With unmistakable ease, and with the trained accent of the scholar, he was reading aloud the Latin inscription on the dial: "'Horas non numero nisi serenas,' 'I count--no--hours but--unclouded ones,'" he translated then, slowly, though with confidence.

"That's pretty; but what does it mean--about 'counting' ?" Miss Holbrook rose to her feet.
"For Heaven's sake, boy, who, and what are you ?" she demanded.

"Can YOU read Latin ?" "Why, of course! Can't you ?" With a disdainful gesture Miss Holbrook swept this aside.
"Boy, who are you ?" she demanded again imperatively.
"I'm David.

I told you." "But David who?
Where do you live ?" The boy's face clouded.
"I'm David--just David.

I live at Farmer Holly's now; but I did live on the mountain with--father, you know." A great light of understanding broke over Miss Holbrook's face.