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It was a bad half…hour that David spent at the Holly farmhouse in
explanation of his torn blouse and bruised face。 Farmer Holly did not
approve of fights； and he said so； very sternly indeed。 Even Mrs。 Holly；
who was usually so kind to him； let David understand that he was in deep
disgrace； though she was very tender to his wounds。
David did venture to ask her； however； before he went upstairs to bed：…
…
〃Mrs。 Holly； who are those peopleJack and Jillthat were so good to
me this afternoon？〃
〃They are John Gurnsey and his sister； Julia； but the whole town
knows them by the names they long ago gave themselves； 'Jack' and 'Jill。' 〃
〃And do they live all alone in the little house？〃
〃Yes； except for the Widow Glaspell； who comes in several times a
week； I believe； to cook and wash and sweep。 They aren't very happy； I'm
afraid； David； and I'm glad you could rescue the little girl's kitten for her
but you mustn't fight。 No good can come of fighting！〃
〃I got the catby fighting。〃
〃Yes； yes； I know； but〃 She did not finish her sentence； and David
was only waiting for a pause to ask another question。
〃Why aren't they happy； Mrs。 Holly？〃
〃Tut； tut； David； it's a long story； and you wouldn't understand it if I
told it。 It's only that they're all alone in the world； and Jack Gurnsey isn't
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well。 He must be thirty years old now。 He had bright hopes not so long ago
studying law； or something of the sort； in the city。 Then his father died；
and his mother； and he lost his health。 Something ails his lungs； and the
doctors sent him here to be out of doors。 He even sleeps out of doors； they
say。 Anyway； he's here； and he's making a home for his sister； but； of
course； with his hopes and ambitionsBut there； David； you don't
understand； of course！〃
〃Oh； yes； I do；〃 breathed David； his eyes pensively turned toward a
shadowy corner。 〃He found his work out in the world； and then he had to
stop and couldn't do it。 Poor Mr。 Jack！〃
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CHAPTER XIII
A SURPRISE FOR MR。 JACK
Life at the Holly farmhouse was not what it had been。 The coming of
David had introduced new elements that promised complications。 Not
because he was another mouth to feedSimeon Holly was not worrying
about that part any longer。 Crops showed good promise； and all ready in
the bank even now was the necessary money to cover the dreaded note；
due the last of August。 The complicating elements in regard to David were
of quite another nature。
To Simeon Holly the boy was a riddle to be sternly solved。 To Ellen
Holly he was an everpresent reminder of the little boy of long ago； and as
such was to be loved and trained into a semblance of what that boy might
have become。 To Perry Larson； David was the 〃derndest checkerboard of
sense an' nonsense goin'〃a game over which to chuckle。
At the Holly farmhouse they could not understand a boy who would
leave a supper for a sunset； or who preferred a book to a toy pistolas
Perry Larson found out was the case on the Fourth of July； who picked
flowers； like a girl； for the table； yet who unhesitatingly struck the first
blow in a fight with six antagonists： who would not go fishing because the
fishes would not like it； nor hunting for any sort of wild thing that had life；
who hung entranced for an hour over the 〃millions of lovely striped bugs〃
in a field of early potatoes； and who promptly and stubbornly refused to
sprinkle those same 〃lovely bugs〃 with Paris green when discovered at his
worship。 All this was most perplexing； to say the least。
Yet David worked； and worked well； and in most cases he obeyed
orders willingly。 He learned much； too； that was interesting and profitable；
nor was he the only one that made strange discoveries during those July
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days。 The Hollys themselves learned much。 They learned that the rose of
sunset and the gold of sunrise were worth looking at； and that the massing
of the thunderheads in the west meant more than just a shower。 They
learned； too； that the green of the hilltop and of the far…reaching meadow
was more than grass； and that the purple haze along the horizon was more
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；