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Pollyanna · Pollyanna

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  Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter, Chapter one. Miss Polly, Miss Polly
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  Harrington, entered her kitchen a little hurriedly this June morning. Miss Polly did
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  not usually make hurried movements. She specially prided herself on her repose of manner.
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  But to day she was hurrying, actually hurrying. Nancy, washing dishes
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  at the sink, looked up in surprise. Nancy had been working in Miss
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  Polly's kitchen only two months, but already she knew that her mistress did not
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  usually hurry Nancy. Yes, ma'am. Nancy answered cheerfully, but she still
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  continued wiping the pitcher in her hand. Nancy, Miss Polly's voice was very
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  stern. Now when I'm talking to you, I wish you to stop your
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  work and listen to what I have to say. Nancy flushed miserably. She
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  set the pitcher down at once, with the cloth still about it, thereby
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  nearly tipping it over, which did not add to her composure. Yes,
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  ma'am, I will, ma'am, she stammered, writing the picture and turning
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  hastily. I was only keeping on with my work because you specially told me
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  this morning to hurry with my dishes, you know, her mistress frowned.
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  That will do, Nancy. I did not ask for explanations. I asked
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  for your attention. Ee, yes, ma'am. Nancy stifled a sigh.
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  She was wondering if ever in any way she could please this woman. Nancy
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  had never worked out before, but a sick mother suddenly widowed and left with
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  three younger children besides Nancy herself, had forced the girl into doing something toward
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  their support, and she had been so pleased when she found a place in
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  the kitchen of the Great House on the Hill. Nancy had come from the
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  Corners, six miles away, and she knew Miss Polly Harrington only as the
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  mistress of the old Harrington Homestead and one of the wealthy residence of the town.
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  That was two months before. She knew Miss Polly now as a stern,
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  severe faced woman who frowned if a knife clattered to the floor or if
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  a door banged, but who never thought to smile even when knives and doors
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  were still. When you've finished your morning work, Nancy, miss Polly was
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  saying, now you may clear the little room at the head of the stairs
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  in the attic and make up the cot bed sweep the room and clean it,
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  of course, after you clear out the trunks and boxes, Yes,
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  ma'am. And where shall I put the things please, that I take out
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  in the front attic Miss Polly hesitated, then went on, I suppose I
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  may as well tell you now, Nancy, my niece, Miss Pollyanna Whittier,
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  is coming to live with me. She is eleven years old and will
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  sleep in that room. A little girl coming here, Miss Harrington. Oh
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  won't that be nice? Cried Nancy, thinking of the sunshine her own little
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  sister's maid in the home at the corners. Nice. Well, that isn't
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  exactly the word I should use, rejoined Miss Polly stiffly. However, I
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  intend to make the best of it. Of course, I am a good
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  woman, and I hope and I know my duty. Nancy colored hotly.
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  Of course, ma'am. It was only that I thought a little girl here
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  might might brighten things up for you. She faltered, Thank you, rejoined
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  the lady dryly. I can't say, however, that I see any immediate
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  need of that, But of course you you'd want her, your sister's child,
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  ventured Nancy, vaguely, feeling that somehow she must prepare a welcome for
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  this lonely little stranger. Miss Polly lifted her chin haughtily. Well, really,
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  Nancy, just because I happened to have a sister who was silly enough
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  to marry and bring un necessary children into a world that was already quite full
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  enough, I can't see how I should particularly want to have to care for
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  them myself. However, as I said before, I hope I know my
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  duty. See did you clean the corners, Nancy? She finished sharply as
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  she left the room. Yes, ma'am, sighed Nancy, picking up the
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  half dried pitcher, now so cold it must be rented again. In her
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  own room, Miss Polly took out once more the letter which she had received
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  two days before from the far away western town, and which had been so
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  unpleasant a surprise to her. The letter was addressed to Miss Polly Harrington,
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  Beldingsville, Vermont, and it read as follows. Dear Madam, I regret
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  to inform you that the Reverend John Whittier died two weeks ago, leaving one
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  child, a girl eleven years old. He left practically nothing else save a
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  few books, for, as you doubtless know, he was the pastor of
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  this small mission church and had a very meager salary. I believe he was
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  your deceased sister's husband, but he gave me to understand the families were not
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  on the best of terms. He thought, however, that for your sister's
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  sake, you might wish to take the child and bring her up among her
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  own people in the east. Hence I am writing to you. The little
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  girl will be all ready to start by the time you get this letter,
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  and if you can take her, we would appreciate it very much. If
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  you would write that she might come at once, as there was a man
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  and his wife here who are going east very soon, and they would take
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  her with them to Boston and put her on the Buildingsville train. Of course
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  you would be notified what day and train to expect, Pollyanna on, hoping
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  to hear favorably from you soon. I remain respectfully yours, Jeremiah O.
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  Y. With a frown, Miss Polly folded the letter and tucked it into
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  its envelope. She had answered it the day before, and she had said
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  she would take the child. Of course, she hoped she knew her duty
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  well enough for that. Disagreeable as the task would be. As she sat
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  now with a letter in her hands, her thoughts went back to her sister
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  Genie, who had been this child's mother, and to the time when Jeannie,
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  as a girl of twenty, had insisted upon marrying the young minister in
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  spite of her family's remonstrances. There had been a man of wealth who had
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  wanted her, and the family had much preferred him to the minister, but
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  Jeanie had not. The man of wealth had more years as well as more
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  money to his credit, while the minister had only a young head full of
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  youth's ideals and enthusiasms, and a heart full of love. Jeannie had preferred
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  these quite naturally, Perhaps so she had married the minister and had gone south
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  with him as a home missionary's wife. The break had come then, Miss
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  Polly remembered it well, though she had been but a girl of fifteen,
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  the youngest at the time. The family had had little more to do with
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  the missionary's wife. To be sure, Jeannie herself had written for a time
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  and had named her last baby Polly Enna, for her two sisters, Polly
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  and Anna. The other babies had all died. This had been the last
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  time that Jeanie had written, and in a few years there had come the
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  news of her death, told in a short but heartbroken little note from the
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  Minister himself, dated at a little town in the west. Meanwhile, time
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  had not stood still for the occupants of the great house on the hill.
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  Miss Polly, looking out at the far reaching valley below, thought of the
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  changes those twenty five years had brought to her. She was forty now and
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  quite alone in the world. Father, mother, sisters all were dead.
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  For years now she had been sole mistress of the house, and of the
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  thousands left by her father. There were people who had openly pitied her lonely
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  life, and who had urged her to have some friend or companion to live
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  with her. But she had not welcomed either their sympathy or their advice.
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  She was not lonely, she said. She liked being by herself. She
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  preferred quiet. But now Miss Polly rose with a frowning face and closely shut
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  lips. She was glad, of course, that she was a good woman,
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  and that she not only knew her duty, but had sufficient strength of
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  character to perform it. But Polly Anna, what a ridiculous name. End
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  of Chapter one, Chapter two old Tom and Nancy in the little attic room.
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  Nancy swept and scrubbed, vigorously, paying particular attention to the corners.
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  There were times, indeed, when the vigor she put into her work was
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  more of a relief to her feelings than it was an order to efface dirt.
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  Nancy, in spite of her frightened submission to her mistress, was no
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  saint. I just wish I could dig out the corners of her soul,
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  she muttered, jerkily, punctuating her words with murderous jabs of her pointed cleaning
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  stick. There's plenty of needs cleaning out, all right, all right,
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  the idea of sticking that blessed child way off up here in this hot little
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  room with no fire in the winter, two and all this big house to
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  pick from and choose from unnecessary children. Indeed, hum snapped Nancy, wringing
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  her rags so hard her fingers ached from the strain. I guess it ain't
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  children. What is most unnecessary? Just now, just now. For some
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  time she worked in silence. Then, her task finished, she looked about
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  the bare little room in plain disgust. Well it's done my part, anyhow,
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  she sighed, there ain't no dirt here, and there's mighty little else.
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  Poor little soul, pretty place this is to put a homesick, lonesome
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  child into. She finished, going out and closing the door with a bang.
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  Oh. She ejaculated, biting her lip, then doggedly, well,
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  I don't care. I hope she did hear the bang? I do I
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  do? In the garden that afternoon, Nancy found a few minutes in which
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  to interview Old Tom, who had pulled the weeds and shoveled the paths about
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  the place for uncounted years. Mister Tom began Nancy, throwing a quick glance
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  over her shoulder to make sure she was unobserved. Did you know a little
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  girl was caught in here? To live with miss Polly? A what demanded
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  the old man, straightening his bent back with difficulty. A little girl to
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  live with miss Polly? Go on with you, Jokin, scoffed, unbelieving
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  Tom. Why don't you tell me the sun isn't going to set in the
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  easter tomorrow? But it's true, she told me so herself, maintained Nancy.
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  It's her niece and she's eleven years old. The man's jaw fell show.
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  Why wonder now, he muttered. Then a tender light came into his
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  faded eyes. It ain't, but it must be miss Jenny's little gal.
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  There wasn't none of the rest of'em married. Why, Nancy, it must
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  be Miss Jenny's little goal the Lord, it beat the praise to think of
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  my old eyes as seeing this. Who is miss Jenny? She was an
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  angel straight out of heaven, breathed the man fervently. But the old Master
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  and Missus knew as their oldest daughter. She was twenty when she married and
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  went away from here long years ago. Her baby's all died, I hear,
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  except the last one, and that must be the one wants a comin'.
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  She's eleven years old. Yes, she might be, nodded the old
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  man, and she's going to sleep in the attic. More shame to her,
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  scolded Nancy, with another glance over her shoulder toward the house behind her.
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  Old Tom frowned. The next moment, a curious smile curved his lips.
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  I'm a wonderin what miss Polly will do with the child in the house,
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  he said, Well, I'm a wondering what a child will do with
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  miss Polly in the house, snapped Nancy. The old man laughed. I'm
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  afraid you ain't fond of miss Polly. He grinned, as if anybody could
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  be fond of her. Scorned Nancy, Old Tom smiled oddly. He stooped
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  and began to work again. I guess maybe you didn't know about Miss Polly's
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  love affair, he said, slowly. Love affair her, No, And
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  I guess nobody else didn't either. Oh yes they did, nodded The old
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  man and the Feller's living today right in this town too. Who is he?
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  I ain't a tellin that. It ain't fit that I should. The
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  old man drew himself erect in his dim blue eyes as he faced the house.
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  There was the loyal servant's honest pride in the family he had served and
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  loved for long years. But it don't seem possible her and a lover,
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  still maintained Nancy. Old Tom shook his head. You didn't know miss Polly
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  as I did, he argued. She used to be real handsome, and
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  she would be now if she had let herself be handsome. Miss Polly,
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  Yes, if she just let that tight hair of hern all loose and careless
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  like as it used to be, and wear the sort of bonnets with posies
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  in'em, and the kind of dresses, all lace an white things.
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  You'd see she'd be handsome. Miss Polly. Ain't old Nancy, ain't she?
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  Though? Well, then she's got an awful good imitation of it she
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  has. She has sniffed, Nancy. Yes, I know it begun then
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  at the time of the trouble with her lover, nodded Old Tom. And
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  it seems as if she's been feedin on worm woodn thistles ever since. She's
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  that bitter and prickly to deal with. I should say she was, declared
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  Nancy indignantly. There's no pleasing her, no how, no matter how you
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  try. I wouldn't stay if twasn't for the wages an the folks at home.
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  What's needin' em? But some day, some day I shall just bile
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  over. And when I do, of course, he'll be good bye Nancy.
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  For me, it will it will. Old Tom shook his head.
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  I know I felt it, It's natural, but Tate, best child,
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  taint best. Take my word for it tain't best. And again he bent
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  his old head to the work before him. Nancy called a sharp voice.
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  Yes, ma'am, snammered Nancy, and hurried toward the house. End of
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  Chapter two, Chapter three, The Coming of Pollyanna. In due time came
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  the telegram announcing that Pollyanna would arrive in Beldingsville the next day, the twenty
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  fifth of June, at four o'clock. Miss Polly read the telegram, frowned,
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  then climbed the stairs to the attic room. She still frowned as she
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  looked about her. The room contained a small bed neatly made, two straight
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  backed chairs, a washstand, a bureau without any mirror, and a small
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  table. There were no drapery curtains at the darmer windows, no pictures on
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  the wall. All day, the sun had been pouring down upon the roof,
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  and the little room was like an oven for heat, as there were
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  no screens. The windows had not been raised. A big fly was buzzing
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  angrily at one of them, now up and down, up and down,
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  trying to get out. Miss Polly killed the fly, swept it through the
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  window, raising the sash an inch for the purpose, straightened a chair,
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  frowned again, and left the room. Nancy, she said, a few
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  minutes later, at the kitchen, door. I found a fly upstairs in
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  Miss Pollyanna's room. The window must have been raised at some time. I
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  have ordered screens, but until they come, I shall expect you to see
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  that the windows remain closed. My niece will arrive tomorrow at four o'clock.
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  I desire you to meet her at the station. Timothy will take the open
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  buggy and drive you over. The telegram says light hair, red, checked
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  gingum dress and straw hat. That is all I know, but I think
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  it is sufficient for your purpose. Yes, ma'am, But you, Miss
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  Polly evidently read the pause aright, for she frowned and said crisply, no,
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  I shall not go. It is not necessary that I should. I
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  think that is all, and she turned away. Miss Polly's arrangements for the
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  comfort of her niece Pollyanna were complete. In the kitchen, Nancy sent her
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  flat iron with a vicious dig across the dish towel she was ironing. Light
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  hair, red, checked gingk of dress and straw hat. Oh, she
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  knows, indeed, well, I'd be ashamed to own it up that I
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  would. I would and her, my onliest niece. What was a coming
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  from way across the continent? Promptly. At twenty minutes to four the next
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  afternoon, Timothy and Nancy drove off in the open buggy to meet the expected
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  guest. Timothy was Old Tom's son. It was sometimes said in the town
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  that if Old Tom was Miss Polly's right hand man, Timothy was her left.
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  Timothy was a good natured youth, and a good looking one, as
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  well sharp. As had been Nancy's stay at the house, the two were
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  already good friends. Today, however, Nancy was too full of her mission
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  to be her usual talkative self, and almost in silence, she took the
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  drive to the station and alighted to wait for the train. Over and over
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  in her mind she was saying it light hair, red, checked dress,
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  straw hat, over and over again. She was wondering just what sort of
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  child this Pollyanna was? Anyway, I hope for her sake she's quiet and
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  sensible, and don't drop knives or bang doors, she sighed to Timothy,
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  who had sauntered up to her. Well if she ain't, nobody knows what'll
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  become of the rest of us, grinned Timothy. Imagine Miss Polly and a
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  noisy kid. Gory, there goes the whistle. Now, Oh, Timothy,
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  I I think it was me to send me chattered. The suddenly frightened
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  Nancy as she turned and hurried to a point where she could best watch the
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  passengers alight at the little station. It was not long before Nancy saw her,
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  the slender little girl in the red checked gingham, with two fat braids
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  of flaxen hair hanging down her back beneath the straw hat. An eager,
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  freckled little face turned to the right and to the left, plainly searching for
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  some one. Nancy knew the child at once, but not for some time
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  could she control her shaking knees sufficiently to go to her. The little girl
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  was standing quite by herself when Nancy finally did approach her. Are you miss
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  Pollyanna? She faltered. The next moment she found herself half smothered in the
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  clasp of two gingham clad arms. Oh I'm so glad, glad, glad
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  to see you, cried an eager voice in her ear. Of course,
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  I'm Pollyanna, and I'm so glad you came to meet me. I hoped
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  you would. You you did, stammered Nancy, vaguely, wondering how Pollyanna
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  could possibly have known her and wanted her. You you did, she repeated,
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  trying to straighten her hat. Oh yes, and I've been wondering all
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  the way here what you look like? Cried the little girl, dancing on
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  her toes and sweeping the embarrassed Nancy from head to foot with her eyes.
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  And now I know, and I'm glad you look just like you do look.
