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〃Did he sayjust that？〃 Miss Holbrook was leaning forward a little
breathlessly now。
〃Yesjust that； and that's the part I couldn't understand；〃 commented
David。 〃For I don't see why a storyjust a story made up out of
somebody's headcan't be changed any way you want it。 And I told him
so。〃
〃Well； and what did he say to that？〃
〃He didn't say anything for a minute； and I had to ask him again。 Then
he sat up suddenly； just as if he'd been asleep； you know； and said； 'Eh；
what； David？' And then I told him again what I'd said。 This time he shook
his head； and smiled that kind of a smile that isn't really a smile； you know；
and said something about a real； true…to…life story's never having but one
ending； and that was a logical ending。 Lady of the Roses； what is a logical
ending？〃
The Lady of the Roses laughed unexpectedly。 The two little red spots；
that David always loved to see； flamed into her cheeks； and her eyes
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showed a sudden sparkle。 When she answered； her words came
disconnectedly； with little laughing breaths between。
〃Well； David； II'm not sure I cantell you。 But perhaps Ican find
out。 This much； however； I am sure of： Mr。 Jack's logical ending wouldn't
bemine！〃
What she meant David did not know； nor would she tell him when he
asked； but a few days later she sent for him； and very gladly Davidable
now to go where he pleasedobeyed the summons。
It was November； and the garden was bleak and cold； but in the library
a bright fire danced on the hearth； and before this Miss Holbrook drew up
two low chairs。
She looked particularly pretty； David thought。 The rich red of her dress
had apparently brought out an answering red in her cheeks。 Her eyes were
very bright and her lips smiled； yet she seemed oddly nervous and restless。
She sewed a little； with a bit of yellow silk on whitebut not for long。 She
knitted with two long ivory needles flashing in and out of a silky mesh of
bluebut this； too； she soon ceased doing。 On a low stand at David's side
she had placed books and pictures； and for a time she talked of those。 Then
very abruptly she asked：
〃David； when will you seeMr。 Jack againdo you suppose？〃
〃Tomorrow。 I'm going up to the House that Jack Built to tea； and I'm to
stay all night。 It's Halloweenthat is； it isn't really Halloween； because it's
too late。 I lost that； being sick； you know。 So we're going to pretend； and
Mr。 Jack is going to show me what it is like。 That is what Mr。 Jack and Jill
always do； when something ails the real thing； they just pretend with the
make…believe one。 He's planned lots of things for Jill and me to do； with
nuts and apples and candles； you know。 It's to…morrow night。 so I'll see
him then。〃
〃To…morrow？ Soso soon？〃 faltered Miss Holbrook。 And to David；
gazing at her with wondering eyes； it seemed for a moment almost as if
she were looking about for a place to which she might run and hide。 Then
determinedly； as if she were taking hold of something with both hands； she
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leaned forward； looked David squarely in the eyes； and began to talk
hurriedly； yet very distinctly。
〃David； listen。 I've something I want you to say to Mr。 Jack； and I want
you to be sure and get it just right。 It's about thethe story； 'The Princess
and the Pauper；' you know。 You can remember； I think； for you
remembered that so well。 Will you say it to himwhat I'm going to tell
youjust as I say it？〃
〃Why； of course I will！〃 David's promise was unhesitating； though his
eyes were still puzzled。
〃It's about thethe ending；〃 stammered Miss Holbrook。 〃That is； it
mayit may have something to do with the endingperhaps；〃 she finished
lamely。 And again David noticed that odd shifting of Miss Holbrook's gaze
as if she were searching for some means of escape。 Then； as before； he
saw her chin lift determinedly； as she began to talk faster than ever。
〃Now； listen；〃 she admonished him； earnestly。
And David listened。
CHAPTER XXIV
A STORY REMODELED
The pretended Halloween was a great suceess。 So very excited；
indeed； did David become over the swinging apples and popping nuts that
he quite forgot to tell Mr。 Jack what the Lady of the Roses had said until
Jill had gone up to bed and he himself was about to take from Mr。 Jack's
hand the little lighted lamp。
〃Oh； Mr。 Jack； I forgot；〃 he cried then。 〃There was something I was
going to tell you。〃
〃Never mind to…night； David； it's so late。 Suppose we leave it until to…
morrow；〃 suggested Mr。 Jack； still with the lamp extended in his hand。
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〃But I promised the Lady of the Roses that I'd say it to…night；〃
demurred the boy； in a troubled voice。
The man drew his lamp halfway back suddenly。
〃The Lady of the Roses！ Do you meanshe sent a messageto ME？〃
he demanded。
〃Yes； about the story； 'The Princess and the Pauper；' you know。〃
With an abrupt exclamation Mr。 Jack set the lamp on the table and
turned to a chair。 He had apparently lost his haste to go to bed。
〃See here； David； suppose you come and sit down； and tell me just
what you're talking about。 And firstjust what does the Lady of the Roses
know about thatthat 'Princess and the Pauper'？〃
〃Why； she knows it all； of course；〃 returned the boy in surprise。 〃I told
it to her。〃
〃Youtolditto her！〃 Mr。 Jack relaxed in his chair。 〃David！〃
〃Yes。 And she was just as interested as could be。〃
〃I don't doubt it！〃 Mr。 Jack's lips snapped together a little grimly。
〃Only she didn't like the ending； either。〃
Mr。 Jack sat up suddenly。
〃She didn't likeDavid； are you sure？ Did she SAY that？〃
David frowned in thought。
〃Well； I don't know as I can tell； exactly； but I'm sure she did n't like it；
because just before she told me WHAT to say to you； she said thatthat
what she was going to say would probably have something to do with the
ending； anyway。 Still〃 David paused in yet deeper thought。 〃Come to
think of it； there really isn't anythingnot in what she saidthat
CHANGED that