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much use as the things He give us ter eat； an' that the stars an' the sunsets
an' the snowflakes an' the little white cloud…boats； an' I don't know what…
all； was jest as important in the Orchestra of Life as turnips an' squashes。
An' then； Billy says； he ended by jest flingin' himself on ter Streeter an'
beggin' him ter wait till he could go back an' git his fiddle so he could tell
him what a beautiful thing that tree was。
〃Well； if you'll believe it； old Streeter was so plum befuzzled he sent
the man an' the axe awayan' that tree's a…livin' ter…day't is！〃 he finished；
then； with a sudden gloom on his face； Larson added； huskily： 〃An' I only
hope I'll be sayin' the same thing of that boycome next month at this
time！〃
〃We'll hope you will；〃 sighed the other fervently。
And so one by one the days passed； while the whole town waited and
while in the great airy 〃parlor bedroom〃 of the Holly farmhouse one small
boy fought his battle for life。 Then came the blackest day and night of all
when the town could only wait and watchit had lost its hope； when the
doctors shook their heads and refused to meet Mrs。 Holly's eyes； when the
pulse in the slim wrist outside the coverlet played hide…and…seek with the
cool； persistent fingers that sought so earnestly for it； when Perry Larson
sat for uncounted sleepless hours by the kitchen stove； and fearfully
listened for a step crossing the hallway； when Mr。 Jack on his porch； and
Miss Holbrook in her tower widow； went with David down into the dark
valley； and came so near the rushing river that life； with its petty prides
and prejudices； could never seem quite the same to them again。
Then； after that blackest day and night； came the dawnas the dawns
do come after the blackest of days and nights。 In the slender wrist outside
the coverlet the pulse gained and steadied。 On the forehead beneath the
nurse's fingers； a moisture came。 The doctors nodded their heads now； and
looked every one straight in the eye。 〃He will live；〃 they said。 〃The crisis
is passed。〃 Out by the kitchen stove Perry Larson heard the step cross the
hall and sprang upright； but at the first glimpse of Mrs。 Holly's tear…wet；
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yet radiant face； he collapsed limply。
〃Gosh！〃 he muttered。 〃Say； do you know； I didn't s'pose I did care so
much！ I reckon I'll go an' tell Mr。 Jack。 He'll want ter hear。〃
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CHAPTER XXIII
PUZZLES
David's convalescence was picturesque； in a way。 As soon as he was
able； like a king he sat upon his throne and received his subjects； and a
very gracious king he was； indeed。 His room overflowed with flowers and
fruit； and his bed quite groaned with the toys and books and games
brought for his diversion； each one of which he hailed with delight； from
Miss Holbrook's sumptuously bound 〃Waverley Novels〃 to little crippled
Jimmy Clark's bag of marbles。
Only two things puzzled David： one was why everybody was so good
to him； and the other was why he never could have the pleasure of both
Mr。 Jack's and Miss Holbrook's company at the same time。
David discovered this last curious circumstance concerning Mr。 Jack
and Miss Holbrook very early in his convalescence。 It was on the second
afternoon that Mr。 Jack had been admitted to the sick…room。 David had
been hearing all the latest news of Jill and Joe； when suddenly he noticed
an odd change come to his visitor's face。
The windows of the Holly 〃parlor bedroom〃 commanded a fine view
of the road； and it was toward one of these windows that Mr。 Jack's eyes
were directed。 David； sitting up in bed； saw then that down the road was
approaching very swiftly a handsome span of black horses and an open
carriage which he had come to recognize as belonging to Miss Holbrook。
He watched it eagerly now till he saw the horses turn in at the Holly