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  Nancy was relieved just then to have Timothy come up. Pollyanna's words had
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  been most confusing. This is Timothy. Maybe you have a drunk, she
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  stammered, Yes, I have nodded Pollyanna. Importantly, I've got a brand
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  new one. The ladies aid bought it for me, and wasn't it lovely
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  of them when they wanted the carpet? So of course, I don't know
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  how much red carpet a trunk could buy, but it ought to buy some
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  anyhow much as half an ale. Don't you think I've got a little thing
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  here in my bag that mister Gray said was a check, and that I
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  must give it to you before I could get my trunk. Mister Gray is
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  Missus Gray's husband, their cousins to Deacon Carr's wife. I came east with
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  them, and there lovely, and there here tis, She finished, producing
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  the check after much fumbling in the bag she carried. Nancy drew a long
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  breath instinctively she felt that someone had to draw one after that speech. Then
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  she stole a glance at Timothy. Timothy's eyes were studiously turned away. The
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  three were off at last, with Pollyanna's trunk in behind and Pollyanna herself slugly
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  esconced between Nancy and Timothy. During the whole process of getting started, the
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  little girl had kept up an uninterrupted stream of comments and questions until the somewhat
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  days Nancy bound herself quite out of breath trying to keep up with her.
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  There isn't this lovely? Is it? For? I hope tis? I
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  love to ride? Sighed Pollyanna as the wheels began to turn. Of course,
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  if'TI isn't four. I shan't mind, though, because I'll be
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  glad to get there all the sooner. You know what a pretty street I
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  knew twas going to be pretty, father told me. She stopped with a
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  little choking breath. Nancy looked at her apprehensively, saw that the little chin
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  was quivering, and that her eyes were full of tears in a moment.
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  However, she hurried on with a brave lifting of her head. Father told
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  me all about it, he remembered, and and I ought to have explained
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  before. Missus Gray told me to at once about this red gink of dress,
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  you know, and why I'm not in black, she said, you'd
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  think twas queer. But there weren't any black things in the last missionary barrel,
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  only a lady's velvet bosk, which Beacon's wife said wasn't suitable for me
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  at all. Besides, it had white spots worn, you know, on
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  both elbows and some other places. Part of the ladies aid wanted to buy
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  me a black dress and hat, but the other part thought the money ought
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  to go toward the red carpet they're trying to get for the church, you
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  know. Missus White said maybe it was just as well anyway, for she
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  didn't like children in black, that is, I mean, she liked the
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  children, of course, but not the black part. Pollyanna pause for breath,
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  and Nancy managed to stammer, well, I'm sure it'll be all right.
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  I'm glad you feel that way. I do too, nodded Pollyanna again.
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  With that choking little breath. Of course, it wouldn't have been a
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  good deal harder to be glad in black glad, gasped Nancy, surprised into
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  an interruption. Yes, that father is going to Heaven to be with Mother
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  and the rest of us. You know, he said. I must be
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  glad, But it's been pretty hard to to do it, even in red
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  Gingham, because I wanted him so then I couldn't help feeling I ought to
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  have him, especially as Mother and the rest have gotten all the angels.
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  Well, I didn't have anybody but the ladies, aid. But now I'm
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  sure it'll be easier because I've got you, Aunt Polly, And I'm so
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  glad I've got you. Nancy's aching sympathy for the poor little forlornness behind her
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  turned suddenly into shocked terror. Oh but but you've made an awful mistake,
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  dear, she faltered. I'm only Nancy. I ain't your aunt Polly at
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  all. You you aren't, stammered the little girl in plain dismay. No,
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  I'm only Nancy. I never thought of you taking me for her.
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  We ain't a bit alike, we ain't we ain't, Timothy chuckled, softly,
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  but Nancy was too disturbed to answer. The merry flash from his eyes.
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  But who are you, questioned Pollyanna. You don't look a bit like
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  a lady's aiter, Timothy laughed, outright this time, I'm Nancy, the
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  hard girl. I do all the work, except the Washington hard ironing.
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  Miss Durgin does that. But there is an aunt, Polly demanded the child
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  anxiously. You bet your life there is cut in Timothy. Pollyanna relaxed visibly.
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  Oh that's all right. Then there was a moment's silence, and then
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  she went on brightly, and do you know I'm glad after all that she
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  didn't come to meet me, because now I've got her still coming, and
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  I've got you besides, Nancy flushed. Timothy turned to her with a quizzical
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  smile. I call that a pretty slick compliment, he said, Why don't
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  you thank the little lady I I was thinking about, Miss Polly faltered Nancy.
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  Pollyanna sighed contentedly. I was too. I'm so interested in her.
• 25:56
  You know, she's all the aunt I've got, and I didn't know I
• 25:59
  had her forever so long. Then father told me, he said she lived
• 26:03
  in a lovely, great big house way on top of a hill. She
• 26:08
  does. You can see it now, said Nancy. It's that big white
• 26:12
  one with the green blinds way ahead. Oh wow, pretty, And what
• 26:18
  a lot of trees and grass all around it. I never saw such a
• 26:22
  lot of green grass seem so all at once. It's my aunt Polly Rich
• 26:26
  Nancy. Yes, miss, I'm so glad. It must be perfectly lovely
• 26:32
  to have lots of money. I never knew anyone that did have. Only
• 26:36
  the Whites, they are some rich. They have carpets in every room and
• 26:40
  ice cream Sundays? Does Aunt Polly have ice cream Sundays? Nancy shook her
• 26:45
  head, her lips twitched. She threw a merry look into Timothy's eyes.
• 26:51
  No, miss, your aunt don't like ice cream. I guess the least
• 26:53
  wise I never saw it on her table. Pollyanna's face fell, Oh doesn't
• 27:00
  she? I'm so sorry. I don't see how she can help liking ice
• 27:03
  cream. But anyhow, I can be kind of glad about that, because
• 27:07
  the ice cream you don't eat can't make your stomach ache like missus Whites did.
• 27:12
  That is I ate hers? You know, lots of it? Maybe,
• 27:15
  Aunt Polly has got the carpets though. Yes, she's got the carpets
• 27:21
  in every room, well, in almost every room, answered Nancy, frowning
• 27:26
  suddenly at the thought of that bare little attic room where there was no carpet.
• 27:32
  Oh, I'm so glad, Exalted Pollyanna, I love carpets. We
• 27:37
  didn't have any, only two little rugs that came in a missionary barrel,
• 27:41
  and one of those had ink spots on it. Missrus White had pictures too,
• 27:45
  perfectly beautiful ones of roses and little girls and kneeling and a kiddy,
• 27:52
  and some lambs and a lion, not together, you know, the lambs
• 27:56
  and the lion. Oh, of course the Bible says they will sometimes,
• 28:00
  but they haven't yet, that is I mean, missus Whites, haven't.
• 28:03
  Don't you just love pictures? I I don't know, answered Nancy in a
• 28:07
  half stifled voice. I do. We didn't have any pictures. They don't
• 28:12
  come into barrels much, you know. There did two come once, though,
• 28:17
  But one was so good, father Soldier to get money to buy me
• 28:19
  some shoes with, And the other was so bad it fell to pieces just
• 28:23
  as soon as we hung it up. Glass it broke you know, and
• 28:27
  I cried, But I'm glad now we didn't have any of those nice things,
• 28:30
  cause I shall like Aunt Polly's all the better not being used to em.
• 28:36
  You see, just as it is when the pretty hair ribbons come into
• 28:40
  barrels after a lot of faded out brown ones. My but isn't this a
• 28:45
  perfectly beautiful house? She broke off fervently as they turned into the wide driveway.
• 28:51
  It was when Timothy was unloading the trunk that Nancy found an opportunity to
• 28:56
  mutter low in his ear. Don't you never say nothing to be again about
• 29:00
  leaving, Timothy Durgin, You couldn't hire me to leave, leave, I
• 29:06
  should say, not grinned the youth. You couldn't drag me away. It'll
• 29:11
  be more fun here now with that kid round than moving picture shows every day,
• 29:15
  fun fun, repeated Nancy indignantly. I guess it'll be something more than
• 29:21
  fun for that blessed child when them two tries to live together. And I
• 29:27
  guess she'll be needin some rock to fly to for refuge. Well I'm a
• 29:32
  going to be that rock, Timothy. I am, I am, she
• 29:34
  vowed as she turned and led Pollyanna up the broad steps. End of chapter
• 29:40
  three, Chapter four, the little attic Room. Miss Polly Harrington did not
• 29:48
  rise to meet her niece. She looked up from her book. It is
• 29:51
  true, as Nancy and the little girl appeared in the sitting room doorway,
• 29:56
  and she held out a hand with duty written Laurie on every coldly extended finger.
• 30:03
  How do you do, Pollyanna? I? She had no chance to
• 30:07
  say more. Pollyanna had fairly flown across the room and flung herself into her
• 30:14
  aunt's scandalized, unyielding lap. Oh yet, Polly, and Polly, I
• 30:18
  don't know how to be glad enough that you let me come to live with
• 30:22
  you, She was sobbing. You don't know how perfectly lovely it is to
• 30:26
  have you and Nancy and all this after you've just had the lady's aid.
• 30:32
  Very likely, though I've not had the pleasure of the lady's aide acquaintance.
• 30:37
  Rejoined Miss Polly, stiffly, trying to unclasp the small, clinging fingers,
• 30:44
  and turning frowning eyes on Nancy in the doorway. Nancy, that will do?
• 30:48
  You may go, Pollyanna, be good enough please to stand erect in
• 30:53
  a proper manner. I don't know yet what you look like. Pollyanna drew
• 30:59
  back at once, laughing a little hysterically. No, I suppose you don't.
• 31:03
  But you see, I'm not very much to look at anyway, on
• 31:07
  account of the freckles. Oh, and I ought to explain about the red
• 31:11
  gingham and the black velvet bask and the white spots on the elbows. I
• 31:14
  told Nancy how father said. Yes, Well, never mind now what your
• 31:18
  father said, interrupted Miss Polly, Crisply. You had a trunk, I
• 31:25
  presume. Oh, yes, indeed, Aunt Polly, I've got a beautiful
• 31:29
  trunk that the ladies Aid gave me. I haven't got so very much in
• 31:33
  it of my own. I mean, the barrels haven't had many clothes for
• 31:37
  little girls in them lately. But there are all father's books, and missus
• 31:41
  White said she thought I ought to have those. You see, father,
• 31:45
  Pollyanna interrupted her aunt again, sharply, there is one thing that might just
• 31:52
  as well be understood right away at once, and that is I do not
• 31:56
  care to have you keep talking of your father to me. The little girl
• 32:01
  drew in her breath tremulously. Why, Aunt Polly, you you mean?
• 32:07
  She hesitated, and her aunt filled the paws. We will go upstairs to
• 32:13
  your room. Your trunk is already there. I presume I told Timothy to
• 32:16
  take it up. If you had one, you may follow me, Pollyanna.
• 32:22
  Without speaking, Pollyanna turned and followed her aunt from the room. Her
• 32:25
  eyes were brimming with tears, but her chin was bravely high. After all,
• 32:31
  I I reckon, I'm glad she doesn't want me to talk about father.
• 32:36
  Pollyanna was thinking it'll be easier maybe if I don't talk about him.
• 32:40
  Probably anyhow, that is why she told me not to talk about him,
• 32:45
  And Pollyanna, convinced anew of her aunt's kindness, blinked off the tears and
• 32:51
  looked eagerly about her. She was on the stairway now, just ahead.
• 32:57
  Her Aunt's black silk skirt rustled looks youruriously behind her, and open door allowed
• 33:02
  a glimpse of soft tinted rugs and satin covered chairs. Beneath her feet.
• 33:08
  A marvelous carpet was like green moss to the tread on every side. The
• 33:14
  guilt of picture frames or the glint of sunlight through the filmy mesh of lace
• 33:19
  curtains flashed in her eyes. Oh Aunt, Polly. Aunt Polly breathed the
• 33:24
  little girl rapturously. What a perfectly lovely, lovely house. How awfully glad
• 33:30
  you must be, you're so rich, Polly Anna ejaculated, her aunt,
• 33:37
  turning sharply about as she reached the head of the stairs. I'm surprised at
• 33:40
  you making a speech like fat to me. Why Aunt Polly, aren't you,
• 33:46
  queried Pollyanna, in frank wonder certainly, Nut Pollyanna, I hope I
• 33:52
  could not so far forget myself as to be sinfully proud of any gift the
• 33:58
  Lord has seen fit to the stow upon me, declared the lady. Certainly
• 34:02
  not of riches. Miss Polly turned and walked down the hall toward the attic
• 34:08
  stairway door. She was glad now that she had put the child in the
• 34:13
  attic room. Her idea at first had been to get her niece as far
• 34:17
  away as possible from herself, and at the same time placed her where her
• 34:22
  childish heedlessness would not destroy valuable furnishings. Now, with this evident strain of
• 34:29
  vanity showing thus early, it was all the more fortunate that the room planned
• 34:34
  for her was plain and sensible, thought Miss polly eagerly. Pollyanna's little feet
• 34:42
  pattered behind her aunt. Still more eagerly, her big blue eyes tried to
• 34:46
  look in all directions at once, that no thing of beauty or interest in
• 34:51
  this wonderful house might be passed unseen. Most eagerly of all her mind turned
• 34:59
  to the wondrously the exciting problem about to be solved. Behind which of all
• 35:04
  these fascinating doors was waiting now her room, the dear beautiful room full of
• 35:10
  curtains, rugs, and pictures, that was to be her very own.
• 35:15
  Then abruptly her aunt opened the door and ascended another stairway. There was little
• 35:22
  to be seen here. A bare wall rose on either side. At the
• 35:28
  top of the stairs, wide reaches of shadowy space led to four corners,
• 35:32
  where the roof came almost down to the floor, and where were stacked innumerable
• 35:37
  trunks and boxes. It was hot and stifling too. Unconsciously, Pollyanna lifted
• 35:45
  her head higher. It seemed so hard to breathe. Then she saw that
• 35:50
  her aunt had thrown open a door at the right there. Pollyanna, here
• 35:54
  is your room, and your trunk is here I see, have you your
• 35:58
  key? Pollyanna nodded dumbly. Her eyes were a little wide and frightened.
• 36:04
  Her aunt frowned. When I ask a question, Pollyanna, I prefer that
• 36:07
  you should answer aloud, not merely with your head. Yes, Aunt,
• 36:13
  Polly, thank you. That is better. I believe you have everything you
• 36:16
  need here, she added, glancing at the well filled towel rack and water
• 36:22
  pitcher. I will send Nancy up to help you unpeck. Supper is at
• 36:25
  six o'clock, she finished, as she left the room and swept downstairs.
• 36:30
  For a moment after she had gone, Pollyanna stood quite still, looking after
• 36:36
  her. Then she turned her wide eyes to the bare wall, the bare
• 36:40
  floor, the bare windows. She turned them last to the little trunk that
• 36:46
  had stood not so long before in her own little room in the far away
• 36:52
  western home. The next moment, she stumbled blindly toward it and fell on
• 36:57
  her knees at its side, her face with her hands. Nancy found her
• 37:02
  there when she came up a few minutes later. There there you, poor
• 37:07
  lamb, she crooned, dropping to the floor, drawing the little girl into
• 37:12
  her arms. I was just a fear and i'd find you like this like
• 37:15
  this, Pollyanna shook her head. But I'm bad and wicked, Nancy,
• 37:22
  awful, wicked, she sobbed. I just can't make myself understand that God
• 37:29
  and the angels needed my father more than I did. No more they did
• 37:34
  neither, declared Nancy, stoutly. Oh, Nancy, the burning horror in
• 37:39
  Pollyanna's eyes. Dry the tears. Nancy gave a shamefaced smile and rubbed her
• 37:46
  own eyes vigorously. There there, child, I didn't mean it, of
• 37:50
  course, she cried briskly. Come, let's have your key, and we'll
• 37:53
  get inside this trunk and take out your dresses in no time, no time.
