just david(公正的大卫)-第34节
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beautiful； of course。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because they didn't end right。 They didn't get married and live happy
ever after； you know。〃
〃Well； I don't think I'd worry about that； David；at least； not about the
Princess。 I fancy the world was very beautiful to her； all right。 The Pauper…
…well； perhaps he wasn't very happy。 But； after all； David； you know
happiness is something inside of yourself。 Perhaps half of these people are
happy； in their way。〃
〃There！ and that's another thing；〃 sighed David。 〃You see； I found that
outthat it was inside of yourselfquite a while ago； and I told the Lady
of the Roses。 But now Ican't make it work myself。〃
〃What's the matter？〃
〃Well； you see then something was going to happensomething that I
liked； and I found that just thinking of it made it so that I didn't mind
raking or hoeing； or anything like that； and I told the Lady of the Roses。
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And I told her that even if it wasn't going to happen she could THINK it
was going to； and that that would be just the same； because 't was the
thinking that made my hours sunny ones。 It wasn't the DOING at all。 I said
I knew because I hadn't DONE it yet。 See？〃
〃Ithink so； David。〃
〃Well； I've found out that it isn't the same at all； for now that I KNOW
that this beautiful thing isn't ever going to happen to me； I can think and
think all day； and it doesn't do a mite of good。 The sun is just as hot； and
my back aches just as hard； and the field is just as big and endless as it
used to be when I had to call it that those hours didn't count。 Now； what is
the matter？〃
Mr。 Jack laughed； but he shook his head a little sadly。
〃You're getting into too deep waters for me； David。 I suspect you're
floundering in a sea that has upset the boats of sages since the world began。
But what is it that was so nice； and that isn't going to happen？ Perhaps I
MIGHT help on that。〃 〃No； you couldn't；〃 frowned David； 〃and there
couldn't anybody； either； you see； because I wouldn't go back now and
LET it happen； anyhow； as long as I know what I do。 Why； if I did； there
wouldn't be ANY hours that were sunny thennot even the ones after four
o'clock； II'd feel so mean！ But what I don't see is just how I can fix it up
with the Lady of the Roses。〃
〃What has she to do with it？〃
〃Why； at the very first； when she said she didn't have ANY sunshiny
hours； I told her〃
〃When she said what？〃 interposed Mr。 Jack； coming suddenly erect in
his chair。
〃That she didn't have any hours to count； you know。〃
〃ToCOUNT？〃
〃Yes； it was the sundial。 Didn't I tell you？ Yes； I know I didabout the
words on itnot counting any hours that weren't sunny； you know。 And she
said she wouldn't have ANY hours to count； that the sun never shone for
her。〃
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〃Why； David；〃 demurred Mr。 Jack in a voice that shook a little； 〃are
you sure？ Did she say just that？ Youyou must be mistakenwhen she
hashas everything to make her happy。〃
〃I wasn't； because I said that same thing to her myselfafterwards。
And then I told herwhen I found out myself； you knowabout its being
what was inside of you； after all； that counted； and then is when I asked
her if she couldn't think of something nice that was going to happen to her
sometime。〃
〃Well； what did she say？〃
〃She shook her head； and said 'No。' Then she looked away； and her
eyes got soft and dark like little pools in the brook where the water stops
to rest。 And she said she had hoped once that this something would happen；
but that it hadn't； and that it would take something more than thinking to
bring it。 And I know now what she meant； because thinking isn't all that
counts； is it？〃
Mr。 Jack did not answer。 He had risen to his feet； and was pacing
restlessly up and down the veranda。 Once or twice he turned his eyes
toward the towers of Sunnycrest； and David noticed that there was a new
look on his face。
Very soon； however； the old tiredness came back to his eyes； and he
dropped into his seat again； muttering 〃Fool！ of course it couldn't be
that！〃
〃Be what？〃 asked David。
Mr。 Jack started。
〃Ernothing； nothing that you would understand； David。 Go onwith
what you were saying。〃
〃There isn't any more。 It's all done。 It's only that I'm wondering how
I'm going to learn here that it's a beautiful world； so that I cantell father。〃
Mr。 Jack roused himself。 He had the air of a man who determinedly
throws to one side a heavy burden。
〃Well； David；〃 he smiled； 〃as I said before； you are still out on that sea
where there are so many little upturned boats。 There might be a good
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many ways of answering that question。〃
〃Mr。 Holly says；〃 mused the boy； aloud； a little gloomily； 〃that it
doesn't make any difference whether we find things beautiful or not； that
we're here to do something serious in the world。〃
〃That is about what I should have expected of Mr。 Holly〃 retorted Mr。
Jack grimly。 〃He acts itand looks it。 ButI don't believe you are going to
tell your father just that。〃
〃No； sir； I don't believe I am；〃 accorded David soberly。
〃I have an idea that you're going to find that answer just where your
father said you wouldin your violin。 See if you don't。 Things that aren't
beautiful you'll make beautifulbecause we find what we are looking for；
and you're looking for beautiful things。 After all； boy； if we march straight
ahead； chin up； and sing our own little song with all our might and main；
we shan't come so far amiss from the goal； I'm thinking。 There！ that's
preaching； and I didn't mean to preach； butwell； to tell the truth； that was
meant for myself； forI'm hunting for the beautiful world； too。〃
〃Yes； sir； I know；〃 returned David fervently。 And again Mr。 Jack；
looking into the sympathetic； glowing dark eyes； wondered if； after all；
David really couldknow。
Even yet Mr。 Jack was not used to David； there were 〃so many of
him；〃 he told himself。 There were the boy； the artist； and a third
personality so evanescent that it defied being named。 The boy was jolly；
impetuous； confidential； and delightfulplainly reveling in all manner of
fun and frolic。 The artist was nothing but a bunch of nervous alertness；
ready to find melody and rhythm in every passing thought or flying cloud。
The thirdthat baffling third that defied the namingwas a dreamy；
visionary； untouchable creature who floated so far above one's head that
one's hand could never pull him down to get a good square chance to see
what he did look like。 All this thought Mr。 Jack as he gazed into David's
luminous eyes。
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CHAPTER XX
THE UNFAMILIAR WAY
In September David entered the village school。 School and David did
not assimilate at once。 Very confidently the teacher set to work to grade
her new pupil； but she was not so confident when she found that while in
Latin he was perilously near herself （and in Frenchwhich she was not
required to teachdisastrously beyond her！）； in United States history he
knew only the barest outlines of certain portions； and could not name a
single battle in any of its wars。 In most studies he was far beyond boys of
his own age； yet at every turn she encountered these puzzling spots of
discrepancy； which rendered grading in the ordinary way out of the
question。
David's methods of recitation； too； were peculiar； and somewhat
disconcerting。 He also did not hesitate to speak aloud when he chose； nor
to rise from his seat and move to any part of the room as the whim seized
him。 In time； of course； all this was changed； but it was several days
