"JUST DAVID" - читать интересную книгу автора (Porter Eleanor H)

XI. JACK AND JILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
XII. ANSWERS THAT DID NOT ANSWER . . . . . . . . . . .155
XIII. A SURPRISE FOR MR. JACK . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
XIV. THE TOWER WINDOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
XV. SECRETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
XVI. DAVID'S CASTLE IN SPAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
XVII. "THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER" . . . . . . . . . .210
XVIII. DAVID TO THE RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225
XIX. THE UNBEAUTIFUL WORLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . .241
XX. THE UNFAMILIAR WAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .252
XXI. HEAVY HEARTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .264
XXII. AS PERRY SAW IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274
XXIII. PUZZLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284
XXIV. A STORY REMODELED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .298
XXV. THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308


CHAPTER I
THE MOUNTAIN HOME

Far up on the mountain-side stood alone in the clearing. It was
roughly yet warmly built. Behind it jagged cliffs broke the
north wind, and towered gray-white in the sunshine. Before it a
tiny expanse of green sloped gently away to a point where the
mountain dropped in another sharp descent, wooded with scrubby
firs and pines. At the left a footpath led into the cool depths
of the forest. But at the right the mountain fell away again and
disclosed to view the picture David loved the best of all: the
far-reaching valley; the silver pool of the lake with its ribbon
of a river flung far out; and above it the grays and greens and
purples of the mountains that climbed one upon another's
shoulders until the topmost thrust their heads into the wide
dome of the sky itself.
There was no road, apparently, leading away from the cabin.
There was only the footpath that disappeared into the forest.
Neither, anywhere, was there a house in sight nearer than the
white specks far down in the valley by the river.
Within the shack a wide fireplace dominated one side of the
main room. It was June now, and the ashes lay cold on the
hearth; but from the tiny lean-to in the rear came the smell and
the sputter of bacon sizzling over a blaze. The furnishings of
the room were simple, yet, in a way, out of the common. There
were two bunks, a few rude but comfortable chairs, a table, two
music-racks, two violins with their cases, and everywhere books,
and scattered sheets of music. Nowhere was there cushion,
curtain, or knickknack that told of a woman's taste or touch. On
the other hand, neither was there anywhere gun, pelt, or
antlered head that spoke of a man's strength and skill. For
decoration there were a beautiful copy of the Sistine Madonna,
several photographs signed with names well known out in the