just david(公正的大卫)-第33章
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no warningI didn't seeYour carriage was not at the door to…day。〃
Miss Holbrook's eyebrows rose the fraction of an inch。
〃I sent it home。 I am planning to walk back。 I have several calls to
make on the way； and it's high time I was starting。 Good…bye； David。〃
〃But； Lady； of the Roses； please； please； don't go；〃 besought David；
who had been looking from one to the other in worried dismay。 〃Why；
you've just come！〃
But neither coaxing nor argument availed； and before David really
knew just what had happened； he found himself alone with Mr。 Jack。
Even then disappointment was piled on disappointment； for Mr。 Jack's
visit was not the unalloyed happiness it usually was。 Mr。 Jack himself was
almost cross at first； and then he was silent and restless； moving jerkily
about the room in a way that disturbed David very much。
Mr。 Jack had brought with him a book； but even that only made
matters worse； for when he saw the beautifully bound volumes that Miss
Holbrook had just left； he frowned； and told David that he guessed he did
not need his gift at all； with all those other fine books。 And David could
not seem to make him understand that the one book from him was just
exactly as dear as were the whole set of books that his Lady of the Roses
brought。
Certainly it was not a satisfactory visit at all； and for the first time
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David was almost glad to have Mr。 Jack go and leave him with his books。
The BOOKS； David told himself； he could understand； Mr。 Jack he could
notto…day。
Several times after this David's Lady of the Roses and Mr。 Jack
happened to call at the same hour； but never could David persuade these
two friends of his to stay together。 Always； if one came and the other was
there； the other went away； in spite of David's protestations that two
people did not tire him at all and his assertions that he often entertained as
many as that at once。 Tractable as they were in all other ways； anxious as
they seemed to please him； on this one point they were obdurate： never
would they stay together。
They were not angry with each otherDavid was sure of that； for they
were always very especially polite； and rose； and stood； and bowed in a
most delightful fashion。 Still； he sometimes thought that they did not quite
like each other； for always； after the one went away； the other； left behind；
was silent and almost sternif it was Mr。 Jack； and flushed…faced and
nervousif it was Miss Holbrook。 But why this was so David could not
understand。
The span of handsome black horses came very frequently to the Holly
farmhouse now； and as time passed they often bore away behind them a
white…faced but happy…eyed boy on the seat beside Miss Holbrook。
〃My； but I don't see how every one can be so good to me！〃 exclaimed
the boy； one day； to his Lady of the Roses。
〃Oh； that's easy； David；〃 she smiled。 〃The only trouble is to find out
what you wantyou ask for so little。〃
〃But I don't need to askyou do it all beforehand；〃 asserted the； boy。
〃you and Mr。 Jack； and everybody。〃
〃Really？ That's good。〃 For a brief moment Miss Holbrook hesitated；
then； as if casually； she asked： 〃And he tells you stories； too； I suppose；
this Mr。 Jack；just as he used to； doesn't he？〃
〃Well； he never did tell me but one； you know； before； but he's told me
more now； since I've been sick。〃
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〃Oh； yes； I remember； and that one was 'The Princess and the Pauper；'
wasn't it？ Well； has he told you any morelikethat？〃
The boy shook his head with decision。
〃No； he doesn't tell me any more like that； andand I don't want him
to； either。〃
Miss Holbrook laughed a little oddly。
〃Why； David； what is the matter with that？〃 she queried。
〃The ending； it wasn't nice； you know。〃
〃Oh； yes； II remember。〃
〃I've asked him to change it；〃 went on David； in a grieved voice。 〃I
asked him just the other day； but he wouldn't。〃
〃Perhaps hehe didn't want to。〃 Miss Holbrook spoke very quickly；
but so low that David barely heard the words。
〃Didn't want to？ Oh； yes； he did！ He looked awful sober； and as if he
really cared； you know。 And he said he'd give all he had in the world if he
really could change it； but he couldn't。〃
〃Did he sayjust that？〃 Miss Holbrook was leaning forward a little
breathlessly now。
〃Yesjust that； and that's the part I couldn't understand；〃 commented
David。 〃For I don't see why a storyjust a story made up out of
somebody's headcan't be changed any way you want it。 And I told him
so。〃
〃Well； and what did he say to that？〃
〃He didn't say anything for a minute； and I had to ask him again。 Then
he sat up suddenly； just as if he'd been asleep； you know； and said； 'Eh；
