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than the mountains that lay between them and the next State。 They were
beginning to see the world with David's eyes。
There were； too； the long twilights and evenings when David； on the
wings of his violin； would speed away to his mountain home； leaving
behind him a man and a woman who seemed to themselves to be listening
to the voice of a curly…headed； rosy…cheeked lad who once played at their
knees and nestled in their arms when the day was done。 And here； too； the
Hollys were learning； though the thing thus learned was hidden deep in
their hearts。
It was not long after David's first visit that the boy went again to 〃The
House that Jack Built；〃 as the Gurnseys called their tiny home。 （Though in
reality it had been Jack's father who had built the house。 Jack and Jill；
however； did not always deal with realities。） It was not a pleasant
afternoon。 There was a light mist in the air； and David was without his
violin。
〃I came toto inquire for the catJuliette；〃 he began； a little bashfully。
〃I thought I'd rather do that than read to…day；〃 he explained to Jill in the
doorway。
〃Good！ I'm so glad！ I hoped you'd come；〃 the little girl welcomed him。
〃Come in andand see Juliette；〃 she added hastily； remembering at the last
moment that her brother had not looked with entire favor on her avowed
admiration for this strange little boy。
Juliette； roused from her nap； was at first inclined to resent her visitor's
presence。 In five minutes； however； she was purring in his lap。
The conquest of the kitten once accomplished； David looked about
him a little restlessly。 He began to wonder why he had come。 He wished
he had gone to see Joe Glaspell instead。 He wished that Jill would not sit
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and stare at him like that。 He wished that she would say something
anything。 But Jill； apparently struck dumb with embarrassment； was
nervously twisting the corner of her apron into a little knot。 David tried to
recollect what he had talked about a few days before； and he wondered
why he had so enjoyed himself then。 He wished that something would
happenanything！and then from an inner room came the sound of a
violin。
David raised his head。
〃It's Jack；〃 stammered the little girlwho also had been wishing
something would happen。 〃He plays； same as you do； on the violin。〃
〃Does he？〃 beamed David。 〃But〃 He paused； listening； a quick frown
on his face。
Over and over the violin was playing a single phraseand the
variations in the phrase showed the indecision of the fingers and of the
mind that controlled them。 Again and again with irritating sameness； yet
with a still more irritating difference； came the succession of notes。 And
then David sprang to his feet； placing Juliette somewhat unceremoniously
on the floor； much to that petted young autocrat's disgust。
〃Here； where is he？ Let me show him；〃 cried the boy； and at the note
of command in his voice； Jill involuntarily rose and opened the door to
Jack's den。
〃Oh； please； Mr。 Jack；〃 burst out David； hurrying into the room。 〃Don't
you see？ You don't go at that thing right。 If you'll just let me show you a
minute； we'll have it fixed in no time！〃
The man with the violin stared； and lowered his bow。 A slow red came
to his face。 The phrase was peculiarly a difficult one； and beyond him； as
he knew； but that did not make the present intrusion into his privacy any
the more welcome。
〃Oh； will we； indeed！〃 he retorted； a little sharply。 〃Don't trouble
yourself； I beg of you； boy。〃
〃But it isn't a mite of trouble； truly；〃 urged David； with an ardor that
ignored the sarcasm in the other's words。 〃I WANT to do it。〃
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Despite his annoyance； the man gave a short laugh。
〃Well； David； I believe you。 And I'll warrant you'd tackle this Brahms
concerto as nonchalantly as you did those six hoodlums with the cat the
other dayand expect to win out； too！〃
〃But； truly； this is easy； when you know how；〃 laughed the boy。 〃See！〃
To his surprise； the man found himself relinquishing the violin and
bow into the slim； eager hands that reached for them。 The next moment he
fell back in amazement。 Clear； distinct； yet connected like a string of
rounded pearls fell the troublesome notes from David's bow。 〃You see；〃
smiled the boy again； and played the phrase a second time； more slowly；
and with deliberate emphasis at the difficult part。 Then； as if in answer to
some irresistible summons within him； he dashed into the next phrase and；
with marvelous technique； played quite through the rippling cadenza that
completed the movement。
〃Well； by George！〃 breathed the man dazedly； as he took the offered
violin。 The next moment he had demanded vehemently： 〃For Heaven's
sake； who ARE you； boy？〃
David's face wrinkled in grieved surprise。
〃Why； I'm David。 Don't you remember？ I was here just the other day！〃
〃Yes； yes； but who taught you to play like that？〃
〃Father。〃
〃 'Father'！〃 The man echoed the word with a gesture of comic despair。
〃First Latin； then jiujitsu； and now the violin！ Boy； who was your father？〃
David lifted his head and frowned a little。 He had been questioned so
often； and so unsympathetically； about his father that he was beginning to
resent it。
〃He was daddyjust daddy； and I loved him dearly。〃
〃But what was his name？〃
〃I don't know。 We didn't seem to have a name likelike yours down
here。 Anyway； if we did； I didn't know what it was。〃
〃But； David；〃the man was speaking very gently now。 He had
motioned the boy to a low seat by his side。 The little girl was standing near；
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her eyes alight with wondering interest。 〃He must have had a name； you
know； just the same。 Didn't you ever hear any one call him anything？
Think； now。〃
〃No。〃 David said the single word； and turned his eyes away。 It had
occurred to him； since he had come to live in the valley； that perhaps his
father did not want to have his name known。 He remembered that once the