• 37:59
  Somewhat tearful, Pollyanna produced the key. There aren't very many there,
• 38:02
  anyway, she faltered. Then they're all the sooner unpacked, declared Nancy.
• 38:07
  Pollyanna gave a sudden, radiant smile. That's so I can be glad of
• 38:14
  that, can't I? She cried. Nancy stared, why, of course,
• 38:19
  she answered a little uncertainly. Nancy's capable hands made short work of unpacking
• 38:24
  the books, the patched undergarments, and the few pitifully unattractive dresses. Pollyanna,
• 38:31
  smiling bravely, now flew about hanging the dresses in the closet, stacking
• 38:37
  the books on the table, and putting away the undergarments and the bureau drawers.
• 38:42
  I'm sure it's going to be a very nice room, don't you think
• 38:45
  so? She stammered. After a while, there was no answer. Nancy
• 38:51
  was very busy, apparently, with her head in the trunk. Pollyanna,
• 38:54
  standing at the bureau, gazed a little wistfully at the bare wall above.
• 39:00
  And I can be glad there isn't any looking glass here too, because where
• 39:04
  there isn't any glass, I can't see my freckles. Nancy made a sudden,
• 39:09
  queer little sound with her mouth, but when Pollyanna turned her head was
• 39:15
  in the trunk again. At one of the windows. A few minutes later,
• 39:19
  Pollyanna gave a glad cry and clapped her hands joyously. Oh, Nancy,
• 39:25
  I hadn't seen this before, she breathed. Look way off there,
• 39:30
  with those trees and the houses, and that lovely church spire, and the
• 39:37
  river shining just like silver. Why Nancy, there doesn't anybody need any pictures
• 39:42
  with that to look at. Oh, I'm so glad now she let me
• 39:45
  have this room, to Pollyanna's surprise, and dismay, Nancy burst into tears.
• 39:53
  Pollyanna hurriedly crossed to her side. Why Nancy, Nancy, what is
• 39:58
  it? She cried? Then fearfully, this wasn't your room, was it
• 40:05
  my room? Stormed Nancy, hotly, choking back the tears. If you
• 40:08
  ain't a little angel straight from heaven, and if some folks don't eat dirt
• 40:13
  before oh land, there's her bill, After which amazing speech, Nancy sprang
• 40:19
  to her feet, dashed out of the room, and went clattering down the
• 40:22
  stairs. Left alone, Pollyanna went back to her picture as she mentally designated
• 40:29
  the beautiful view from the window. After a time, she touched the sash
• 40:32
  tentatively. It seemed as if no longer could she endure the stifling heat.
• 40:38
  To her joy, the sash moved under her fingers. The next moment,
• 40:44
  the window was wide open, and Pollyanna was leaning far out, drinking in
• 40:49
  the fresh, sweet air. She ran then to the other window, that
• 40:53
  too, soon flew up under her eager hands. A big fly swept past
• 40:59
  her nose and buzzed noisily about the room. Then another came, and another,
• 41:05
  but Pollyanna paid no heed. Pollyanna had made a wonderful discovery. Against
• 41:10
  this window, a huge tree flung great branches. To Pollyanna, they looked
• 41:16
  like arms outstretched inviting her. Suddenly, she laughed aloud, I believe I
• 41:23
  can do it, she chuckled. The next moment, she had climbed nimbly
• 41:29
  to the window ledge. From there it was an easy matter to step to
• 41:34
  the nearest tree branch. Then, clinging like a monkey, she swung herself
• 41:38
  from limb to limb until the lowest branch was reached. The drop to the
• 41:44
  ground was even for Pollyanna, who was used to climbing trees, a little
• 41:49
  fearsome, she took it, however, with bated breath, swinging from her
• 41:52
  strong little arms and landing on all fours in the soft grass. Then she
• 41:59
  picked herself up and looked eagerly about her. She was at the back of
• 42:02
  the house. Before her lay a garden in which a bent old man was
• 42:07
  working. Beyond the garden, a little path through an open field let up
• 42:12
  a steep hill at the top of which a lone pine tree stood on guard
• 42:16
  beside the huge rock. To Pollyanna, at the moment, there seemed to
• 42:22
  be just one place in the world worth being in the top of that big
• 42:28
  rock. With a run and a skillful turn, Pollyanna skipped by the bent
• 42:32
  old man, threaded her away between the orderly rows of green growing things,
• 42:37
  and a little out of breath, reached the path that ran through the open
• 42:43
  field. Then, determinedly she began to climb. Already, however, she
• 42:49
  was thinking what a long long way off that rock must be, when back
• 42:53
  at the window it had looked so near. Fifteen minutes later, the great
• 42:59
  clock in the hallway of the Harrington homestead struck six. At precisely the last
• 43:05
  stroke, Nancy sounded the bell for supper one two three minutes passed. Miss
• 43:13
  Polly frowned and tapped the floor with her slipper a little jerkily. She rose
• 43:17
  to her feet, went into the hall and looked upstairs, plainly, impatient.
• 43:22
  For a minute she listened intently, Then she turned and swept into the
• 43:27
  dining room. Nancy, she said, with decision, as soon as the
• 43:31
  little serving maid appeared, my niece is late. No, you need not
• 43:37
  call her, she added severely. As Nancy made a move toward the hall
• 43:40
  door, I told her what time supper was, and now she will have
• 43:45
  to suffer the consequences. She may as well begin at once to learn to
• 43:49
  be punctual. When she comes down, she may have bread and milk in
• 43:52
  the kitchen. Yes, ma'am, it was well, perhaps that miss Polly
• 43:58
  did not happen to be looking at Nancy's face just then, at the earliest
• 44:01
  possible moment after supper, Nancy crept up the back stairs and thence to the
• 44:07
  attic room bread and milk. Indeed, and when the poor Lamb Hant only
• 44:12
  just cried herself to sleep, she was muttering fiercely as she softly pushed open
• 44:16
  the door. The next moment she gave a frightened cry, Where are you?
• 44:21
  Where have you gone? Where have you gone? She panted, looking
• 44:24
  in the closet, under the bed, and even in the trunk, and
• 44:29
  down the water pitcher. Then she flew downstairs and out to old Tom in
• 44:32
  the garden. Mister Tom, mister Tom. That blessed child's gone, she
• 44:37
  wailed. She's vanished right up into heaven. When she come from poor Lamb
• 44:43
  and me told to give her bread and milk in the kitchen her what's eaten?
• 44:46
  Angel food? This minute? I'll warrant, I'll warrant. The old
• 44:51
  man straightened up. Gone Heaven, he repeated, stupidly, unconsciously sweeping the
• 44:57
  brilliant sunset sky with his gaze. He stopped, stared a moment intently,
• 45:04
  then turned with a slow grin. Well, Nancy, it do look like
• 45:08
  as if she tried to get as nigh heaven as she could. And that's
• 45:12
  the fact, he agreed, pointing with a crooked finger to wear sharply outlined
• 45:17
  against the reddening sky, a slender, wind blown figure was poised on top
• 45:22
  of the huge rock. Well, she ain't going to heaven that way tonight,
• 45:28
  not if I has my say, declared Nancy doggedly. If the mistress
• 45:31
  asks, tell her I ain't forgettin the dishes, but I gone on a
• 45:36
  stroll. She flung back over her shoulder as she sped toward the path that
• 45:40
  led through the open field. End of chapter four, Chapter five, The
• 45:47
  Game for Land's Sake, Miss Pollyanna, What a scare you to give me,
• 45:53
  panted Nancy, hurrying up to the big rock, down which Pollyanna had
• 45:58
  just regretfully slid. Scare. Oh, I'm so sorry, but you mustn't
• 46:02
  really ever get scared about me, Nancy. Father and the ladies they used
• 46:07
  to do it too, till they found out. I always came back,
• 46:10
  all right, But I didn't even know you'd went out, cried Nancy,
• 46:15
  tucking the little girl's hand under her arm and hurrying her down the hill.
• 46:20
  I didn't see you go, and nobody didn't. I guess you flew right
• 46:23
  up through the roof. I do I do, Pollyanna skipped gleefully. I
• 46:29
  did most only I flew down instead of up. I came down the tree.
• 46:34
  Nancy stopped short. You did what came down the tree outside my window?
• 46:40
  My stars and stockings, gasped Nancy, hurrying on again. I'd like
• 46:46
  to know what your aunt would say to that, would you. Well,
• 46:50
  I'll tell her then, so you can find out, promised the little girl,
• 46:52
  cheerfully. Mercy, gasped Nancy. No, no, why you don't
• 46:59
  mean she care, cried Pollyanna, plainly disturbed. No, uh, yes,
• 47:04
  well, never mind, I ain't so very particular about knowing what she'd
• 47:07
  say, truly, stammered Nancy, determined to keep one scolding from Pollyanna.
• 47:14
  If nothing more but say, we better hurry. I got to get them
• 47:17
  dishes done. You know, I'll help, promised Pollyanna, promptly. Oh,
• 47:22
  miss Pollyanna demurred Nancy. For a moment, there was silence. The
• 47:28
  sky was darkening fast. Pollyanna took a firmer hold on her friend's arm.
• 47:32
  I reckon, I'm glad after all that you did get scared a little,
• 47:37
  because then you came after me, She shivered, poor little lamb. And
• 47:42
  you must be hungry too. I'm afraid you'll have to have bread and milk
• 47:46
  in the kitchen with me. Your aunt didn't like it because you didn't come
• 47:51
  down to supper, you know, but I couldn't. I was up here,
• 47:54
  yes, but she didn't know that, you see, observed Nancy,
• 47:58
  dryly stifling it. I'm sorry about the bread and milk. I am,
• 48:01
  I am, Oh, I'm not. I'm glad, glad Why why?
• 48:07
  I like bread and milk and i'd like to eat with you. I don't
• 48:10
  see any trouble about being glad about that. You don't seem to see any
• 48:15
  trouble being glad about everything, retorted Nancy, choking a little over her remembrance
• 48:21
  of Pollyanna's brave attempts to like the bare little attic room. Pollyanna laughed softly,
• 48:27
  Well, that's the game. You know anyway, the game, Yes,
• 48:31
  the just being glad game. Whatever in the world are you talking about.
• 48:37
  Why it's a game. Father told it to me, and it's lovely,
• 48:40
  rejoined Pollyanna. We've played it always, ever since I was a little
• 48:45
  little girl. I told the ladies eight, and they played it, some
• 48:50
  of them. What is it? I ain't much on games, though,
• 48:53
  Pollyanna laughed again, but she sighed too, and in the gathering twilight her
• 48:59
  face looked thin and wistful. Why we began it on some crutches that came
• 49:04
  in a missionary barrel. Crutches. Yes, you see, I'd wanted a
• 49:09
  doll, and father had written them so. But when the barrel came,
• 49:15
  the lady wrote that they hadn't any dolls come in, but the little crutches
• 49:19
  had, so she sent them along, as they might come in handy for
• 49:22
  some child sometime. And that's when we began it. Well, I must
• 49:27
  say I can't see any game about that. About that, declared Nancy,
• 49:30
  almost irritably. Oh, yes, that game was to just find something about
• 49:37
  everything to be glad about, no matter what, twas, rejoined Pollyanna earnestly,
• 49:43
  and we began right then on the crutches. Well, goodness, me,
• 49:47
  I can't see anything to be glad about getting a pair of crutches when
• 49:52
  you wanted a doll, Pollyanna clapped her hands. There is there is,
• 49:58
  she crowed, But I couldn't see either, Nancy. At first, she
• 50:00
  added with quick honesty, father had to tell it to me. Well,
• 50:05
  then suppose you tell me, almost snapped Nancy. Goodness, why just be
• 50:12
  glad because you don't need them, exalted Pollyanna triumphantly. You see, it's
• 50:19
  just as easy when you know how well of all the queer doings, breathed
• 50:23
  Nancy, regarding Pollyanna with almost fearful eyes. Oh but it isn't queer,
• 50:30
  it's lovely, maintained Pollyanna enthusiastically. And we've played it ever since. And
• 50:37
  the harder tis, the more fun tis to get them out. Only only
• 50:40
  sometimes it's almost too hard, like when your father goes to heaven and there
• 50:45
  isn't anybody but a lady's aid left. Yes, or when you're put in
• 50:51
  a snippy little room way at the top of the house with nothing in it,
• 50:54
  growled Nancy. Pollyanna sighed, that was a hard one at first.
• 51:00
  First, she admitted especially when I was so kind of lonesome. I just
• 51:04
  didn't feel like playing the game anyway, and I had been wanting pretty things.
• 51:08
  So then I happened to think how I hated to see my freckles in
• 51:14
  the looking glass, and I saw that lovely picture out the window too,
• 51:17
  So then I knew I'd found the things to be glad about. You see,
• 51:22
  when you're hunting for the glad things, you sort of forget the other
• 51:25
  kind, like the doll you wanted, you know, hmm, choked Nancy,
• 51:30
  trying to swallow the lump in her throat. Most generally it doesn't take
• 51:35
  so long, sighed Pollyanna. And lots of times now I just think of
• 51:38
  them without thinking. You know, I've got so used to play in it.
• 51:43
  It's a lovely game for father, and I used to like it so
• 51:46
  much, she faltered. I suppose, though it it'll be a little harder
• 51:52
  now as long as I haven't anybody to play it with. Maybe Aunt Polly
• 51:57
  will play it, though, she added, as an after thought, my
• 52:00
  stars and stockings her breathed Nancy behind her teeth. Then aloud, she said,
• 52:07
  doggedly, see here, miss Pollyanna, I ain't saying that I'll play
• 52:10
  it very well. And I ain't saying that I know how anyway, but
• 52:14
  I'll play it with ye after a fashion. I just will. I will,
• 52:17
  oh, Nancy exulted Pollyanna, giving her a rapturous hug. That'll be
• 52:23
  splendid, won't we have fun? Uh? Maybe, conceded Nancy in open
• 52:30
  doubt. But you mustn't count too much on me. You know. I
• 52:34
  never was no case for games, but I'm going to make a most awful
• 52:37
  old trial on this one. You're going to have someone to play it with
• 52:42
  anyhow, she finished. As they entered the kitchen together. Pollyanna ate her
• 52:45
  bread and milk with good appetite. Then, at Nancy's suggestion, she went
• 52:51
  into the sitting room where her aunt sat reading. Miss Polly looked up coldly.
• 52:57
  Have you had your supper, Pollyanna said Polly. I'm very sorry,
• 53:01
  Pollyanna, to have been obliged so soon to send you into the kitchen to
• 53:06
  eat bread and milk. But I was real glad you did it. Aunt
• 53:08
  Polly. I like bread and milk, and Nancy too. You mustn't feel
• 53:13
  bad about that one bit. Aunt Polly sat suddenly a little more erect in
• 53:17
  her chair. Pollyanna, it's quite time you were in bed. You have
• 53:22
  had a hard day, and tomorrow we must plan your hours and go over
• 53:28
  your clothing to see what is necessary to get for you. Nancy will give
• 53:31
  you a candle, be careful how you handle it. Breakfast will be at
• 53:36
  half past seven. See to it that you are down to that good night
• 53:42
  quite as a matter of course. Pollyanna came straight to her aunt's side and
• 53:46
  gave her an affectionate hug. I've had such a beautiful time so far,
• 53:52
  she sighed happily. I know I'm going to just love living with you.
• 53:57
  But then I knew I should before I came, could not, she called
• 54:00
  cheerfully as she ran from the room. Well upon my soul ejaculated Miss Polly,
• 54:07
  half aloud. What a most extraordinary child. Then she frowned. She's
• 54:13
  glad I punished her, and I mustn't feel bad one bit, and she's
• 54:17
  going to love to live with me. Well upon my soul ejaculated Miss Polly
• 54:23
  again as she took up her book. Fifteen minutes later, in the attic
• 54:29
  room, a lonely little girl sobbed into the tightly clutched sheet. I know
• 54:36
  father among the angels. I'm not playing the game one bit now, not
• 54:39
  one bit. But I don't believe even you could find anything to be glad
• 54:44
  about, sleeping all alone way off up here in the dark like this.