driveway。 Then he gave a low cry of delight。
〃It's my Lady of the Roses！ She's coming to see me。 Look！ Oh； I'm so
glad！ Now you'll see her； and just KNOW how lovely she is。 Why； Mr。
Jack； you aren't going NOW！〃 he broke off in manifest disappointment； as
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Mr。 Jack leaped to his feet。
〃I think I'll have to； if you don't mind； David；〃 returned the man； an
oddly nervous haste in his manner。 〃And YOU won't mind； now that you'll
have Miss Holbrook。 I want to speak to Larson。 I saw him in the field out
there a minute ago。 And I guess I'll slip right through this window here；
too； David。 I don't want to lose him； and I can catch him quicker this way
than any other；〃 he finished； throwing up the sash。
〃Oh； but Mr。 Jack； please just wait a minute；〃 begged David。 〃I wanted
you to see my Lady of the Roses； and〃 But Mr。 Jack was already on the
ground outside the low window； and the next minute； with a merry nod
and smile； he had pulled the sash down after him and was hurrying away。
Almost at once； then； Miss Holbrook appeared at the bedroom door。
〃Mrs。 Holly said I was to walk right in； David； so here I am；〃 she
began； in a cheery voice。 〃Oh； you're looking lots better than when I saw
you Monday； young man！〃
〃I am better；〃 caroled David； 〃and to…day I'm 'specially better； because
Mr。 Jack has been here。〃
〃Oh； has Mr。 Jack been to see you to…day？〃 There was an indefinable
change in Miss Holbrook's voice。
〃Yes； right now。 Why； he was here when you were driving into the
yard。〃
Miss Holbrook gave a perceptible start and looked about her a little
wildly。
〃Here whenBut I didn't meet him anywherein the hall。〃
〃He didn't go through the hall；〃 laughed David gleefully。 〃He went
right through that window there。〃
〃The window！〃 An angry flush mounted to Miss Holbrook's forehead。
〃Indeed； did he have to resort to that to escape〃 She bit her lip and
stopped abruptly。
David's eyes widened a little。
〃Escape？ Oh； HE wasn't the one that was escaping。 It was Perry。 Mr。
Jack was afraid he'd lose him。 He saw him out the window there； right
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after he'd seen you； and he said he wanted to speak to him and he was
afraid he'd get away。 So he jumped right through that window there。 See？〃
〃Oh； yes； Isee；〃 murmured Miss Holbrook； in a voice David thought
was a little queer。
〃I wanted him to stay；〃 frowned David uncertainly。 〃I wanted him to
see you。〃
〃Dear me； David； I hope you didn't tell him so。〃
〃Oh； yes； I did。 But he couldn't stay； even then。 You see； he wanted to
catch Perry Larson。〃
〃I've no doubt of it；〃 retorted Miss Holbrook； with so much emphasis
that David again looked at her with a slightly disturbed frown。
〃But he'll come again soon； I'm sure； and then maybe you'll be here；
too。 I do so want him to see you； Lady of the Roses！〃
〃Nonsense； David！〃 laughed Miss Holbrook alittle nervously。 〃Mr。
Mr。 Gurnsey doesn't want to see me。 He's seen me dozens of times。〃
〃Oh； yes； he told me he'd seen you long ago；〃 nodded David gravely；
〃but he didn't act as if he remembered it much。〃
〃Didn't he； indeed！〃 laughed Miss Holbrook； again flushing a little。
〃Well； I'm sure； dear； we wouldn't want to tax the poor gentleman's
memory too much； you know。 Come； suppose you see what I've brought
you；〃 she finished gayly。
〃Oh； what is it？〃 cried David； as； under Miss Holbrook's swift fingers；
the wrappings fell away and disclosed a box which； upon being opened；
was found to be filled with quantities of oddly shaped bits of pictured
wooda jumble of confusion。
〃It's a jig…saw puzzle； David。 All these little pieces fitted together make
a picture； you see。 I tried last night and I could n't do it。 I brought it down
to see if you could。〃
〃Oh； thank you！ I'd love to；〃 rejoiced the boy。 And in the fascination of
the marvel of finding one fantastic bit that fitted another； David apparently
forgot all about Mr。 Jackwhich seemed