 And the sun itself is out； see？
through the trees there。 It came out just to say 'good…night；' I'm sure。 Run
along； quick！〃 And he playfully drove them from the room。
Alone； he turned and sat down at his desk。 His work was before him；
but he did not do it。 His eyes were out of the window on the golden tops of
the towers of Sunnycrest。 Motionless； he watched them until they turned
gray…white in the twilight。 Then he picked up his pencil and began to write
feverishly。 He went to the window； however； as David stepped off the
veranda； and called merrily：
〃Remember； boy； that when there's another note that baffles me； I'm
going to send for you。〃
〃He's coming anyhow。 I asked him；〃 announced Jill。
And David laughed back a happy 〃Of course I am！〃
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CHAPTER XIV
THE TOWER WINDOW
It is not to be expected that when one's thoughts lead so persistently
to a certain place； one's feet will not follow； if they can； and David's could…
…so he went to seek his Lady of the Roses。
At four o'clock one afternoon； with his violin under his arm； he
traveled the firm white road until he came to the shadowed path that led to
the garden。 He had decided that he would go exactly as he went before。 He
expected； in consequence； to find his Lady exactly as he had found her
before； sitting reading under the roses。 Great was his