• 54:49
  If only I was near Nancy or Aunt Polly, or even a lady's ater,
• 54:52
  it would be easier. Downstairs in the kitchen, Nancy, hurrying with
• 54:58
  her belated work, jabbed her dish mop into the milk pitcher and muttered jerkily,
• 55:02
  if playing a silly fool game about beIN glad, you've got crutches when
• 55:07
  you want dolls. It's got to be my way of beIN that rock refuge.
• 55:12
  Why I'm going to play it? I am? I am? End
• 55:15
  of Chapter five, Chapter six, A Question of Duty. It was nearly
• 55:23
  seven o'clock when Pollyanna awoke that first day after her arrival. Her windows faced
• 55:30
  the south and the west, so she could not see the sun yet,
• 55:32
  but she could see the hazy blue of the morning sky, and she knew
• 55:37
  that the day promised to be a fair one. The little room was cooler
• 55:42
  now, and the air blew in fresh and sweet. Outside. The birds
• 55:45
  were twittering joyously, and Pollyanna flew to the window to talk to them.
• 55:51
  She saw then that down in the garden her aunt was already out among the
• 55:55
  rose bushes with rapid fingers. Therefore, she made herself ready to join her.
• 56:00
  Down the attic stairs sped Pollyanna, leaving both doors wide open, through
• 56:07
  the hall down the next flight, then banged through the front screen door and
• 56:10
  around to the garden. She ran Aunt Polly with the bent old man was
• 56:15
  leaning over a rose bush when Pollyanna, gurgling with the light, flung herself
• 56:21
  upon her, Oh Aunt, Polly, Aunt Polly, I reckon, I'm
• 56:23
  glad this morning, just to be alive, polly Anna remonstrated the lady,
• 56:30
  sternly, pulling herself as erect as she could with a dragging weight of ninety
• 56:35
  pounds hanging about her neck. Is this the usual way you say good morning?
• 56:39
  The little girl dropped to her toes and danced lightly up and down.
• 56:44
  No, only when I love folks, So I just can't help it.
• 56:47
  I saw you from my window, Aunt Polly, and I got to thinkin
• 56:51
  how you weren't a lady's aider, and you were just my really truly aunt,
• 56:54
  and you looked so good. I just had to come down and hug
• 56:59
  you. The bent old man turned his back. Suddenly. Miss polly attempted
• 57:05
  a frown, but not with her usual success. Pollyanna, you I Thomas.
• 57:10
  That will do for this morning. I think you understand about those rose
• 57:15
  bushes, she said stiffly. Then she turned and walked rapidly away. Do
• 57:20
  you always work in the garden, mister Mann, asked Pollyanna interestedly. The
• 57:24
  man turned. His lips were twitching, but his eyes looked blurred, as
• 57:30
  if with tears. Yes, miss, I'm old Tom the gardener, he
• 57:35
  answered timidly, but as if impelled by an irresistible force, he reached out
• 57:39
  a shaking hand and let it rest for a moment on her bright hair.
• 57:45
  You are so like your mother, little miss. I used to know her
• 57:49
  when she was even littler than you be. You see, I used to
• 57:52
  work in the garden. Then, Pollyanna caught her breath audibly. You did
• 57:58
  you knew my mother really? When she was just a little earth angel and
• 58:02
  not a heaven one. Oh, please tell me about her? And down
• 58:07
  plumped Pollyanna in the middle of the dirt path by the old man's side.
• 58:12
  A bell sounded from the house. The next moment Nancy was seen flying out
• 58:16
  the back door. Miss Pollyanna, that bell means breakfast mornin's, she panted,
• 58:22
  pulling the little girl to her feet and hurrying her back to the house,
• 58:25
  And other times it means other meals. But it always means that you're
• 58:30
  to run like time when you hear it, no matter where you be.
• 58:32
  If you don't, well, it'll take something smarter when we be to find
• 58:37
  anything to be glad about in that. She finished, shoeing Pollyanna into the
• 58:42
  house as she would chew an unruly chicken into a coop. Breakfast for the
• 58:46
  first five minutes was a silent meal. Then Miss polly her disapproving eyes following
• 58:52
  the airy wings of two flies darting here and there over the table, said
• 58:58
  sternly Nancy, where did those flies come from? I don't know, ma'am.
• 59:04
  There wasn't one in the kitchen. Nancy had been too excited to notice
• 59:07
  Pollyanna's upflung windows the afternoon before. I reckon, maybe they're my flies,
• 59:14
  Aunt Polly, observed Pollyanna amicably. There were lots of them this morning,
• 59:17
  having a beautiful time upstairs. Nancy left the room precipitately, though. To
• 59:23
  do so, she had to carry out the hot muffins she had just brought
• 59:28
  in yours, gasped Miss Polly, What do you mean where did they come
• 59:31
  from? Why? Aunt Polly, they come from out of doors, of
• 59:36
  course, through the windows. I saw some of them come in. You
• 59:39
  saw them? You mean you raised those windows without any screens. Why?
• 59:45
  Yes, there weren't any screens there, Aunt Polly. Nancy, at this
• 59:50
  moment, came in again with the muffins. Her face was grave but very
• 59:53
  red. Nancy directed her mistress sharply, you may set them down and go
• 1:00:00
  at once to Miss Pollyanna's room and shut the windows. Shut the doors.
• 1:00:06
  Also, later, when your morning work is done, go through every room
• 1:00:10
  with the spatter, see that you make a thorough search. To her niece,
• 1:00:15
  she said, Pollyanna, I have ordered screens for those windows. I
• 1:00:21
  knew, of course, that it was my duty to do that. But
• 1:00:23
  it seems to me that you have quite forgotten your duty, my duty.
• 1:00:30
  Pollyanna's eyes were wide with wonder. Certainly, I know it is warm,
• 1:00:36
  but I consider it your duty to keep your windows closed till those screens come.
• 1:00:42
  Flies, Pollyanna, are not only unclean and annoying, but very dangerous
• 1:00:46
  to health. After breakfast, I will give you a little pamphlet on this
• 1:00:51
  matter to read. To read, Oh thank you, Aunt Polly, I
• 1:00:55
  love to read. Miss Polly drew in her breath, only then she shut
• 1:01:00
  her lips together hard. Pollyanna, seeing her spurn face, frowned a little
• 1:01:06
  thoughtfully. Of course, I'm sorry about the duty I forgot, Aunt Polly,
• 1:01:10
  she apologized timidly. I won't raise the windows again. Her aunt made
• 1:01:15
  no reply. She did not speak, indeed until the meal was over.
• 1:01:21
  Then she rose, went to the bookcase in the sitting room, took out
• 1:01:24
  a small paper booklet, and crossed the room to her niece's side. This
• 1:01:30
  is the article I spoke of, Pollyanna. I desire you to go to
• 1:01:34
  your room at once and read it. I will be up in half an
• 1:01:37
  hour to look over your things. Pollyanna, her eyes on the illustration of
• 1:01:43
  a fly's head many times magnified, cried joyously, Oh thank you, Aunt
• 1:01:49
  Polly. The next moment, she skipped merrily from the room, banging the
• 1:01:53
  door behind her. Miss Polly frowned, hesitated, then crossed the room and
• 1:02:00
  opened the door, but Pollyanna was already out of sight, clattering up the
• 1:02:05
  attic stairs. Half an hour later when Miss Polly, her face expressing stern
• 1:02:09
  duty in every line, climbed those stairs and entered Pollyanna's room, she was
• 1:02:15
  greeted with a burst of eager enthusiasm. Oh, Aunt Polly, I never
• 1:02:22
  saw anything so perfectly lovely and interesting in my life. I'm so glad you
• 1:02:27
  gave me that book to read. Why I didn't suppose flies could carry such
• 1:02:30
  a lot of things on their feet? And that will do, observed Aunt
• 1:02:35
  Polly with dignity, Pollyanna, you may bring out your clothes now and I
• 1:02:38
  will look them over. What are not suitable for you I shall give to
• 1:02:43
  the Sullivans, of course, with visible reluctance, Pollyanna laid down the pamphlet
• 1:02:49
  and turned toward the closet. I'm afraid you'll think they're worse than the ladies.
• 1:02:53
  They did, and they said they were shameful, she sighed. But
• 1:02:58
  there were mostly things from boys and older folk in the last two or three
• 1:03:01
  barrels. And did you ever have a missionary barrel? Aunt Polly. At
• 1:03:07
  her aunt's look of shocked anger, Pollyanna corrected herself at once. Why no,
• 1:03:12
  of course you didn't, Aunt Polly, she hurried on, with a
• 1:03:15
  hot blush. I forgot rich folks never have to have them. But you
• 1:03:19
  see, sometimes I kind of forget that you are rich up here in this
• 1:03:22
  room, you know. Miss Polly's lips parted indignantly, but no words came.
• 1:03:28
  Pollyanna plainly unaware that she had said anything, and the least unpleasant was
• 1:03:32
  hurrying on well, as I was going to say, you can't tell a
• 1:03:37
  thing about missionary barrels except that you won't find in them which you think you're
• 1:03:42
  going to even when you think you won't. It was the barrels every time,
• 1:03:45
  too, that with the hardest to play the game on for father,
• 1:03:49
  And just in time Pollyanna remembered that she was not to talk of her father
• 1:03:54
  to her aunt. She dived into her closet thin hurriedly and brought out all
• 1:04:00
  the poor little addresses in both her arms. They aren't nice at all,
• 1:04:04
  she choked, And they'd been black if it hadn't been for the red carpet
• 1:04:08
  for the church. But they're all I've got. With the tips of her
• 1:04:13
  fingers, Miss Polly turned over the conglomerate garments so obviously made for anybody but
• 1:04:19
  Pollyanna. Next, she bestowed frowning attention on the patched undergarments and the bureau
• 1:04:26
  drawers. I've got the best ones on, confessed Pollyanna, anxiously. The
• 1:04:30
  ladies aid, bought me one set straight through all hole. Missus Jones,
• 1:04:34
  she's the president, told them I should have that if they had to clatter
• 1:04:39
  down bare eals themselves the rest of their days. But they won't. Mister
• 1:04:43
  White don't like the noise. He's got nerves, his wife says. But
• 1:04:46
  he's got money too, and they expect he'll give a lot toward the carpet
• 1:04:50
  on account of the nerves. You know, I should think he'd be glad
• 1:04:54
  that if he did have the nerves, he got money too, shouldn't you.
• 1:04:58
  Miss Polly did not seem to here. Her scrutiny of the undergarments finished,
• 1:05:02
  she turned to Pollyanna somewhat abruptly. You have been to school, of
• 1:05:06
  course, Pollyanna. Oh, yes, Aunt Polly. Besides, I mean
• 1:05:12
  I was taught at home some too, Miss Polly frowned, very good in
• 1:05:16
  the fall. You will enter school here, of course, mister Hall.
• 1:05:20
  The principle will doubtless settle in which grade you belong. Meanwhile, I suppose
• 1:05:26
  I ought to hear you read aloud half an hour each day. I love
• 1:05:30
  to read, but if you don't want to hear me, I'd be just
• 1:05:32
  glad to read to myself, truly, Aunt Polly, And I wouldn't have
• 1:05:35
  to try to be glad either, for I like the best to read to
• 1:05:40
  myself. On account of the big words you know, I don't doubt it,
• 1:05:44
  rejoined, Miss Polly. Grimly, have you studied music? Not much.
• 1:05:48
  I don't like my music. I like other peoples, though I learned
• 1:05:51
  to play on the piano a little, Miss Gray, she plays for church.
• 1:05:56
  She taught me, But i'd just as soon let that go. Is
• 1:05:59
  not Aunt pop Polly, I'd rather, truly, very likely very likely observed
• 1:06:03
  Aunt Polly with slightly uplifted eyebrows. Nevertheless, I think it is my duty
• 1:06:10
  to see that you are properly instructed in at least the rudiments of music you
• 1:06:15
  sew. Of course, yes, ma'am Pollyanna sighed. The ladies A taught
• 1:06:19
  me that, but I had an awful time. Missus Jones didn't believe in
• 1:06:24
  holding your needle, like the rest of'em did on buttonholing. And missus
• 1:06:28
  White thought back station ought to be taught you before himming or else the other
• 1:06:31
  way, And missus Harriman didn't believe in putting you on patch wherever at all.
• 1:06:38
  Well, there will be no difficulty of that kind any longer, Pollyanna,
• 1:06:42
  I shall teach you sewing myself. Of course, you do not know
• 1:06:45
  how to cook, I presume, Pollyanna laughed. Suddenly, they were just
• 1:06:50
  beginning to teach me that this summer, but I hadn't got four. They
• 1:06:54
  were more divided up on that than they were on the sewin'. They were
• 1:06:58
  going to begin on bread, but there wasn't two of them that made it
• 1:07:01
  alike. So after arguing at all once so in meeting, they decided to
• 1:07:05
  take turns at me one for noon a week in their own kitchens. You
• 1:07:09
  know, I'd only learned chocolate fudge and fig cake, though, when when
• 1:07:14
  I had to stop, her voice broke chocolate fudge and fig cake, indeed,
• 1:07:20
  scorned Miss Polly. I think we can remedy that very soon. She
• 1:07:26
  paused and thought for a minute, then went on slowly. At nine o'clock
• 1:07:30
  every morning, you will read aloud one half hour to me. Before that,
• 1:07:34
  you will use the time to put this room in order. Wednesday and
• 1:07:39
  Saturday, forenoons after half past nine you will spend with Nancy in the kitchen
• 1:07:44
  learning to cook. Are the mornings you will sew with me. That will
• 1:07:48
  leave the afternoons for your music. I shall, of course procure a teacher
• 1:07:53
  at once for you, She finished decisively, as she arose from her chair.
• 1:07:59
  Polly Emma cried out in dismay. Oh but Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly,
• 1:08:02
  you haven't left me any time at all, Just to live, to
• 1:08:08
  live? Child? What do you mean as if you weren't living all the
• 1:08:13
  time. Oh, of course I'd be breathing all the time I was doing
• 1:08:16
  those things, Aunt Polly, But I wouldn't be living. You breathe all
• 1:08:20
  the time you were asleep. But you aren't living. I mean living,
• 1:08:24
  doing the things you want to do, playing outdoors, reading to myself of
• 1:08:29
  course, climbing hills, talking to mister Tom in the garden, and Nancy,
• 1:08:33
  and finding out all about the houses and the people and everything everywhere,
• 1:08:39
  all through the perfectly lovely streets I came through yesterday. That's what I call
• 1:08:43
  living. Aunt Polly just breathing, isn't living? Miss Polly lifted her head
• 1:08:48
  irritably. Pollyanna, you are the most extraordinary child. You will be allowed
• 1:08:56
  a proper amount of playtime, of course, But surely it seems to me,
• 1:09:00
  if I am willing to do my duty in seeing that you have proper
• 1:09:04
  care and instruction, you ought to be willing to do yours by seeing that
• 1:09:10
  care and instruction are not ungratefully wasted. Pollyanna looks shocked. Oh, Aunt
• 1:09:15
  Polly, as if I could ever be ungrateful to you? Why I love
• 1:09:20
  you and you aren't even a ladysador, You're an aunt. Very well,
• 1:09:27
  then see that you don't act ungrateful. Vow safe to Miss Polly. As
• 1:09:30
  she turned toward the door. She had gone half way down the stairs when
• 1:09:35
  a small, unsteady voice called after her, Please, Aunt Polly, you
• 1:09:40
  didn't tell me which of my things you wanted to give away. Aunt Polly
• 1:09:45
  emitted a tired sigh, a sigh that ascended straight to Pollyanna's ears. Oh,
• 1:09:51
  I forgot to tell you, Pollyanna, Timothy will drive us into town
• 1:09:57
  at half past one this afternoon. Not one of your garments is fit for
• 1:10:01
  my niece to wear. Certainly, I should be very far from doing my
• 1:10:05
  duty by you if I should let you appear out in any one of them.
