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eyes got soft and dark like little pools in the brook where the water stops
to rest。 And she said she had hoped once that this something would happen；
but that it hadn't； and that it would take something more than thinking to
bring it。 And I know now what she meant； because thinking isn't all that
counts； is it？〃
Mr。 Jack did not answer。 He had risen to his feet； and was pacing
restlessly up and down the veranda。 Once or twice he turned his eyes
toward the towers of Sunnycrest； and David noticed that there was a new
look on his face。
Very soon； however； the old tiredness came back to his eyes； and he
dropped into his seat again； muttering 〃Fool！ of course it couldn't be
that！〃
〃Be what？〃 asked David。
Mr。 Jack started。
〃Ernothing； nothing that you would understand； David。 Go onwith
what you were saying。〃
〃There isn't any more。 It's all done。 It's only that I'm wondering how
I'm going to learn here that it's a beautiful world； so that I cantell father。〃
Mr。 Jack roused himself。 He had the air of a man who determinedly
throws to one side a heavy burden。
〃Well； David；〃 he smiled； 〃as I said before； you are still out on that sea
where there are so many little upturned boats。 There might be a good
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many ways of answering that question。〃
〃Mr。 Holly says；〃 mused the boy； aloud； a little gloomily； 〃that it
doesn't make any difference whether we find things beautiful or not； that
we're here to do something serious in the world。〃
〃That is about what I should have expected of Mr。 Holly〃 retorted Mr。
Jack grimly。 〃He acts itand looks it。 ButI don't believe you are going to
tell your father just that。〃
〃No； sir； I don't believe I am；〃 accorded David soberly。
〃I have an idea that you're going to find that answer just where your
father said you wouldin your violin。 See if you don't。 Things that aren't
beautiful you'll make beautifulbecause we find what we are looking for；
and you're looking for beautiful things。 After all； boy； if we march straight
ahead； chin up； and sing our own little song with all our might and main；
we shan't come so far amiss from the goal； I'm thinking。 There！ that's
preaching； and I didn't mean to preach； butwell； to tell the truth； that was
meant for myself； forI'm hunting for the beautiful world； too。〃
〃Yes； sir； I know；〃 returned David fervently。 And again Mr。 Jack；
looking into the sympathetic； glowing dark eyes； wondered if； after all；
David really couldknow。
Even yet Mr。 Jack was not used to David； there were 〃so many of
him；〃 he told himself。 There were the boy； the artist； and a third
personality so evanescent that it defied being named。 The boy was jolly；
impetuous； confidential； and delightfulplainly reveling in all manner of
fun and frolic。 The artist was nothing but a bunch of nervous alertness；
ready to find melody and rhythm in every passing thought or flying cloud。
The thirdthat baffling third that defied the namingwas a dreamy；
visionary； untouchable creature who floated so far above one's head that
one's hand could never pull him down to get a good square chance to see
what he did look like。 All this thought Mr。 Jack as he gazed into David's
luminous eyes。
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CHAPTER XX
THE UNFAMILIAR WAY
In September David entered the village school。 School and David did
not assimilate at once。 Very confidently the teacher set to work to grade
her new pupil； but she was not so confident when she found that while in
Latin he was perilously near herself （and in Frenchwhich she was not
required to teachdisastrously beyond her！）； in United States history he
knew only the barest outlines of certain portions； and could not name a
single battle in any of its wars。 In most studies he was far beyond boys of
his own age； yet at every turn she encountered these puzzling spots of
discrepancy； which rendered grading in the ordinary way out of the
question。
David's methods of recitation； too； were peculiar； and somewhat
disconcerting。 He also did not hesitate to speak aloud when he chose； nor
to rise from his seat and move to any part of the room as the whim seized
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