just david(公正的大卫)-第27节
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exultingly。 〃This is where the wind sighs； 'oouOOUOOU' through the
pines。 Listen！〃 And he was away again on the wings of his violin。 When
he had returned Mr。 Jack drew a long breath。
〃David； you are a wonder；〃 he declared again。 〃And that violin of
yours is a wonder； too； if I'm not mistaken；though I don't know enough
to tell whether it's really a rare one or not。 Was it your father's？〃
〃Oh； no。 He had one； too； and they both are good ones。 Father said so。
Joe's got father's now。〃
〃Joe？〃
〃Joe Glaspell。〃
〃You don't mean Widow Glaspell's Joe； the blind boy？ I didn't know he
could play。〃
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〃He couldn't till I showed him。 But he likes to hear me play。 And he
understoodright away； I mean。〃
〃UNDERSTOOD！〃
〃What I was playing； you know。 And he was almost the first one that
didsince father went away。 And now I play every time I go there。 Joe
says he never knew before how trees and grass and sunsets and sunrises
and birds and little brooks did look； till I told him with my violin。 Now he
says he thinks he can see them better than I can； because as long as his
OUTSIDE eyes can't see anything； they can't see those ugly things all
around him； and so he can just make his INSIDE eyes see only the
beautiful things that he'd LIKE to see。 And that's the kind he does see
when I play。 That's why I said he understood。〃
For a moment there was silence。 In Mr。 Jack's eyes there was an odd
look as they rested on David's face。 Then； abruptly； he spoke。
〃David； I wish I had money。 I'd put you then where you belonged；〃 he
sighed。
〃Do you meanwhere I'd find my work to do？〃 asked the boy softly。
〃Wellyes； you might say it that way；〃 smiled the man； after a
moment's hesitationnot yet was Mr。 Jack quite used to this boy who was
at times so very un…boylike。
〃Father told me 't was waiting for mesomewhere。〃
Mr。 Jack frowned thoughtfully。
〃And he was right； David。 The only trouble is； we like to pick it out for
ourselves； pretty well；too well； as we find out sometimes； when we're
called offfor another job。〃
〃I know； Mr。 Jack； I know；〃 breathed David。 And the man； looking into
the glowing dark eyes； wondered at what he found there。 It was almost as
if the boy really understood about his own life's disappointmentand
cared； though that； of course； could not be！
〃And it's all the harder to keep ourselves in tune then； too； is n't it？〃
went on David； a little wistfully。
〃In tune？〃
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〃With the rest of the Orchestra。〃
〃Oh！〃 And Mr。 Jack； who had already heard about the 〃Orchestra of
Life；〃 smiled a bit sadly。 〃That's just it； my boy。 And if we're handed
another instrument to play on than the one we WANT to play on； we're apt
toto let fly a discord。 Anyhow； I am。 But〃he went on more lightly
〃now； in your case； David； little as I know about the violin； I know enough
to understand that you ought to be where you can take up your study of it
again； where you can hear good music； and where you can be among those
who know enough to appreciate what you do。〃
David's eyes sparkled。
〃And where there wouldn't be any pulling weeds or hoeing dirt？〃
〃Well； I hadn't thought of including either of those pastimes。〃
〃My； but I would like that； Mr。 Jack！but THAT wouldn't be WORK；
so that couldn't be what father meant。〃 David's face fell。
〃Hm…m； well； I wouldn't worry about the 'work' part；〃 laughed Mr。
Jack； 〃particularly as you aren't going to do it just now。 There's the money；
you know；and we haven't got that。〃
〃And it takes money？〃
〃Wellyes。 You can't get those things here in Hinsdale； you know； and
it takes money； to get away； and to live away after you get there。〃
A sudden light transfigured David's face。
〃Mr。 Jack； would gold do it？lots of little round gold…pieces？〃
〃I think it would； David； if there were enough of them。〃
〃Many as a hundred？〃
〃Sureif they were big enough。 Anyway； David； they'd start you； and
I'm thinking you wouldn't need but a start before you'd be coining gold…
pieces of your own out of that violin of yours。 But why？ Anybody you
know got as 'many as a hundred' gold…pieces he wants to get rid of？〃
For a moment David； his delighted thoughts flying to the gold…pieces
in the chimney cupboard of his room； was tempted to tell his secret。 Then
he remembered the woman with the bread and the pail of milk； and
decided not to。 He would wait。 When he knew Mr。 Jack betterperhaps
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then he would tell； but not now。 NOW Mr。 Jack might think he was a
thief； and that he could not bear。 So he took up his violin and began to play；
and in the charm of the music Mr。 Jack seemed to forget the gold…pieces
which was exactly what David had intended should happen。
Not until David had said good…bye some time later； did he remember
the purposethe special purposefor which he had come。 He turned back
with a radiant face。
〃Oh； and Mr。 Jack； I 'most forgot；〃 he cried。 〃I was going to tell you。 I
saw you yesterdayI did； and I almost waved to you。〃
〃Did you？ Where were you？〃
〃Over there in the windowthe tower window〃 he crowed jubilantly。
〃Oh； you went again； then； I suppose； to see Miss Holbrook。〃
The man's voice sounded so oddly cold and distant that David noticed
it at once。 He was reminded suddenly of the gate and the footbridge which
Jill was forbidden to cross； but he dared not speak of it thennot when Mr。
Jack looked like that。 He did say； however：
〃Oh； but； Mr。 Jack； it's such a beautiful place！ You don't know what a
beautiful place it is。〃
〃Is it？ Then； you like it so much？〃
〃Oh； so much！ Butdidn't you eversee it？〃
〃Why； yes； I believe I did； David； long ago；〃 murmured Mr。 Jack with
what seemed to David amazing indifference。
〃And did you see HERmy Lady of the Roses？〃
〃Why； yyesI believe so。〃
〃And is THAT all you remember about it？〃 resented David； highly
offended。
The man gave a laugha little short； hard laugh that David did not
like。
〃But； let me see； you said you almost waved； didn't you？ Why did n't
you； quite？〃 asked the man。
David drew himself suddenly erect。 Instinctively he felt that his Lady
of the Roses needed defense。
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〃Because SHE didn't want me to； so I didn't； of course；〃 he rejoined
with dignity。 〃She took away my handkerchief。〃
〃I'll warrant she did；〃 muttered the man； behind his teeth。 Aloud he
only laughed again； as he turned away。
David went on down the steps； dissatisfied vaguely with himself； with
Mr。 Jack； and even with the Lady of the Roses。
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CHAPTER XVI
DAVID'S CASTLE IN SPAIN
On his return from the House that Jack Built； David decided to count
his gold…pieces。 He got them out at once from behind the books； and
stacked them up in little shining rows。 As he had surmised； there were a
hundred of them。 There were； indeed； a hundred and six。 He was pleased
at that。 One hundred and six were surely enough to give him a 〃start。〃
A start！ David closed his eyes and pictured it。 To go on with his violin；
to hear good music； to be with people who understood what he said when
he played！ That was what Mr。 Jack had said a 〃start〃 was。 And this gold
these round shining bits of goldcould bring him this！ David swept the
little piles into a jingling heap； and sprang to his feet with both fists full of
his suddenly beloved wealth。 With boyish glee he capered about the room；
jingling the coins in his hands。 Then； very soberly； he sat down again； and
began to gather the gold to put away。
He would be wisehe would be sensible。 He would watch his chance；
and when it came h