• 1:10:12
  Pollyanna sighed. Now she believed she was going to hate that word duty.
• 1:10:17
  Aunt Polly, Please, she called wistfully. Isn't there any way you
• 1:10:23
  can be glad about all that duty business? What? Miss Polly looked up
• 1:10:28
  in dazed surprised. Then suddenly, with very red cheeks, she turned and
• 1:10:32
  swept angrily down the stairs. Don't be impertinent, Pollyanna. In the hot
• 1:10:39
  little attic room, Pollyanna dropped herself on to one of the straight back chairs
• 1:10:45
  to her existence loomed ahead one endless round of duty. I don't see,
• 1:10:51
  really what there was impertinent about that, she sighed. I was only asking
• 1:10:57
  her if she couldn't tell me something to be glad about it that beauty business.
• 1:11:01
  For several minutes, Pollyanna sat in silence, her rueful eyes fixed on
• 1:11:06
  the forlorn heap of garments on the bed. Then slowly she rose and began
• 1:11:11
  to put away the dresses. There just isn't anything to be glad about that
• 1:11:15
  I can see, she said aloud, unless it's to be glad when the
• 1:11:19
  duty's done, whereupon she laughed suddenly. End of Chapter six. Chapter seven
• 1:11:30
  Pollyanna and Punishments. At half past one o'clock, Timothy drove Miss Polly and
• 1:11:36
  her niece to the four or five principal dry goods stores, which were about
• 1:11:42
  half a mile from the homestead. Fitting Pollyanna with a new wardrobe proved to
• 1:11:46
  be a more or less exciting experience for all concerned. Miss Polly came out
• 1:11:53
  of it with the feeling of limp relaxation that one might have at finding one's
• 1:11:57
  self at last on solid earth after a perilous walk across the very thin crust
• 1:12:02
  of a volcano. The various clerks who had waited upon the pair came out
• 1:12:09
  of it with very red faces and enough amusing stories of Pollyanna to keep their
• 1:12:14
  friends in gales of laughter the rest of the week. Pollyanna herself came out
• 1:12:18
  of it with radiant smiles and a heart content. Far as she expressed it
• 1:12:25
  to one of the clerks, when you haven't had anybody but missionary barrels and
• 1:12:29
  ladies adius to dress you, it is perfectly lovely to just walk right in
• 1:12:33
  and buy clothes at are brand new and that don't have to be tucked up
• 1:12:38
  or let down because they don't fit. The shopping expedition consumed the entire afternoon.
• 1:12:45
  Then came supper and a delightful talk with Old Tom in the garden,
• 1:12:48
  and another with Nancy on the back porch after the dishes were done, and
• 1:12:53
  while Aunt Polly paid a visit to a neighbor, Old Tom told Pollyanna wonderful
• 1:12:58
  things of her mother that made her very happy indeed, and Nancy told her
• 1:13:02
  all about the little form six miles away at the corners where lived her own
• 1:13:09
  dear mother and her equally dear brothers and sisters. She promised too, that
• 1:13:13
  some time, if Miss Polly were willing, Pollyanna should be taken to see
• 1:13:17
  them. And they've got lovely names too. You like their names, sighed
• 1:13:24
  Nancy. There Algernon and Flora, Belle and Estelle. I I just hate
• 1:13:30
  Nancy, Oh Nancy, what a dreadful thing to say. Why because it
• 1:13:36
  isn't pretty like the others. You see, I was the first baby,
• 1:13:41
  and mother hadn't begun to read so many stories with the pretty names in em
• 1:13:44
  then. But I love Nancy just because it's you declared Pollyanna. Humph,
• 1:13:49
  Well, I guess you could love Clarissa Maybell just as well, retorted Nancy,
• 1:13:55
  and it would be a heap happier for me. I think that name's
• 1:14:00
  just grand. Pollyanna laughed. Well anyhow, she chuckled, you can be
• 1:14:05
  glad it isn't Hepsiba Hepsiba. Yes, missus White's name is that. Her
• 1:14:13
  husband calls her hep, and she doesn't like it, she says, when
• 1:14:15
  he calls out hep, hep, she feels just as if the next minute
• 1:14:20
  he's going to yell Hurrah, and she doesn't like to be hurrah at.
• 1:14:26
  Nancy's gloomy face relaxed into a broad smile. Well, if you don't beat
• 1:14:30
  the Dutch, say, do you know I shan't never hear Nancy now that
• 1:14:35
  I don't think of that hip hip and giggle. My, I guess I
• 1:14:40
  am glad. She stopped short and turned May's eyes on the little girl.
• 1:14:45
  Say miss Pollyanna, do you mean was you playing that air game then?
• 1:14:49
  About my being glad I wasn't named Hepsiba. Pollyanna frowned, Then she laughed,
• 1:14:56
  why, Nancy, that's so I was playing the game. But that's
• 1:15:00
  one of the times I just did it without thinking. I reckon. You
• 1:15:04
  see, you do lots of times. You get so used to it looking
• 1:15:09
  for something to be glad about, you know, and most generally there is
• 1:15:13
  something about everything that you can be glad about if you keep hunting long enough
• 1:15:17
  to find it. Well, maybe, granted Nancy with open doubt. At
• 1:15:24
  half past eight, Pollyanna went up to bed. The screens had not yet
• 1:15:28
  come, and the close little room was like an oven with longing eyes.
• 1:15:32
  Pollyanna looked at the two fast closed windows, but she did not raise them.
• 1:15:39
  She undressed, folded her clothes neatly, set her prayers, blew out
• 1:15:44
  her candle, and climbed into bed. Just how long she lay in sleepless
• 1:15:48
  misery, tossing from side to side of the hot little cot, she did
• 1:15:54
  not know, but it seemed to her that it must have been hours before
• 1:15:58
  she finally slipped out bed, felt her way across the room, and opened
• 1:16:01
  her door. Out in the main attic, all was velvet blackness, save
• 1:16:08
  where the moon flung a path of silver half way across the floor from the
• 1:16:13
  east Darmer window. With a resolute ignoring of that fearsome darkness to the right
• 1:16:18
  and to the left. Pollyanna drew a quick breath and pattered straight into that
• 1:16:24
  silvery path and on to the window. She had hoped vaguely that this window
• 1:16:30
  might have a screen, but it did not. Outside, however, there
• 1:16:33
  was a wide world of fairy like beauty. And there was too she knew,
• 1:16:39
  fresh, sweet air that would feel so good to hot cheeks and hands.
• 1:16:45
  As she stepped nearer and peered longingly out, she saw something else.
• 1:16:50
  She saw only a little way below the window, the wide, flat tin
• 1:16:55
  roof of Miss Polly's sun parlor built over the port Cocherie. The sight filled
• 1:17:00
  her with longing, if only now she were out there. Fearfully she looked
• 1:17:08
  behind her back. There somewhere were her hot little room and her still hotter
• 1:17:14
  bed. But between her and them lay a horrid desert of blackness, across
• 1:17:19
  which one must feel one's way with outstretched, shrinking arms. While before her
• 1:17:26
  out on the sun parlor roof, where the moonlight and the cool, sweet
• 1:17:30
  night air. If only her bed were out there, and folks did sleep
• 1:17:35
  out of doors. Joel Hartly at home, who was so sick with the
• 1:17:40
  consumption, had to sleep out of doors. Suddenly, Pollyanna remembered that she
• 1:17:45
  had seen near this attic window a row of long white bags hanging from nails.
• 1:17:51
  Nancy had said that they contained the winter clothing put away for the summer.
• 1:17:57
  A little fearfully now, Pollyanna felt her way to these bags. Selected
• 1:18:01
  a nice, fat, soft one it contained Miss Polly's sealskin coat for a
• 1:18:06
  bed, and a thinner one to be doubled up for a pillow, and
• 1:18:11
  still another which was so thin it seemed almost empty for a covering. Thus
• 1:18:15
  equipped, Pollyanna in highly pattered to the moonlit window, again, raised the
• 1:18:23
  sash, stuffed her burden through to the roof below, then let herself down
• 1:18:28
  after it, closing the window carefully behind her. Pollyanna had not forgotten those
• 1:18:32
  flies with the marvelous feet that carried things. How deliciously cool it was.
• 1:18:41
  Pollyanna quite danced up and down with the light, drawing in long, full
• 1:18:45
  breaths of the refreshing air. The tin roof under her feet crackled with little
• 1:18:50
  resounding snaps that Pollyanna rather light. She walked indeed two or three times back
• 1:18:57
  and forth from end to end. It gave gave her such a pleasant sensation
• 1:19:01
  of airy space after her hot little room, and the roof was so broad
• 1:19:06
  and flat that she had no fear of falling off. Finally, with a
• 1:19:12
  sigh of content, she curled herself up on the seal skin coat mattress,
• 1:19:16
  arranged one bag for a pillow and the other for a covering, and settled
• 1:19:20
  herself to sleep. I'm so glad now that the screens didn't come, she
• 1:19:27
  murmured, blinking up at the stars. Else I couldn't have had this downstairs.
• 1:19:32
  In Miss Polly's room, next to the sun parlor, Miss Polly herself
• 1:19:38
  was hurrying into dressing gown and slippers, her face white and frightened. A
• 1:19:44
  minute before, she had been telephoning in a shaky voice to Timothy, come
• 1:19:48
  up quick, you and your father bring lanterns. Somebody is on the roof
• 1:19:53
  of the sun parlor. He must have climbed up the rose trellis or something,
• 1:19:58
  and of course he can get right into the house through the east window
• 1:20:00
  in the attic. I have locked the attic door down here, but hurry
• 1:20:03
  please. Some time later, Pollyanna, just dropping off to sleep, was
• 1:20:10
  startled by a lantern flash and a trio of amazed ejaculations, she opened her
• 1:20:15
  eyes to find Timothy at the top of a ladder near her, Old Tom
• 1:20:20
  just getting through the window, and her aunt peering out at her from behind
• 1:20:26
  him. Pollyanna, what does this mean? Cried Aunt Polly. Then Pollyanna
• 1:20:30
  blinked sleepy eyes and sat up. Why mister Tom, Aunt Polly, she
• 1:20:35
  stammered, don't look so scared. Isn't that I've got the consumption, you
• 1:20:40
  know, like Joel Hartley. It's only that I was so hot in there,
• 1:20:44
  but I shut the window, Aunt Polly, so the flies couldn't carry
• 1:20:46
  those germ things in. Timothy disappeared suddenly down the ladder. Old Tom,
• 1:20:53
  with all most equal precipitation, handed his lantern to Miss Polly and followed his
• 1:20:59
  son. Miss Polly bit her lip hard until the men were gone. Then
• 1:21:03
  she said, sternly, Pollyanna, hand those things to me at once,
• 1:21:10
  and come in here, of all the extraordinary children. She ejaculated a little
• 1:21:15
  later, as with Pollyanna by her side and the lantern in her hand,
• 1:21:19
  she turned back into the attic to Pollyanna. The air was all the more
• 1:21:25
  stifling after that cool breath of the out of doors, but she did not
• 1:21:28
  complain. She only drew a long, quivering sigh. At the top of
• 1:21:33
  the stairs, Miss Polly jerked out crisply for the rest of the night.
• 1:21:39
  Pollyanna, you are to sleep in my bed with me. The screens will
• 1:21:44
  be here tomorrow, but until then, I consider it my duty to keep
• 1:21:47
  you where I know where you are. Pollyanna drew in her breath. With
• 1:21:54
  you in your bid, she cried rapturously, Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt
• 1:21:59
  Polly, how perfectly lovely of you. And when I've so wanted to sleep
• 1:22:03
  with someone sometime, someone that belonged to me, you know, not a
• 1:22:08
  lady's aid, I've had them my I reckon. I am glad now that
• 1:22:13
  those screens didn't come, wouldn't you be? There was no reply. Miss
• 1:22:17
  Polly was stalking on ahead. Miss Polly to tell the truth, was feeling
• 1:22:24
  curiously helpless. For the third time since Pollyanna's arrival. Miss Polly was punishing
• 1:22:30
  Pollyanna, and for the third time she was being confronted with the amazing fact
• 1:22:36
  that her punishment was being taken as a special reward of merit. No wonder,
• 1:22:43
  Miss Polly was feeling curiously helpless. End of chapter seven, Chapter eight,
• 1:22:50
  Pollyanna pays a visit. It was not long before life at the Harrington
• 1:22:58
  homestead settled into something like order, although not exactly the order that Miss Polly
• 1:23:03
  had at first prescribed. Pollyanna sewed, practiced, read aloud, and studied
• 1:23:10
  cooking in the kitchen. It is true, but she did not give to
• 1:23:14
  any of these things quite so much time as had first been planned. She
• 1:23:19
  had more time also to just live, as she expressed it, for almost
• 1:23:25
  all of every afternoon from two until six o'clock was hers to do with as
• 1:23:30
  she liked, provided she did not like to do certain things already prohibited by
• 1:23:34
  Aunt Polly. It is a question, perhaps, whether all this leisure time
• 1:23:40
  was given to the child as a relief to Pollyanna from work, or as
• 1:23:44
  a relief to Aunt Polly from Pollyanna. Certainly, as those first July days
• 1:23:49
  passed, Miss Polly found occasion many times to ejaculate what an extraordinary child,
• 1:23:58
  and certainly the reading and sowing lessons found her at their conclusion each day somewhat
• 1:24:03
  dazed and wholly exhausted. Nancy in the kitchen fared better. She was not
• 1:24:10
  dazed nor exhausted Wednesdays and Saturdays came to be indeed read letter days to her.
• 1:24:16
  There were no children in the immediate neighborhood of the Harrington Homestead for Pollyanna
• 1:24:21
  to play with. The house itself was on the outskirts of the village,
• 1:24:26
  and though there were other houses not far away, they did not chance to
• 1:24:30
  contain any boys or girls near Pollyanna's age. This, however, did not
• 1:24:35
  seem to disturb Pollyanna in the least. Oh no, I don't mind it
• 1:24:40
  at all, she explained to Nancy. I'm happy just to walk around and
• 1:24:45
  see the streets and the houses and watch the people. I just love people,
• 1:24:48
  don't you, Nancy, Well, I can't say I do all of'em,
• 1:24:54
  retorted Nancy tersely. Almost every pleasant afternoon found Pollyanna begging for an errand
• 1:25:01
  to run so that she might be off for a walk in one direction or
• 1:25:05
  another. And it was on these walks that frequently she met the Man.
• 1:25:11
  To herself, Pollyanna always called him the Man, no matter if she met
• 1:25:16
  a dozen other men the same day. The man often wore a long black
• 1:25:21
  coat and a high silk hat, two things that the just men never wore.
• 1:25:28
  His face was clean, shaven and rather pale, and his hair growing
• 1:25:31
  below his hat was somewhat gray. He walked erect and rather rapidly, and
• 1:25:39
  he was always alone, which made Pollyanna vaguely sorry for him. Perhaps it
• 1:25:45
  was because of this that she one day spoke to him. How do you
• 1:25:48
  do, sir? Isn't this a nice day? She called cheerily as she
• 1:25:51
  approached him. The man, through a hurried glance about him, then stopped
• 1:25:57
  uncertainly. Did you speak to me, he asked in a sharp voice,
• 1:26:02
  Yes, sir, be Pollyanna. I say it's a nice day, isn't
• 1:26:05
  it? Eh? Oh? He grunted and strode on again. Pollyanna laughed.
• 1:26:13
  He was such a funny man, she thought. The next day she
• 1:26:15
  saw him again, tisn't quite so nice as yesterday, but it's pretty nice,
• 1:26:20
  she called out cheerfully. Hey oh ugh, grunted the man as before,
• 1:26:27
  and once again Pollyanna laughed happily. When for the third time Pollyanna accosted
• 1:26:32
  him in much the same manner, the man stopped abruptly. See here,
• 1:26:38
  child, who are you and why are you speaking to me every day?
