just david(公正的大卫)-第35节
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him。 In time； of course； all this was changed； but it was several days
before the boy learned so to conduct himself that he did not shatter to
atoms the peace and propriety of the schoolroom。
Outside of school David had little work to do now； though there were
still left a few light tasks about the house。 Home life at the Holly
farmhouse was the same for David； yet with a differencethe difference
that comes from being really wanted instead of being merely dutifully kept。
There were other differences； too； subtle differences that did not show；
perhaps； but that still were there。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Holly； more than ever now； were learning to look at the
world through David's eyes。 One dayone wonderful daythey even went
to walk in the woods with the boy； and whenever before had Simeon
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Holly left his work for so frivolous a thing as a walk in the woods！
It was not accomplished； however； without a struggle； as David could
have told。 The day was a Saturday； clear； crisp； and beautiful； with a
promise of October in the air； and David fairly tingled to be free and away。
Mrs。 Holly was bakingand the birds sang unheard outside her pantry
window。 Mr。 Holly was digging potatoesand the clouds sailed unnoticed
above his head。
All the morning David urged and begged。 If for once； just this once；
they would leave everything and come； they would not regret it； he was
sure。 But they shook their heads and said； 〃No； no； impossible！〃 In the
afternoon the pies were done and the potatoes dug； and David urged and
pleaded again。 If once； only this once； they would go to walk with him in
the woods； he would be so happy； so very happy！ And to please the boy
they went。
It was a curious walk。 Ellen Holly trod softly； with timid feet。 She
threw hurried； frightened glances from side to side。 It was plain that Ellen
Holly did not know how to play。 Simeon Holly stalked at her elbow； stern；
silent； and preoccupied。 It was plain that Simeon Holly not only did not
know how to play； but did not even care to find out。
The boy tripped ahead and talked。 He had the air of a monarch
displaying his kingdom。 On one side was a bit of moss worthy of the
closest attention； on another； a vine that carried allurement in every tendril。
Here was a flower that was like a story for interest； and there was a bush
that bore a secret worth the telling。 Even Simeon Holly glowed into a
semblance of life when David had unerringly picked out and called by
name the spruce； and fir； and pine； and larch； and then； in answer to Mrs。
Holly's murmured： 〃But； David； where's the difference？ They look so
much alike！〃 he had said：
〃Oh； but they aren't； you know。 Just see how much more pointed at the
top that fir is than that spruce back there； and the branches grow straight
out； too； like arms； and they're all smooth and tapering at the ends like a
pussy…cat's tail。 But the spruce back thereITS branches turned down and
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outdidn't you notice？and they're all bushy at the ends like a squirrel's
tail。 Oh； they're lots different！ That's a larch 'way aheadthat one with the
branches all scraggly and close down to the ground。 I could start to climb
that easy； but I couldn't that pine over there。 See； it's 'way up； up； before
there's a place for your foot！ But I love pines。 Up there on the mountains
where I lived； the pines were so tall that it seemed as if God used them
sometimes to hold up the sky。〃
And Simeon Holly heard； and said nothing； and that he did say
nothingespecially nothing in answer to David's confident assertions
concerning celestial and terrestrial architectureonly goes to show how
well； indeed； the man was learning to look at the world through David's
eyes。
Nor were these all of David's friends to whom Mr。 and Mrs。 Holly
were introduced on that memorable walk。 There were the birds； and the
squirrels； and； in fact； everything that had life。 And each one he greeted
joyously by name； as he would greet a friend whose home and habits he
knew。 Here was a wonderful woodpecker； there was a beautiful bluejay。
Ahead； that brilliant bit of color that flashed across their path was a
tanager。 Once； far up in the sky； as they crossed an open space； David
spied a long black streak moving southward。
〃Oh； see！〃 he exclaimed。 〃The crows！ See them？'way up there？
Wouldn't it be fun if we could do that； and fly hundreds and hundreds of
miles； maybe a thousand？〃
〃Oh； David；〃 remonstrated Mrs。 Holly； unbelievingly。
〃But they do！ These look as if they'd started on their winter journey
South； too； but if they have； they're early。 Most of them don't go till
October。 They come back in March； you know。 Though I've had them； on
the mountain； that stayed all the year with me。〃
〃My！ but I love to watch them go；〃 murmured David； his eyes
following the rapidly disappearing blackline。 〃Lots of birds you can't see；
you know； when they start for the South。 They fly at nightthe
woodpeckers and orioles and cuckoos； and lots of others。 They're afraid； I
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guess； don't you？ But I've seen them。 I've watched them。 They tell each
other when they're going to start。〃
〃Oh； David；〃 remonstrated Mrs。 Holly； again； her eyes reproving； but
plainly enthralled。
〃But they do tell each other；〃 claimed the boy； with sparkling eyes。
〃They must！ For； all of a sudden； some night； you'll hear the signal； and
then they'll begin to gather from all directions。 I've seen them。 Then；
suddenly； they're all up and off to the Southnot in one big flock； but
broken up into little flocks； following one after another； with such a
beautiful whir of wings。 OofOOFOOF！and they're gone！ And I don't
see them again till next year。 But you've seen the swallows； haven't you？
They go in the daytime； and they're the easiest to tell of any of them。 They
fly so swift and straight。 Haven't you seen the swallows go？〃
〃Why； II don't know； David；〃 murmured Mrs。 Holly； with a helpless
glance at her husband stalking on ahead。 〃II didn't know there were such
things toto know。〃
There was more； much more； that David said before the walk came to
an end。 And though； when it did end； neither Simeon Holly nor his wife
said a word of its having been a pleasure or a profit； there was yet on their
faces something of the peace and rest and quietness that belonged to the
woods they had left。
It was a beautiful monththat September； and David made the most of
it。 Out of school meant out of doors for him。 He saw Mr。 Jack and Jill
often。 He spent much time； too； with the Lady of the Roses。 She was still
the Lady of the ROSES to David； though in the garden now were the
purple and scarlet and yellow of the asters； salvia； and golden glow；
instead of the blush and perfume of the roses。
David was very much at home at Sunnycrest。 He was welcome； he
knew； to go where he pleased。 Even the servants were kind to him； as well
as was the elderly cousin whom he seldom saw； but who； he knew； lived
there as company for his Lady of the Roses。
Perhaps best； next to the garden； David loved the tower room； possibly
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because Miss Holbrook herself so often suggested that they go there。 And
it was there that they were when he said； dreamily； one day：
〃I like this placeup here so high； only sometimes it does make me
think of that Princess； because it was in a tower like this that she was； you
know。〃
〃Fairy stories； David？〃 asked Miss Holbrook lightly。
〃No； not exactly； though there was a Princess in it。 Mr。 Jack tol
