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before； sitting reading under the roses。 Great was his surprise and
disappointment； therefore； to find the garden with no one in it。
He had told himself that it was the sundial； the roses； the shimmering
pool； the garden itself that he wanted to see； but he knew now that it was
the ladyhis Lady of the Roses。 He did not even care to play； though all
around him was the beauty that had at first so charmed his eye。 Very
slowly he walked across the sunlit； empty space； and entered the path that
led to the house。 In his mind was no definite plan； yet he walked on and on；
until he came to the wide lawns surrounding the house itself。 He stopped
then； entranced。
Stone upon stone the majestic pile raised itself until it was etched；
clean…cut； against the deep blue of the sky。 The towershis towers
brought to David's lips a cry of delight。 They were even more enchanting
here than when seen from afar over the tree…tops； and David gazed up at
them in awed wonder。 From somewhere came the sound of musica
curious sort of music that David had never heard before。 He listened
intently； trying to place it； then slowly he crossed the lawn； ascended the
imposing stone steps； and softly opened one of the narrow screen doors
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before the wide…open French window。
Once within the room David drew a long breath of ecstasy。 Beneath
his feet he felt the velvet softness of the green moss of the woods。 Above
his head he saw a sky…like canopy of blue carrying fleecy clouds on which
floated little pink…and…white children with wings； just as David himself
had so often wished that he could float。 On all sides silken hangings； like
the green of swaying vines； half…hid other hangings of feathery； snowflake
lace。 Everywhere mirrored walls caught the light and reflected the potted
ferns and palms so that David looked down endless vistas of loveliness
that seemed for all the world like the long sunflecked aisles beneath the
tall pines of his mountain home。
The music that David had heard at first had long since stopped； but
David had not noticed that。 He stood now in the center of the room； awed；
and trembling； but enraptured。 Then from somewhere came a voicea
voice so cold that it sounded as if it had swept across a field of ice。
〃Well； boy； when you have quite finished your inspection； perhaps you
will tell me to what I am indebted for THIS visit；〃 it said。
David turned abruptly。
〃O Lady of the Roses； why didn't you tell me it was like thisin here？〃
he breathed。
〃Well； really；〃 murmured the lady in the doorway； stiffly； 〃it had not
occurred to me that that was hardlynecessary。〃
〃But it was！don't you see？ This is new； all new。 I never saw anything
like it before； and I do so love new things。 It gives me something new to
play； don't you understand？〃
〃Newto play？〃
〃Yeson my violin；〃 explained David； a little breathlessly； softly
testing his violin。 〃There's always something new in this； you know；〃 he
hurried on； as he tightened one of the strings； 〃when there's anything new
outside。 Now； listen！ You see I don't know myself just how it's going to
sound； and I'm always so anxious to find out。〃 And with a joyously rapt
face he began to play。
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〃But； see here； boy；you mustn't！ You〃 The words died on her lips；
and； to her unbounded amazement； Miss Barbara Holbrook； who had
intended peremptorily to send this persistent little tramp boy about his
business； found herself listening to a melody so compelling in its sonorous
beauty that she was left almost speechless at its close。 It was the boy who
spoke。
〃There； I told you my violin would know what to say！〃
〃 'What to say'！well； that's more than I do〃 laughed Miss Holbrook； a
little hysterically。 〃Boy； come here and tell me who you are。〃 And she led
the way to a low divan that stood near a harp at the far end of the room。
It was the same story； told as David had told it to Jack and Jill a few
days before； only this time David's eyes were roving admiringly all about
the room； resting oftenest on the harp so near him。
〃Did that make the music that I heard？〃 he asked eagerly； as soon as
Miss Holbrook's questions gave him opportunity。 〃It's got strings。〃
〃Yes。 I was playing when you came in。 I saw you enter the window。
Really； David； are you in the habit of walking into people's houses like this？
It is most disconcertingto their owners。〃
〃Yesnowell； sometimes。〃 David's eyes were still on the harp。 〃Lady
of the Roses； won't you please play againon that？〃
〃David； you are incorrigible！ Why did you come into my house like
this？〃
〃The music said 'come'； and the towers； too。 You see； I KNOW the
towers。〃
〃You KNOW them！〃
〃Yes。 I can see them from so many places； and I always watch for
them。 They show best of anywhere； though； from Jack and Jill's。 And now
won't you play？〃
Miss Holbrook had almost risen to her feet when she turned abruptly。
〃Fromwhere？〃 she asked。
〃From Jack and Jill'sthe House that Jack Built； you know。〃
〃You meanMr。 John Gurnsey's house？〃 A deeper color had come into
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Miss Holbrook's cheeks。
〃Yes。 Over there at the top of the little hill across the brook； you know。
You can't see THEIR house from here； but from over there we can see the
towers finely； and the little windowOh； Lady of the Roses；〃 he broke off
excitedly； at the new thought that had come to him； 〃if we； now； were in
that little window； we COULD see their house。 Let's go up。 Can't we？〃
Explicit as this was； Miss Holbrook evidently did not hear； or at least
did not understand； this request。 She settled back on the divan； indeed；
almost determinedly。 Her cheeks were very red now。
〃And do you knowthis Mr。 Jack？〃 she asked lightly。
〃Yes； and Jill； too。 Don't you？ I like them； too。 DO you know them？〃
Again Miss Holbrook ignored the question put to her。 〃And did you
walk into their house； unannounced and uninvited； like this？〃 she queried。
〃No。 He asked me。 You see he wanted to get off some of the dirt and
blood before other folks saw me。〃
〃The dirt andandwhy； David； what do you mean？ What was itan
accident？〃
David frowned and reflected a moment。
〃No。 I did it on purpose。 I HAD to； you see；〃 he finally elucidated。
〃But there were six of them； and I got the worst of it。〃
〃David！〃 Miss Holbrook's voice was horrified。 〃You don't meana
fight！〃
〃Yes'm。 I wanted the catand I got it； but I wouldn't have if Mr。 Jack
hadn't come to help me。〃
〃Oh！ So Mr。 Jackfought； too？〃
〃Well； he pulled the others off； and of course that helped me；〃
explained David truthfully。 〃And then he took me homehe and Jill。〃
〃Jill！ Was she in it？〃
〃No； only her cat。 They had tied a bag over its head and a tin can to its
tail； and of course I couldn't let them do that。 They were hurting her。 And
now； Lady of the Roses； won't you please play？〃
For a moment Miss Holbrook did not speak。 She was gazing at David
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with an odd look in her eyes。 At last she drew a long sigh。
〃David； you are thethe LIMIT！〃 she breathed； as she rose and seated
herself at the harp。
David was manifestly delighted with her playing； and begged for more
when she had finished； but Miss Holbrook shook her head。 She seemed to
have grown suddenly restless； and she moved about the room calling
David's attention to something new each moment。 Then； very abruptly； she
suggested that they go upstairs。 From room to room she hurried the boy；
scarcely listening to his ardent comments； or answering his still more
ardent questions。 Not until they reached the highest tower room； indeed；
did she sink wearily into a chair； and seem for a moment at rest。
David looked about him in surprise。 Even his untrained eye could see
that he had e