• 1:26:43
  I'm Pollyanna Whittier, and I thought you looked lonesome. I'm so glad you
• 1:26:46
  stopped. Now we're introduced. Only I don't know your name yet. Well
• 1:26:51
  of all the the man did not finish his sentence, but strode on faster
• 1:26:58
  than ever. Looked after him with a disappointed droop to her usually smiling lips.
• 1:27:04
  Maybe he didn't understand, but that was only half an introduction. I
• 1:27:10
  don't know his name yet, she murmured as she proceeded on her way.
• 1:27:15
  Pollyanna was carrying Calf's foot jelly to missus Snow today. Miss Polly Harrington always
• 1:27:21
  sent something to missus Snow once a week, she said. She thought that
• 1:27:27
  it was her duty. Inasmuch as missus Snow was poor, sick, and
• 1:27:31
  a member of her church, it was the duty of all the church members
• 1:27:35
  to look out for her. Of course, Miss Polly did her duty by
• 1:27:40
  missus Snow usually on Thursday afternoons, not personally, but through Nancy. Today
• 1:27:46
  Pollyanna had begged the privilege, and Nancy had promptly given it to her in
• 1:27:51
  accordance with Miss Polly's orders. And it's glad I am to get rid of
• 1:27:57
  it, Nancy had declared in private afterwards. Pollyanna, though it's a shame
• 1:28:01
  to be tucking the job off to you, poor Lamb. So it is
• 1:28:04
  it is, but I'd love to do it, Nancy. Well, you
• 1:28:09
  won't after you done it, once, predicted Nancy sourly. Why not,
• 1:28:15
  because nobody does. If folks wasn't sorry for her, there wouldn't be a
• 1:28:18
  soul go near her from morning till night. She's that cantankerous, all is.
• 1:28:25
  I pity her daughter, what has to take care of her? But
• 1:28:28
  why Nancy, Nancy shrugged her shoulders. Well, in plain words, it's
• 1:28:33
  just that nothing, whatever has happened, has happened right in miss Snow's eyes.
• 1:28:39
  Even the days of the week ain't run to her mind. If it's
• 1:28:42
  Monday, she's bound to say she wished for Sunday. And if you take
• 1:28:45
  her jelly, you're pretty sure to hear she wanted chicken. But if you
• 1:28:49
  did bring a chicken, she'd be just hankerin for lamb broth. Why what
• 1:28:55
  a funny woman, laughed Pollyanna. I think I shall like to go see
• 1:28:59
  her. She must be so surprising and and different. I love different folks.
• 1:29:05
  Humh Well, Miss Snow's different, all right. I hope for the
• 1:29:09
  sake of the rest of us, Nancy had finished grimly. Pollyanna was thinking
• 1:29:14
  of these remarks to day as she turned in at the gate of the shabby
• 1:29:17
  little cottage. Her eyes were quite sparkling, indeed at the prospect of meeting
• 1:29:23
  this different Missus Snow. A pale faced, tired looking young girl answered her
• 1:29:30
  knock at the door. How do you do, began Pollyanna politely. I'm
• 1:29:33
  from miss Polly Harrington, and I'd like to see missus Snow. Please,
• 1:29:38
  well, if you would, You're the first one that ever liked to see
• 1:29:41
  her, muttered the girl under her breath, But Pollyanna did not hear this.
• 1:29:45
  The girl had turned and was leading the way through the hall to a
• 1:29:48
  door at the end of it in the sick room. After the girl had
• 1:29:54
  ushered her in and closed at the door, Pollyanna blinked a little before she
• 1:29:58
  could accustom her eyes to the gloom. Then she saw dimly outlined a woman
• 1:30:04
  half sitting up in the bed across the room. Pollyanna advanced at once,
• 1:30:10
  how do you do, missus Snow. Aunt Polly says, she hopes you
• 1:30:13
  are comfortable today, and she sent you some calf's foot jelly, dear me,
• 1:30:18
  Jelly murmured a fretful voice. Of course, I'm very much obliged,
• 1:30:23
  but I was hoping twould be lambroth today. Pollyanna frowned a little. Why
• 1:30:28
  I thought it was chicken you wanted when folks brought you jelly, she said,
• 1:30:31
  what. The sick woman turned sharply. Why nothing, much, apologized
• 1:30:36
  Pollyanna hurriedly. And of course it doesn't really make any difference. It's only
• 1:30:41
  that Nancy said it was chicken you wanted when we brought jelly, and lambroth
• 1:30:45
  when we brought chicken. But maybe it twas the other way, and Nancy
• 1:30:48
  forgot. The sick woman pulled herself up till she sat erect in the bed,
• 1:30:55
  a most unusual thing for her to do, though Pollyanna did not know
• 1:31:00
  this well, Miss impertinence, who are you, she demanded. Pollyanna laughed
• 1:31:06
  gleefully. Oh that isn't my name, missus Snow, And I'm so glad
• 1:31:12
  testn't too. That would be worse than hipsterba, wouldn't it. I'm Pollyanna
• 1:31:15
  Whittier, Miss Polly Harrington's niece, and I've come to live with her.
• 1:31:20
  That's why I'm here with the jelly this morning. All through the first part
• 1:31:25
  of this sentence, the sick woman had sat interestedly erect, but at the
• 1:31:30
  reference to the jelly, she fell back on her pillow listlessly. Well,
• 1:31:34
  thank you. Your aunt is very kind, of course, but my appetite
• 1:31:39
  isn't very good this morning, and I was wanting lamb. She stopped suddenly,
• 1:31:45
  then went on with an abrupt change of subject. I never slept a
• 1:31:47
  wink last night, not a wink, Oh dear, I wish I didn't,
• 1:31:54
  sighed Pollyanna, placing the jelly on the little stand and seating herself comfortably
• 1:31:59
  in the knee chair. You lose such a lot of time just sleeping,
• 1:32:02
  don't you think? So lose time sleeping, exclaimed the sick woman, Yes,
• 1:32:10
  when you might be just living. You know, it seems such a
• 1:32:13
  pity we can't live nights too. Once again, the woman pulled herself erect
• 1:32:17
  in her bed. Well if you ain't the amazing young one, she cried.
• 1:32:23
  Here do you go to that window and pull the curtain? She directed,
• 1:32:26
  I should like to know what you look like. Pollyanna rose to her
• 1:32:30
  feet, but she laughed a little ruefully. Oh dear, then you'll see
• 1:32:34
  my freckles, won't you, She sighed as she went to the window.
• 1:32:39
  And just when I was being so glad, it was dark and you couldn't
• 1:32:43
  see him there, Now you can. Oh, she broke off excitedly as
• 1:32:48
  she turned back to the bed. I'm so glad you wanted to see me,
• 1:32:51
  because now I can see you. They didn't tell me you were so
• 1:32:56
  pretty, Me pretty, the woman bitterly. Why yes, didn't you know
• 1:33:02
  it, cried Pollyanna. Well no, I didn't, retorted missus Snow dryly.
• 1:33:08
  Missus Snow had lived forty years, and for fifteen of those years she
• 1:33:13
  had been too busy wishing things were different to find much time to enjoy things
• 1:33:18
  as they were. Oh but your eyes are so big and dark, and
• 1:33:23
  your hair's all dark too, and curly, cooed Pollyanna. I love black
• 1:33:28
  curls. That's one of the things I'm going to have when I get to
• 1:33:30
  heaven. And you've got two little red spots in your cheeks. Why,
• 1:33:35
  missus Snow, you are pretty. I should think you'd know it when you
• 1:33:39
  looked at yourself in the glass. The glass snapped, the sick woman falling
• 1:33:44
  back on her pillow. Well, yes, I ain't done much pretting before
• 1:33:47
  the mirror these days, and you wouldn't if you was flat on your back
• 1:33:51
  as I am. Why no, of course, not, agreed Pollyanna sympathetically.
• 1:33:58
  But wait, just let me show you, she exclaimed, skipping over
• 1:34:01
  to the bureau and picking up a small hand glass. On the way back
• 1:34:05
  to the bed, she stopped, eyeing the sick woman with a critical gaze.
• 1:34:11
  I reckon, maybe, if you don't mind, I'd like to fix
• 1:34:13
  your hair just a little before I let you see it, she proposed.
• 1:34:16
  May I fix your hair? Please? Why? I suppose so if you
• 1:34:21
  want to, permitted? Missus snow grudgingly, But you won't stay you know.
• 1:34:27
  Oh thank you. I love to fix people's hair, exulted Pollyanna,
• 1:34:31
  carefully, laying down the hand glass and reaching for a comb. I shan't
• 1:34:36
  do much today, of course, I'm in such a hurry for you to
• 1:34:40
  see how pretty you were. But someday I'm going to take it all down
• 1:34:44
  and have a perfectly lovely time with it, she cried, touching with soft
• 1:34:48
  fingers the waving hair above the sick woman's forehead. For five minutes, Pollyanna
• 1:34:54
  worked swiftly, deftly combing a refractory curl into fluffiness, breaking up a drooping
• 1:35:00
  ruffle at the neck, or shaking a pillow into plumpness so that the head
• 1:35:04
  might have a better pose. Meanwhile, the sick woman, frowning prodigiously and
• 1:35:11
  openly scoffing that the whole procedure was in spite of herself, beginning to tingle
• 1:35:16
  with a feeling perilously near to excitement. There panted Pollyanna, hastily plucking a
• 1:35:24
  pink from a vase nearby and tucking it into the dark hair where it would
• 1:35:29
  give the best effect. Now, I reckon, we're ready to be looked
• 1:35:31
  at, and she held out the mirror in triumph. Hmm, grunted the
• 1:35:36
  sick woman, eyeing her reflections severely. I like red pinks better than pink
• 1:35:42
  ones. But then it'll fade anyhow before night, so what's the difference.
• 1:35:47
  But I should think you'd be glad they did fade, laughed Pollyanna, because
• 1:35:51
  then you can have the fun of getting some more. I just love your
• 1:35:56
  hair fluffed out like that, She finished with a satisfied gaze, don't you
• 1:36:00
  hum? Maybe still won't last with me? Tossing back and forth on the
• 1:36:05
  pillow as I do. Of course not, and I'm glad too, nodded
• 1:36:10
  Pollyanna cheerfully, because then I can fix it again. Anyhow, I should
• 1:36:15
  think you'd be glad it's black. Black shows up so much nicer on a
• 1:36:19
  pillow than yellow hair like mine does. Maybe, but I never did set
• 1:36:25
  much store by black hair shows great too soon, retorted missus Snow. She
• 1:36:30
  spoke fretfully, but she still held the mirror before her face. Oh I
• 1:36:33
  love black hair. I should be so glad if only I had, it,
• 1:36:38
  sighed Pollyanna. Missus Snow dropped the mirror and turned irritably. Well you
• 1:36:45
  wouldn't not if you were me. You wouldn't be glad for black hair nor
• 1:36:48
  anything else if you had to lie here all day as I do. Pollyanna
• 1:36:54
  bent her brows in a thoughtful frown. Why twould be kind of hard to
• 1:36:59
  do it, then, wouldn't, she mused aloud? Do what be glad
• 1:37:02
  about things? Be glad about things when you're sick and bet all your days?
• 1:37:08
  Well, I should say, it, would, retorted missus Snow.
• 1:37:12
  If you don't think so, just tell me something to be glad about that's
• 1:37:15
  all. To missus Snow's unbounded amazement, Pollyanna sprang to her feet and clapped
• 1:37:21
  her hands. Oh goody, that'll be a hard one, won't it.
• 1:37:26
  I've got to go now, but I'll think and think all the way home,
• 1:37:30
  and maybe the next time I come I can tell it to you.
• 1:37:33
  Goodbye, I've had a lovely time. Goodbye, she called again as she
• 1:37:39
  tripped through the doorway. Well, I never now what does she mean by
• 1:37:44
  that, ejaculated missus Snow. Staring after her visitor by and by, she
• 1:37:48
  turned her head and picked up the mirror, eyeing her reflection critically. That
• 1:37:54
  little thing has got a knock with hair and no mistake, she muttered under
• 1:37:58
  her breath. I declare, Ah, I didn't know it looks so pretty.
• 1:38:01
  But then what's the use? She sighed, dropping the little glass into
• 1:38:05
  the bedclothes and rolling her head on the pillow fretfully. A little later,
• 1:38:13
  when Milly, Missus Snow's daughter, came in, the mirror still lay among
• 1:38:16
  the bedclothes, but it had been carefully hidden from sight. Why mother,
• 1:38:21
  the curtain is up, cried Milly, dividing her amazed stare between the window
• 1:38:27
  and the pink in her mother's hair. Well, what if it is snapped?
• 1:38:30
  The sick woman. I needn't stay in the dark all my life if
• 1:38:33
  I am sick, need I why no? Of course, not, rejoined
• 1:38:38
  Milly in hasty conciliation, as she reached for the medicine bottle. It's only
• 1:38:43
  well, you know very well that I've tried to get you to have a
• 1:38:45
  lighter room for ages, and you wouldn't. There was no reply to this.
• 1:38:50
  Missus Snow was picking at the lace on her nightgown. At last,
• 1:38:55
  she spoke, fretfully, I should think somebody might give me a new night
• 1:39:00
  dress instead of lamb broth for a change. Why, mother, no,
• 1:39:05
  wonder? Milly quite gasped aloud with bewilderment, and the drawer behind her at
• 1:39:12
  that moment lay two new night dresses that Milly for months had been vainly urging
• 1:39:17
  her mother to wear. End of chapter eight, Chapter nine, which tells
• 1:39:26
  of the man it rained. The next time Pollyanna saw the man, she
• 1:39:30
  greeted him, however, with a bright smile. It isn't so nice today,
• 1:39:34
  is it, she called blithsomely. I'm glad he doesn't rain always?
• 1:39:39
  Anyhow? The man did not even grunt this time, nor turn his head.
• 1:39:45
  Pollyanna decided that, of course he did not hear her. The next
• 1:39:47
  time therefore, which happened to be the following day, she spoke of louder.
• 1:39:53
  She thought it particularly necessary to do this anyway, for the man was
• 1:39:57
  striding along, his hands behind his back and his eyes on the ground,
• 1:40:01
  which seemed to Pollyanna preposterous in the face of the glorious sunshine and the freshly
• 1:40:08
  washed morning air. Pollyanna, as a special treat, was on a morning
• 1:40:13
  errand today, how do you do? She chirped. I'm so glad it
• 1:40:16
  isn't yesterday, aren't you. The man stopped abruptly. There was an angry
• 1:40:21
  scowl on his face. See here, little girl, we might just as
• 1:40:26
  well settle this thing right now once for all. He began testily. I've
• 1:40:30
  got something besides the weather to think of. I don't know whether the sun
• 1:40:34
  shines or not. Pollyanna beamed joyously. No, sir, I thought you
• 1:40:40
  didn't. That's why I told you. Yes, well, eh what he
• 1:40:45
  broke off sharply in sudden understanding of her words. I say, that's why
• 1:40:48
  I told you so you would notice it. You know that the sun shines
• 1:40:54
  and all that. I knew you'd be glad it did, if you'd only
• 1:40:57
  stopped to think of it, And you didn't look a bit as if you
• 1:41:00
  were thinking of it well all, the ejaculated the man with an oddly impotent
• 1:41:05
  gesture. He started forward again, but after the second step he turned back,
• 1:41:11
  still frowning. See here, why don't you find someone your own age
• 1:41:15
  to talk to? I'd like you, sir, but there aren't any round
• 1:41:19
  here, Nancy says. Still, I don't mind so very much. I
• 1:41:24
  like old folks just as well, maybe better, sometimes being used to the
• 1:41:28
  ladies aid, so the lady's aid. Indeed, is that what you took
• 1:41:33
  me for? The man's lips were threatening to smile, but the scowl above
• 1:41:38
  them was still trying to hold them grimly stern. Pollyanna laughed gleefully. No,
• 1:41:44
  no, sir, you don't look a mite like a lady's aider,
• 1:41:47
  not but that you're just as good, of course, maybe better, she
• 1:41:51
  added, in hurried politeness. You see, I'm sure you're much nicer than
• 1:41:55
  you look. The man made a queer noise in his throat. Well alvah,
• 1:42:01
  he ejaculated again as he turned and strode on. As before. The
• 1:42:06
  next time Pollyanna met the man, his eyes were gazing straight into hers with
• 1:42:13
  a quizzical directness that made his face look really pleasant. Pollyanna thought, good
• 1:42:18
  afternoon. He greeted her a little stiffly. Perhaps i'd better say right away
• 1:42:24
  that I know the sun is shining today, but you don't have to tell
• 1:42:28
  me, nodded Pollyanna brightly. I knew you knew it just as soon as
• 1:42:32
  I saw you. Oh you did, did you, Yes, sir?
