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But David hurried on with his explanation。
〃We never used to use themfather and Iexcept to buy things to eat
and wear； and down here YOU give me those； you know。〃
〃Gorry！〃 interjected Perry Larson。 〃Do you reckon； boy； that Mr。 Holly
himself was give them things he gives ter you？〃
The boy turned sharply； a startled question in his eyes。
〃What do you mean？ Do you mean that〃 His face changed suddenly。
His cheeks turned a shamed red。 〃Why； he didhe did have to buy them；
of course； just as father did。 And I never even thought of it before！ Then；
it's yours； anywayit belongs to you；〃 he argued； turning to Farmer Holly；
and shoving the gold nearer to his hands。 〃There isn't enough； maybebut
't will help！〃
〃They're ten…dollar gold pieces； sir；〃 spoke up Larson importantly； 〃an'
there's a hundred an' six of them。 That's jest one thousand an' sixty dollars；
as I make it。〃
Simeon Holly； self…controlled man that he was； almost leaped from his
chair。
〃One thousand and sixty dollars！〃 he gasped。 Then； to David： 〃Boy； in
Heaven's name； who are you？〃
〃I don't knowonly David。〃 The boy spoke wearily； with a grieved sob
in his voice。 He was very tired； a good deal perplexed； and a little angry。
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He wished； if no one wanted this gold； that he could take it upstairs again
to the chimney cupboard； or； if they objected to that； that they would at
least give it to him； and let him go away now to that beautiful music he
was to hear； and to those kind people who were always to understand what
he said when he played。
〃Of course；〃 ventured Perry Larson diffidently； 〃I ain't professin' ter
know any great shakes about the hand of the Lord； Mr。 Holly； but it do
strike me that this 'ere gold comes mighty near bein' proverdentialfur
you。〃
Simeon Holly fell back in his seat。 His eyes clung to the gold； but his
lips set into rigid lines。
〃That money is the boy's； Larson。 It isn't mine；〃 he said。
〃He's give it to ye。〃
Simeon Holly shook his head。
〃David is nothing but a child； Perry。 He doesn't realize at all what he is
doing； nor how valuable his gift is。〃
〃I know； sir； but you DID take him in； when there wouldn't nobody
else do it；〃 argued Larson。 〃An'； anyhow； couldn't you make a kind of an I
O U of it； even if he is a kid？ Then； some day you could pay him back。
Meanwhile you'd be a…keepin' him； an' a…schoolin' him； an' that's
somethin'。〃
〃I know； I know；〃 nodded Simeon Holly thoughtfully； his eyes going
from the gold to David's face。 Then； aloud； yet as if to himself； he breathed：
〃Boy； boy； who was your father？ How came he by all that goldand hea
tramp！〃
David drew himself suddenly erect。 His eyes flashed。
〃I don't know； sir。 But I do know this： he didn't STEAL it！〃
Across the table Mrs。 Holly drew a quick breath； but she did not
speaksave with her pleading eyes。 Mrs。 Holly seldom spokesave with
her eyeswhen her husband was solving a knotty problem。 She was
dumfounded now that he should listen so patiently to the man； Larson；
though she was not more surprised than was Larson himself。 For both of
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them； however； there came at this moment a still greater surprise。 Simeon
Holly leaned forward suddenly； the stern lines quite gone from his lips；
and his face working with emotion as he drew David toward him。
〃You're a good son； boy；a good loyal son； andand I wish you were
mine！ I believe you。 He didn't steal it； and I won't steal it； either。 But I will
use it； since you are so good as to offer it。 But it shall be a loan； David；
and some day； God helping me； you shall have it back。 Meanwhile； you're
my boy； David；my boy！〃
〃Oh； thank you； sir；〃 rejoiced David。 〃And； really； you know； being
wanted like that is better than the start would be； isn't it？〃
〃Better thanwhat？〃
David shifted his position。 He had not meant to say just that。
〃Nnothing；〃 he stammered； looking about for a means of quick
escape。 〃II was just talking；〃 he finished。 And he was immeasurably
relieved to find that Mr。 Holly did not press the matter further。
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CHAPTER XIX
THE UNBEAUTIFUL WORLD
In spite of the exaltation of renunciation； and in spite of the joy of
being newly and especially 〃wanted；〃 those early September days were
sometimes hard for David。 Not until he had relinquished all hope of his
〃start〃 did he fully realize what that hope had meant to him。
There were times； to be sure； when there was nothing but rejoicing
within him that he was able thus to aid the Hollys。 There were other times
when there was nothing but the sore heartache because of the great work
out in the beautiful world that could now never be done； and because of
the unlovely work at hand that must be done。 To tell the truth； indeed；
David's entire conception of life had become suddenly a chaos of puzzling
contradictions。
To Mr。 Jack； one day； David went with his perplexities。 Not that he
told him of the gold…pieces and of the unexpected use to which they had
been putindeed； no。 David had made up his mind never； if he could help
himself； to mention those gold…pieces to any one who did not already
know of them。 They meant questions； and the questions； explanations。 And
he had had enough of both on that particular subject。 But to Mr。 Jack he
said one day； when they were alone together：
〃Mr。 Jack； how many folks have you got inside of your head？〃
〃Ehwhat； David？〃
David repeated his question and attached an explanation。
〃I mean； the folks thatthat make you do things。〃
Mr。 Jack laughed。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃I believe some people make claims to quite a number；
and perhaps almost every one owns to a Dr。 Jekyll and a Mr。 Hyde。〃
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〃Who are they？〃
〃Never mind； David。 I don't think you know the gentlemen； anyhow。
They're only something like the little girl with a curl。 One is very； very
good； indeed； and the other is horr