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more alone。 As before； the little yellow…white nightshirt lay over the chair…
back； and as before； Mrs。 Holly had brushed away a tear as she had placed
it there。 As before； too； the big four…posted bed loomed tall and formidable
in the corner。 But this time the coverlet and sheet were turned back
invitinglyMrs。 Holly had been much disturbed to find that David had
slept on the floor the night before。
Once more； with his back carefully turned toward the impaled bugs
and moths on the wall； David undressed himself。 Then； before blowing out
the candle； he went to the window kneeled down； and looked up at the
moon through the trees。
David was sorely puzzled。 He was beginning to wonder just what was
to become of himself。
His father had said that out in the world there was a beautiful work for
him to do； but what was it？ How was he to find it？ Or how was he to do it
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if he did find it？ And another thing； where was he to live？ Could he stay
where he was？ It was not home； to be sure； but there was the little room
over the kitchen where he might sleep； and there was the kind woman who
smiled at him sometimes with the sad； far…away look in her eyes that
somehow hurt。 He would not like； now； to leave herwith daddy gone。
There were the gold…pieces； too； and concerning these David was
equally puzzled。 What should he do with them？ He did not need themthe
kind woman was giving him plenty of food； so that he did not have to go
to the store and buy； and there was nothing else； apparently； that he could
use them for。 They were heavy； and disagreeable to carry； yet he did not
like to throw them away； nor to let anybody know that he had them： he had
been called a thief just for one little piece； and what would they say if they
knew he had all those others？
David remembered now； suddenly； that his father had said to hide
themto hide them until he needed them。 David was relieved at once。
Why had he not thought of it before？ He knew just the place； too；the
little cupboard behind the chimney there in this very room！ And with a
satisfied sigh； David got to his feet； gathered all the little yellow disks
from his pockets； and tucked them well out of sight behind the piles of
books on the cupboard shelves。 There； too； he hid the watch； but the little
miniature of the angel…mother he slipped back into one of his pockets。
David's second morning at the farmhouse was not unlike the first；
except that this time； when Simeon Holly asked him to fill the woodbox；
David resolutely ignored every enticing bug and butterfly； and kept
rigorously to the task before him until it was done。
He was in the kitchen when； just before dinner； Perry Larson came into
the room with a worried frown on his face。
〃Mis' Holly； would ye mind just steppin' to the side door？ There's a
woman an' a little boy there； an' somethin' ails 'em。 She can't talk English；
an' I'm blest if I can make head nor tail out of the lingo she DOES talk。
But maybe you can。〃
〃Why； Perry； I don't know〃 began Mrs。 Holly。 But she turned at once
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toward the door。
On the porch steps stood a very pretty； but frightened…looking young
woman with a boy perhaps ten years old at her side。 Upon catching sight
of Mrs。 Holly she burst into a torrent of unintelligible words；
supplemented by numerous and vehement gestures。
Mrs。 Holly shrank back； and cast appealing eyes toward her husband
who at that moment had come across the yard from the barn。
〃Simeon； can you tell what she wants？〃
At sight of the newcomer on the scene； the strange woman began again；
with even more volubility。
〃No；〃 said Simeon Holly； after a moment's scowling scrutiny of the
gesticulating woman。 〃She's talking French； I think。 And she wants
something。〃
〃Gosh！ I should say she did；〃 muttered Perry Larson。 〃An' whatever 't
is； she wants it powerful bad。〃
〃Are you hungry？〃 questioned Mrs。 Holly timidly。
〃Can't you speak English at all？〃 demanded Simeon Holly。
The woman looked from one to the other with the piteous； pleading
eyes of the stranger in the strange land who cannot understand or make
others understand。 She had turned away with a despairing shake of her
head； when suddenly she gave a wild cry of joy and wheeled about； her
whole face alight。
The Hollys and Perry Larson saw then that David had come out onto
the porch and was speaking to the womanand his words were just as
unintelligible as the woman's had been。
Mrs。 Holly and Perry Larson stared。 Simeon Holly interrupted David
with a sharp
〃Do you； then； understand this woman； boy？〃
〃Why； yes！ Didn't you？ She's lost her way； and〃 But the woman had
hurried forward and was pouring her story into David's ears。
At its conclusion David turned to find the look of stupefaction still on
the others' faces。
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〃Well； what does she want？〃 asked Simeon Holly crisply。
〃She wants to find the way to Francois Lavelle's house。 He's her
husband's brother。 She came in on the train this morning。 Her husband
stopped off a minute somewhere； she says； and got left behind。 He could
talk English； but she can't。 She's only been in this country a week。 She
came from France。〃
〃Gorry！ Won't ye listen ter that； now？〃 cried Perry Larson admiringly。
〃Reads her just like a book； don't he？ There's a French family over in West
Hinsdaletwo of 'em； I think。 What'll ye bet 't ain't one o' them？〃
〃Very likely；〃 acceded Simeon Holly； his eyes bent disapprovingly on
David's face。 It was plain to be seen that Simeon Holly's attention was
occupied by David； not the woman。
〃An'； say； Mr。 Holly；〃 resumed Perry Larson； a little excitedly； 〃you
know I was goin' over ter West Hinsdale in a day or two ter see Harlow
about them steers。 Why can't I go this afternoon an' tote her an' the kid
along？〃
〃Very well；〃 nodded Simeon