• 1:42:36
  I saw it in your eyes, you know, and in your smile.
• 1:42:41
  Humph, grunted the man as he passed on. The man always spoke to
• 1:42:45
  Pollyanna after this, and frequently he spoke first, though usually he said little
• 1:42:50
  but good afternoon. Even that, however, was a great surprise to Nancy,
• 1:42:56
  who chanced to be with Pollyanna one day. When the greeting was and
• 1:43:00
  sakes alive, Miss Pollyanna, She gasped, did that man speak to you?
• 1:43:05
  Why? Yes, he always does, now, smiled Pollyanna. He
• 1:43:10
  always does. Goodness, do you know who he is? Demanded Nancy.
• 1:43:15
  Pollyanna frowned and shook her head. I reckon, he forgot to tell me
• 1:43:19
  one day. You see, I did my part of the introducing, but
• 1:43:24
  he didn't. Nancy's eyes widened. But he never speaks to anybody child.
• 1:43:30
  He hate for years, I guess, except when he just has to for
• 1:43:32
  business and all that. He's John Pendleton. He lives all by himself in
• 1:43:39
  the big house on Pendleton Hill. He won't even have anyone round to cook
• 1:43:43
  for him. Comes down to the hotel for his meals three times a day.
• 1:43:46
  I know Sally Miner who waits on him, and she says he hardly
• 1:43:50
  opens his head enough to tell her what he wants to eat. She has
• 1:43:54
  to guess it more than half the time. Only it'll be something cheap.
• 1:43:58
  She knows that without no telling. Pollyanna nodded sympathetically. I know you have
• 1:44:03
  to look for cheap things when you're poor. Father and I took meals out
• 1:44:08
  a lot. We had beans and fishballs most generally. He used to say,
• 1:44:13
  how glad we were we liked beans, that is, we said it,
• 1:44:15
  specially when we were looking at the roast turkey place, you know that
• 1:44:18
  was sixty cents. Does mister Pendleton like beans like him? What if he
• 1:44:24
  does or don't why, miss Pollyanna, He ain't poor. He's got loads
• 1:44:29
  of money John Pendleton has from his father. There ain't nobody in town as
• 1:44:33
  rich as he is. He could eat dollar bills if he wanted chew and
• 1:44:38
  not know it. Pollyanna giggled, as if anybody could eat dollar bills and
• 1:44:42
  not know it. Nancy, when they come to try to chew him,
• 1:44:45
  Oh, I mean he's rich enough to do it, shrugged Nancy. He
• 1:44:49
  ain't spending his money, that's all. He's a saving it. Oh for
• 1:44:53
  the He then surmised Pollyanna, how perfectly splendid. That's denying yourself and taking
• 1:45:00
  up your cross. I know, father told me. Nancy's lips parted abruptly,
• 1:45:04
  as if there were angry words all ready to come, but her eyes,
• 1:45:09
  resting on Pollyanna's jubilantly trustful face, saw something that prevented the words being
• 1:45:15
  spoken. Humph, she vouchsafed. Then, showing her old time interest,
• 1:45:19
  she went on, but safe it is queer. He's speaking to you,
• 1:45:24
  honestly, Miss Pollyanna. He don't speak to no one, and he lives
• 1:45:28
  all alone in a great, big, lovely house, all full of just
• 1:45:31
  grand things. They say some says he's crazy, and some just cross,
• 1:45:36
  and some says he's got a skeleton in his closet. Oh, Nancy shuddered,
• 1:45:43
  Pollyanna, how can he keep such a dreadful thing? I should think
• 1:45:45
  he'd throw it away. Nancy chuckled that Pollyanna had taken the skeleton literally instead
• 1:45:53
  of figuratively. She knew very well, but perversely, she refrained from correcting
• 1:45:59
  the mistake. An everybody says he's mysterious, she went on. Some years
• 1:46:04
  he just travels week in and week out, and it's always in Heathen countries,
• 1:46:10
  Egypt, than Asia and the desert of Sarah. You know, oh,
• 1:46:14
  a missionary, nodded Pollyanna. Nancy laughed oddly. Well, I didn't
• 1:46:18
  say that, miss Pollyanna. When he comes back, he writes books,
• 1:46:21
  queer odd books, they say about some Jim crack he's found in them Heathen
• 1:46:28
  countries. But he don't never seem to want to spend no money here a
• 1:46:31
  leastways, not for just livin' of course, not if he's saving it for
• 1:46:35
  the Heathen, declared Pollyanna. But he is a funny man, and he's
• 1:46:41
  different too, just like mister Snow, only he's different different. Well,
• 1:46:45
  I guess he is rather chuckled Nancy. I'm gladderin ever now anyhow that he
• 1:46:51
  speaks to me, sighed Pollyanna contentedly. End of chapter nine. Chapter ten
• 1:47:00
  A surprise for missus Snow. The next time Pollyanna went to see missus Snow,
• 1:47:06
  she found that lady as at first in a darkened room. It's the
• 1:47:12
  little girl from miss Polly's mother, announced Milly in a tired manner. Then
• 1:47:16
  Pollyanna found herself alone with the invalid. Oh it's you, is it,
• 1:47:23
  asked a fretful voice from the bed. I remember you? Anybody remember you?
• 1:47:28
  I guess if they saw you once. I wish you would come yesterday.
• 1:47:31
  I wanted you yesterday, did you well? I'm glad. Isn't any
• 1:47:38
  farther away from yesterday than today is? Then, laughed Pollyanna, advancing cheerily
• 1:47:44
  into the room and setting her basket carefully down on a chair. My,
• 1:47:48
  but aren't you dark here? Though? I can't see you a bit,
• 1:47:51
  she cried, unhesitatingly, crossing to the window and pulling up the shade.
• 1:47:57
  I want to see if you fixed your hair like I did. Oh you
• 1:48:00
  haven't, But never mind, I'm glad you haven't after all, because maybe
• 1:48:04
  you let me do it later. But now I want you to see what
• 1:48:09
  I've brought you. The woman stirred restlessly, Just as if how it looks
• 1:48:15
  would make any difference in how it tastes. She scoffed, but turned her
• 1:48:19
  eyes toward the basket. Well, what is it? Guess? What do
• 1:48:25
  you want? Pollyanna had skipped back to the basket. Her face was a
• 1:48:29
  light. The sick woman frowned. Why I don't want anything as I know
• 1:48:33
  of, she sighed, After all, they all taste alike, Pollyanna chuckled.
• 1:48:40
  This won't guess if you did want something, what would it be?
• 1:48:45
  The woman hesitated. She did not realize it herself, but she had so
• 1:48:50
  long been accustomed to wanting what she did not have that to state off hand
• 1:48:56
  which she did want seemed impossible until she knew what she had. Obviously,
• 1:49:00
  however, she must say something. This extraordinary child was waiting. Well,
• 1:49:06
  of course there's lamb broth. I've got it, crowed Pollyanna. But that's
• 1:49:13
  what I didn't want, sighed the sick woman. Sure now of what her
• 1:49:16
  stomach craved, It was chicken I wanted, Oh, I've got that too,
• 1:49:23
  chuckle Pollyanna. The woman turned in amazement, both of them, she
• 1:49:28
  demanded, yes, and Calf's foot jelly triumphed Pollyanna. I was just bound
• 1:49:33
  you should have what you wanted for once, so Nancy and I fixed it.
• 1:49:40
  Of course, there's only a little of each, but there's some of
• 1:49:43
  all of them. I'm so glad you did want chicken, she went on
• 1:49:46
  contentedly, as she lifted the three little bowls from her basket. You see,
• 1:49:53
  I got the thinking on the way here. What if you should say
• 1:49:56
  tripe or onions or something like that that I didn't have, wouldn't it have
• 1:50:00
  been a shame when I tried so hard? She laughed merrily. There was
• 1:50:05
  no reply. The sick woman seemed to be trying mentally to find something she
• 1:50:11
  had lost there. I'm to leave them all, announced Pollyanna, as she
• 1:50:16
  arranged the three bowls in a row on the table. Like enough, it'll
• 1:50:19
  be lamb broth you want tomorrow. How do you do today? She finished
• 1:50:24
  in polite inquiry. Very poorly, thank you, murmured missus, snow,
• 1:50:29
  falling back into her usual listless attitude. I lost my nap this morning,
• 1:50:34
  Nellie, Higgins next door has begun music lessons, and her practicing drives me
• 1:50:41
  nearly wild. She was at it all the morning, every minute. I'm
• 1:50:45
  sure I don't know what I shall do, Polly nodded sympathetically. I know
• 1:50:53
  it is awful. Missus White had at once one of my lady's aiders.
• 1:50:57
  You know, she had rheumatic fever too at the same time, so she
• 1:51:01
  couldn't thrash round, she said, would have been easier if she could have.
• 1:51:05
  Can you can I what thrash round? Move? You know, so
• 1:51:11
  as to change your position where the music gets too hard to stand? Missus
• 1:51:15
  snow stared a little. Why of course I can move anywhere in bed,
• 1:51:21
  she rejoined a little irritably. Well you can be glad of that then,
• 1:51:27
  anyhow, can't you, nodded Pollyanna. Missus White couldn't You can't thrash when
• 1:51:31
  you have rheumatic fever, though you want to do something awful, Missus White
• 1:51:36
  says. She told me afterwards. She reckoned she'd have gone rave and crazy
• 1:51:42
  if it hadn't been for mister White's sister's ears being deaf. So sisters ears,
• 1:51:47
  what do you mean? Pollyanna laughed, well, I reckon, I
• 1:51:51
  didn't tell it at all, and I forgot. You didn't know Missus White.
• 1:51:55
  You see, miss White was deaf, awfully deaf, and she can't
• 1:52:00
  to visit them and to help take care of Missus White and the house.
• 1:52:02
  Well, they had such an awful time making her understand anything that after that,
• 1:52:09
  every time the piano commenced to play across the street, Missus White felt
• 1:52:13
  so good that she could hear it, that she didn't mind so much that
• 1:52:17
  she did hear it, because you can't help thinking how awful twould be if
• 1:52:20
  she was deaf and couldn't hear anything, like her husband's sister. You see,
• 1:52:26
  she was playing the game too. I told her about it, the
• 1:52:30
  game Pollyanna clapped her hands. There. I most forgot, but I've thought
• 1:52:38
  it up. Missus Snow what you can be glad about? Glad about?
• 1:52:44
  What do you mean why I told you I would? Don't you remember you
• 1:52:48
  asked me to tell you something to be glad about? Glad? You know,
• 1:52:53
  even though you did have to lie here a bed all day? Oh
• 1:52:57
  scoffed the woman that yes, I remember remember that, but I didn't suppose
• 1:53:01
  you were in earnest any more than I was. Oh yes, I was
• 1:53:05
  nodded Pollyanna triumphantly. And I found it too, but twas hard. It's
• 1:53:11
  all the more fun, though, always went tis hard, and I will
• 1:53:15
  own up, honest to true that I couldn't think of anything for a while.
• 1:53:18
  Then I got it, did you really? Well? What is it?
• 1:53:24
  Missus Snow's voice was sarcastically polite. Pollyanna drew a long breath. I
• 1:53:31
  thought, how glad you could be that other folks weren't like you, all
• 1:53:36
  sick in bed like this, you know, she announced impressively. Missus Snow
• 1:53:42
  stared, her eyes were angry. Well really, she ejaculated, then in
• 1:53:48
  not quite an agreeable tone of voice. And now I'll tell you the game,
• 1:53:54
  proposed Pollyanna, blithely, confident. It'll be just lovely for you to
• 1:53:58
  play. It'll be hard, and they're so much more fun when it's hard.
• 1:54:03
  You see, it's like this, And she began to tell of the
• 1:54:06
  visionary barrel, the crutches, and the doll that did not come. The
• 1:54:13
  story was just finished when Milly appeared at the door. Your aunt is wanting
• 1:54:16
  you, miss Pollyanna, she said, with dreary listlessness. She telephoned down
• 1:54:21
  to the Harlows across the way. She says, you're to hurry, that
• 1:54:26
  you've got some practicing to make up before dark. Pollyanna rose reluctantly. All
• 1:54:31
  right, she sighed, I'll hurry. Suddenly, she laughed, I suppose
• 1:54:35
  I ought to be glad I've cut legs to hurry with, hadn't I,
• 1:54:39
  Missus Snow. There was no answer. Missus Snow's eyes were closed, but
• 1:54:45
  Milly, whose eyes were wide open with surprise, saw that there were tears
• 1:54:49
  on the waisted cheeks. Goodbye, flung Pollyanna over her shoulder as she reached
• 1:54:55
  the door. I'm awfully sorry about the hair. I wanted to do it,
• 1:54:59
  but maybe I can next time. One by one, the July days
• 1:55:03
  passed to Pollyanna. They were happy days. Indeed, she often told her
• 1:55:09
  aunt joyously how very happy they were, whereupon her aunt would usually reply wearily,
• 1:55:16
  very well, Pollyanna, I am gratified, of course that they are
• 1:55:20
  happy, but I trust that they are profitable as well, Otherwise I should
• 1:55:26
  have failed signally in my duty. Generally, Pollyanna would answer this with a
• 1:55:30
  hug and a kiss, a proceeding that was still always most disconcerting to Miss
• 1:55:36
  Polly. But one day, she spoke. It was during the sewing hour.
• 1:55:42
  Do you mean that it wouldn't be enough, then, Aunt Polly,
• 1:55:44
  that they should be just happy days, she asked, wistfully. That is
• 1:55:48
  what I mean, Pollyanna. They must be profitable as well. Certainly,
• 1:55:55
  what is being profitable? Why? It's it's just being profitable, having profit
• 1:56:02
  something to show for at Pollyanna, what an extraordinary child you are? Then?
• 1:56:09
  Just being glad? Is it profitable? Questioned Pollyanna, a little anxiously.
• 1:56:15
  Certainly not, Oh dear, then you wouldn't like it, of course,
• 1:56:19
  I'm afraid now you won't ever play the game, Aunt Polly. Game?
• 1:56:24
  What game? Why that? Father? Pollyanna clapped her hand to her
• 1:56:29
  lips. Nothing, she stammered. Miss Polly frowned. That will do for
• 1:56:33
  this morning, Pollyanna, she said, tersely, and the sewing lesson was
• 1:56:38
  over. It was that afternoon that Pollyanna, coming down from her attic room,
• 1:56:44
  met her aunt on the stairway. Why Aunt Polly, how perfectly lovely,
• 1:56:48
  she cried, you were coming up to see me? Come right in?