what； David？' And then I told him again what I'd said。 This time he shook
his head； and smiled that kind of a smile that isn't really a smile； you know；
and said something about a real； true…to…life story's never having but one
ending； and that was a logical ending。 Lady of the Roses； what is a logical
ending？〃
The Lady of the Roses laughed unexpectedly。 The two little red spots；
that David always loved to see； flamed into her cheeks； and her eyes
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showed a sudden sparkle。 When she answered； her words came
disconnectedly； with little laughing breaths between。
〃Well； David； II'm not sure I cantell you。 But perhaps Ican find
out。 This much； however； I am sure of： Mr。 Jack's logical ending wouldn't
bemine！〃
What she meant David did not know； nor would she tell him when he
asked； but a few days later she sent for him； and very gladly Davidable
now to go where he pleasedobeyed the summons。
It was November； and the garden was bleak and cold； but in the library
a bright fire danced on the hearth； and before this Miss Holbrook drew up
two low chairs。
She looked particularly pretty； David thought。 The rich red of her dress
had apparently brought out an answering red in her cheeks。 Her eyes were
very bright and her lips smiled； yet she seemed oddly nervous and restless。
She sewed a little； with a bit of yellow silk on whitebut not for long。 She
knitted with two long ivory needles flashing in and out of a silky mesh of
bluebut this； too； she soon ceased doing。 On a low stand at David's side
she had placed books and pictures； and for a time she talked of those。 Then
very abruptly she asked：
〃David； when will you seeMr。 Jack againdo you suppose？〃
〃Tomorrow。 I'm going up to the House that Jack Built to tea； and I'm to
stay all night。 It's Halloweenthat is； it isn't really Halloween； because it's
too late。 I lost that； being sick； you know。 So we're going to pretend； and
Mr。 Jack is going to show me what it is like。 That is what Mr。 Jack and Jill
always do； when something ails the real thing； they just pretend with the
make…believe one。 He's planned lots of things for Jill and me to do； with
nuts and apples and candles； you know。 It's to…morrow night。 so I'll see
him then。〃
〃To…morrow？ Soso soon？〃 faltered Miss Holbrook。 And to David；
gazing at her with wondering eyes； it seemed for a moment almost as if
she were looking about for a place to which she might run and hide。 Then
determinedly； as if she were taking hold of something with both hands； she
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leaned forward； looked David squarely in the eyes； and began to talk
hurriedly； yet very distinctly。
〃David； listen。 I've something I want you to say to Mr。 Jack； and I want
you to be sure and get it just right。 It's about thethe story； 'The Princess
and the Pauper；' you know。 You can remember； I think； for you
remembered that so well。 Will you say it to himwhat I'm going to tell
youjust as I say it？〃
〃Why； of course I will！〃 David's promise was unhesitating； though his
eyes were still puzzled。
〃It's about thethe ending；〃 stammered Miss Holbrook。 〃That is； it
mayit may have something to do with the endingperhaps；〃 she finished
lamely。 And again David noticed that odd shifting of Miss Holbrook's gaze
as if she were searching for some means of escape。 Then； as before； he
saw her chin lift determinedly； as she began to talk faster than ever。
〃Now； listen；〃 she admonished him； earnestly。
And David listened。
CHAPTER XXIV
A STORY REMODELED
The pretended Halloween was a great suceess。 So very excited；
indeed； did David become over the swinging apples and popping nuts that
he quite forgot to tell Mr。 Jack what the Lady of the Roses had said until
Jill had gone up to bed and he himself was about to take from Mr。 Jack's
hand the little lighted lamp。
〃Oh； Mr。 Jack； I forgot；〃 he cried then。 〃There was something I was
going to tell you。〃
〃Never mind to…night； David； it's so late。 Suppose we leave it until to…
morrow；〃 suggested Mr。 Jack； still with the lamp extended in his hand。
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〃But I promised the Lady of the Roses that I'd say it to…night；〃
demurred the boy； in a troubled voice。
The man drew his lamp halfway back suddenly。
〃The Lady of the Roses！ Do you meanshe sent a messageto ME？〃
he demanded。
〃Yes； about the story； 'The Princess and the Pauper；' you know。〃
With an abrupt exclamation Mr。 Jack set the lamp on the table and
turned to a chair。 He had apparently lost his haste to go to bed。
〃See here； David； suppose you come and sit down； and tell me just
what you're talking about。 And firstjust what does the Lady of the Roses
k