• 1:56:51
  I love company, She finished, scampering up the stairs and throwing her
• 1:56:57
  door wide open. Now, Miss Polly had not been intending to call on
• 1:57:00
  her niece. She had been planning to look for a certain white woolf shawl
• 1:57:05
  in the cedar chest near the east window. But to her unbounded surprise,
• 1:57:11
  now she found herself not in the main attic before the cedar chest, but
• 1:57:15
  in Pollyanna's little room, sitting in one of the straight backed chairs. So
• 1:57:21
  many many times since Pollyanna came, Miss Polly had found herself like this,
• 1:57:27
  doing some utterly unexpected, surprising thing, quite unlike the things she has set
• 1:57:31
  out to do. I love company, said Pollyanna, again, flitting about
• 1:57:36
  as if she were dispensing the hospitality of a palace, especially since I've had
• 1:57:44
  this room all mine, you know, And of course I had a room
• 1:57:46
  always, but twas a hired room, and hired rooms aren't half as nice
• 1:57:51
  as owned ones, are they. And of course I do own this one,
• 1:57:54
  don't I? Why? Yes, Pollyanna murmured Miss Polly va leagly,
• 1:58:00
  wondering why she did not get up at once and go to look for that
• 1:58:03
  show. And of course now I just love this room, even if it
• 1:58:09
  hasn't got the carpets and curtains and pictures that I'd been want With a painful
• 1:58:14
  blush, Pollyanna stopped short. She was plunging into an entirely different sentence when
• 1:58:20
  her aunt interrupted her, sharply, what's that, Pollyanna? Nothing, Aunt
• 1:58:26
  Polly, Truly, I didn't mean to say it, probably, not,
• 1:58:29
  returned Miss Polly coldly. But you did say it. So suppose we have
• 1:58:33
  the rest of it. But it wasn't anything, only that i'd been kind
• 1:58:38
  of planning on pretty carpets and lace curtains and things, you know. But
• 1:58:42
  of course planning on them, interrupted Miss Polly sharply. Pollyanna blushed, still
• 1:58:48
  more painfully. I ought not to have, of course, Aunt Polly,
• 1:58:53
  she apologized. It was only because I'd always wanted them and hadn't had them.
• 1:58:57
  I suppose. Oh, we had two rugs in the barrel, but
• 1:59:00
  they were little, you know, and one had ink spots and the other
• 1:59:02
  holes. There never were only those two pictures, the one, I mean,
• 1:59:06
  the good one we sold and the bad one that broke. Of course,
• 1:59:10
  if it hadn't been for all that, I shouldn't have wanted them so
• 1:59:13
  pretty things, I mean, and I shouldn't have got to planning all through
• 1:59:16
  the hall the first day, how pretty mine would be here? And and
• 1:59:19
  but truly, Aunt Polly, it wasn't but just a minute, I mean
• 1:59:23
  a few minutes before I was being glad that the bureau didn't have a looking
• 1:59:28
  glass because it didn't show my freckles. And there couldn't be a nicer picture
• 1:59:31
  than the one out my window there, And you've been so good to me
• 1:59:33
  that Miss Polly rose to her feet. Her face was very red. That
• 1:59:40
  will do, Pollyanna, she said, stiffly. You have said quite enough,
• 1:59:45
  I'm sure. The next minute she had swept down the stairs, and
• 1:59:49
  not until she reached the first floor did it suddenly occur to her that she
• 1:59:55
  had gone up into the attic to find a white wool shawl in the cedar
• 1:59:59
  chest near the east window. Less than twenty four hours later, Miss Polly
• 2:00:03
  said to Nancy crisply, Nancy, you may move Miss Pollyanna's things downstairs this
• 2:00:11
  morning to the room directly beneath. I have decided to have my niece sleep
• 2:00:15
  there for the present. Yes, ma'am, said Nancy aloud. Oh glory,
• 2:00:20
  said Nancy to herself. To Pollyanna. A minute later, she cried
• 2:00:26
  joyously and won't just be listening to this, Miss Pollyanna. You're to sleep
• 2:00:30
  downstairs in the room straight under this. You are? You are, Pollyanna
• 2:00:38
  actually grew white. You mean what, Nancy? Not really? Really,
• 2:00:43
  truly? I guess you'd think it's really and truly, prophesied Nancy, exulting,
• 2:00:48
  nodding her head to Pollyanna over the armful of dresses she had taken from
• 2:00:53
  the closet. I'm told to take down your things, and I'm going to
• 2:00:57
  take them too, for she gets a chance to change her mind. Pollyanna
• 2:01:01
  did not stop to hear the end of this sentence. At the imminent risk
• 2:01:05
  of being dashed headlong, she was flying downstairs two steps at a time,
• 2:01:13
  bang went two doors in a chair before Pollyanna at last reached her goal.
• 2:01:17
  Aunt Polly, Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, do you mean it
• 2:01:23
  really? Why fat room's got everything? The carpet and curtains in three pictures
• 2:01:30
  besides the one outdoors too, because the windows look the same way, oh
• 2:01:32
  Aunt Polly. Very well, Pollyanna, I am gratified that you like the
• 2:01:38
  change, of course, but if you think so much of all those things,
• 2:01:42
  I trust you will take proper care of them, that's all. And
• 2:01:45
  Pollyanna, please pick up that chair, and you have banged two doors in
• 2:01:49
  the last half minute. Miss Polly spoke sternly, all the more sternly because
• 2:01:54
  for some inexplicable reason she felt inclined to cry, and Miss Polly was not
• 2:02:00
  used to feeling inclined to cry. Pollyanna picked up the chair. Yes'm I
• 2:02:06
  know I banged him those doors, she admitted, cheerfully. You see,
• 2:02:10
  I just found out about the room, and I reckon you'd have banged doors
• 2:02:14
  if Pollyanna stopped short and eyed her aunt with new interest. Aunt Polly,
• 2:02:19
  did you ever bang doors? I hope not, Pollyanna. Miss Polly's voice
• 2:02:26
  was properly shocked. Why Aunt Polly, what a shame? Pollyanna's voice expressed
• 2:02:30
  only concerned sympathy. A shame, repeated Aunt Polly, too dazed to say
• 2:02:36
  more. Why, Yes, you see, if you felt like banging doors,
• 2:02:42
  you'd have banged him, of course. And if you didn't, that
• 2:02:45
  must admit that you weren't ever glad over anything, or you would have banged
• 2:02:47
  him. You couldn't have helped it. And I'm so sorry you weren't ever
• 2:02:53
  glad over anything, polly Anna, gasped the lady, But Pollyanna was gone,
• 2:03:00
  and only the distant bang of the attic stairway door answered for her.
• 2:03:03
  Pollyanna had gone to help Nancy bring down her things. Miss Polly in the
• 2:03:10
  sitting room felt vaguely disturbed, but then, of course she had been glad
• 2:03:15
  over some things. End of chapter ten, Chapter eleven, introducing Jimmy.
• 2:03:25
  August came. August brought several surprises and some changes, none of which,
• 2:03:30
  however, were really a surprise to Nancy. Nancy, since Pollyanna's arrival,
• 2:03:35
  had come to look for surprises and changes. First, there was the kitten.
• 2:03:42
  Pollyanna found the kitten mewing pitifully some distance down the road. When systematic
• 2:03:47
  questioning of the neighbors failed to find anyone who claimed it, Pollyanna brought it
• 2:03:53
  home at once as a matter of course, And I was glad I didn't
• 2:03:57
  find anyone who owned it too, she told her aunt in happy confidence,
• 2:04:00
  because I wanted to bring it home all the time. I love kiddies.
• 2:04:04
  I knew you'd be glad to let it live here. Miss Polly looked at
• 2:04:09
  the forlorn, little gray bunch of neglected misery in Pollyanna's arms and shivered.
• 2:04:15
  Miss Polly did not care for cats, not even pretty healthy, clean ones.
• 2:04:20
  Ugh ugh, Pollyanna, what a dirty little beast. And it's sick,
• 2:04:25
  I'm sure, and all mangy and flee I know it, poor little
• 2:04:30
  thing, crooned Pollyanna, tenderly, looking into the little creature's frightened eyes.
• 2:04:34
  And it's all trembling too. It's so scared, you see. It doesn't
• 2:04:39
  know yet that we're going to keep it. Of course, no nor anybody
• 2:04:44
  else, retorted Miss Polly, with meaning emphasis. Oh yes they do,
• 2:04:48
  nodded Pollyanna entirely, misunderstanding her aunt's words. I told everybody we should keep
• 2:04:55
  it. If I didn't find where it belonged, I knew you'd be glad
• 2:04:59
  to have it, poor little lonesome thing. Miss Polly opened her lips and
• 2:05:03
  tried to speak, but in vain. The curious, helpless feeling that had
• 2:05:09
  been hers so often since Pollyanna's arrival had her now fast in its grip.
• 2:05:15
  Of course I knew, hurried on Pollyanna, gratefully, that you wouldn't let
• 2:05:19
  a dear little lonesome kitty go hunting for a home. When you'd just taken
• 2:05:24
  me in. And I said so to missus Ford when she asked me if
• 2:05:28
  you let me keep it? Why I had the lady's aid, you know,
• 2:05:30
  and kitty didn't have anybody. I knew you'd feel that way. She
• 2:05:34
  nodded happily as she ran from the room. But Pollyanna, Pollyanna, remonstrated,
• 2:05:42
  Miss Polly, I don't, But Pollyanna was already half way to the
• 2:05:46
  kitchen, calling Nancy, Nancy, just see this dear little kitty that Aunt
• 2:05:51
  Polly is going to bring up along with me and Aunt Polly in the sitting
• 2:05:57
  room, who of hordcats fell back in her chair with a gasp of dismay,
• 2:06:02
  powerless to remonstrate. The next day it was a dog, even dirtier
• 2:06:09
  and more forlorn, perhaps than was the kitten. And again Miss Polly,
• 2:06:14
  to her dumbfounded amazement, found herself figuring as a kind protector and an angel
• 2:06:20
  of mercy, a roll that Pollyanna so unhesitatingly thrust upon her. As a
• 2:06:26
  matter of course, that the woman who abhorred dogs even more than she did
• 2:06:30
  cats, if possible, found herself, as before powerless to remonstrate when in
• 2:06:38
  less than a week. However, Pollyanna brought home a small, ragged boy
• 2:06:42
  and confidently claimed the same protection for him. Miss polly did have something to
• 2:06:47
  say. It happened after this wise, on a pleasant Thursday morning, Pollyanna
• 2:06:53
  had been taking Cast's foot jelly again to Missus Snow. Missus Snow and Pollyanna
• 2:06:58
  were the best friends now. Their friendship had started from the third visit Pollyanna
• 2:07:02
  had made, the one after she had told Missus Snow of the game.
• 2:07:06
  Mister Snow herself was playing the game now with Pollyanna, to be sure,
• 2:07:12
  she was not playing it very well. She had been sorry for everything for
• 2:07:15
  so long that it was not easy to be glad for anything now. But
• 2:07:19
  under Pollyanna's cheery instructions and merry laughter and her mistakes, she was learning fast
• 2:07:26
  to day. Even to Pollyanna's huge delight, she had said that she was
• 2:07:30
  glad Pollyanna brought Cast's foot jelly, because that was just what she had been
• 2:07:35
  wanting. She did not know that Milly at the front door had told Pollyanna
• 2:07:41
  that the minister's wife had already that day sent over a great bowl full of
• 2:07:45
  that same kind of jelly. Pollyanna was thinking of this now when suddenly she
• 2:07:50
  saw the boy. The boy was sitting in a disconsolate little heap by the
• 2:07:56
  roadside, whittling half heartily at a small stick. Hello, smiled Pollyanna engagingly.
• 2:08:03
  The boy glanced up buddy looked away again at once. Hello yourself,
• 2:08:07
  he mumbled. Pollyanna laughed, Now you don't look as if you'd be glad
• 2:08:13
  even for Kaft's foot jelly, she chuckled, stopping before him. The boy
• 2:08:16
  stirred restlessly, gave her a surprise look, and began to whittle again at
• 2:08:20
  his stick with the dull, broken bladed knife in his hand. Pollyanna hesitated,
• 2:08:26
  then dropped herself comfortably down on the grass near him. In spite of
• 2:08:31
  Pollyanna's brave assertion that she was used to ladies aders and didn't mind, she
• 2:08:37
  had sighed at times for some companion of her own age, hence her determination
• 2:08:43
  to make the most of this one. My name's Pollyanna Whittier, she began,
• 2:08:46
  pleasantly, what's yours? Again? The boy stirred restlessly. He even
• 2:08:52
  almost got to his feet, but he settled back. Jimmy bean, he
• 2:08:56
  grunted with ungracious indifference. Good, now we're introduced. I'm glad you did
• 2:09:01
  your part. Some folks, don't you know? I live at Miss Polly
• 2:09:05
  Harrington's house. Where do you live? Nowhere? Nowhere? Why you can't
• 2:09:11
  do that? Everybody lives somewhere, asserted Pollyanna. Well I don't just now,
• 2:09:16
  I'm hunting up a new place. Oh where is it? The boy
• 2:09:20
  regarded her with scornful eyes. Silly as if I'd be huntin for it if
• 2:09:26
  I knew. Pollyanna tossed her head a little. This was not a nice
• 2:09:31
  boy, and she did not like being called silly. Still, he was
• 2:09:35
  somebody besides ole folks. Where did you live before? She queried? Well,
• 2:09:41
  if you ain't the beat em for asking questions, sighed the boy impatiently.
• 2:09:46
  I have to be, retorted Pollyanna calmly. Else I couldn't find out
• 2:09:50
  a thing about you. If you talk more, I wouldn't talk so much.
• 2:09:52
  The boy gave a short laugh. It was a sheepish laugh, and
• 2:09:56
  not quite a willing one, but his fate looked a little pleasanter when he
• 2:10:01
  spoke, this time all right, then here goes I'm Jimmy Bean and I'm
• 2:10:07
  ten years old, going on eleven. I come last year to live at
• 2:10:11
  the orphan's home, but they've got so many kids there ain't much room for
• 2:10:15
  me, and I warn't never wanted anyhow, I don't believe, so I've
• 2:10:20
  quit. I'm going to live somewheres else, but I ain't found the place
• 2:10:24
  yet. I'd like a home, just a common one, you know,
• 2:10:28
  with a mother in it instead of a matron. If he has a home,
• 2:10:31
  he has folks, and I hain't had folks since dad died. So
• 2:10:37
  I'm hunting now. I've tried four houses, but they didn't want me,
• 2:10:41
  though I said I expected to work. Of course, there is that all
• 2:10:45
  you want to know. The boy's voice had broken a little over the last
• 2:10:48
  two sentences. Why what a shame, sympathized Pollyanna, And didn't there anybody
• 2:10:56
  want you? Oh dear, I know just how you feel, because after
• 2:11:01
  after my father died too, there wasn't anybody but the lady's aid for me
• 2:11:05
  until Aunt Polly said she'd take Pollyanna stopped abruptly. The dawning of a wonderful
• 2:11:13
  idea began to show in her face. Oh, I know just the place
• 2:11:18
  for you. She cried, Aunt Polly'll take you, I know she will.
• 2:11:24
  Didn't she take me? And didn't she take Fluffy and Buffy when they
• 2:11:28
  didn't have anyone to love'em? Already place to go and they're only cats
• 2:11:31
  and dogs? Oh? Come, I know, Aunt Polly'll take you.
• 2:11:35
  You don't know how good and kind she is. Jimmy Bean's thin little face
• 2:11:41
  brightened. Honest, inguin would she now? I'd work, you know,
• 2:11:46
  and I'm real strong. He bared a small, bony arm. Of course
• 2:11:50
  she would. Why my Aunt Polly is the nicest lady in the world,
• 2:11:54
  now that my mama has gone to be a heaven angel. And there's rooms,
• 2:11:58
  heaps of'em, she continued, springing to her feet and tugging at
• 2:12:03
  his arm. It's an awful big house, maybe, though, she added
• 2:12:07
  a little anxiously as they hurried on. Maybe you have to sleep in the
• 2:12:11
  attic room. I did it first. But there's screens there now, so
• 2:12:16
  don't be so hot. And the flies can't get in either, to bring
• 2:12:20
  in the germ things on their feet? Did you know about that? It's
• 2:12:22
  perfectly lovely. Maybe she'll let you read the book if you're good, I
• 2:12:26
  mean, if you're bad and you've got freckles too, with a critical glance,
• 2:12:33
  so you'd be glad. There isn't any looking glass, and the outdoor
• 2:12:35
  picture is nicer than any wall one could be. So you won't mind sleeping
• 2:12:39
  in that room at all, I'm sure, panted Pollyanna, finding suddenly that
• 2:12:43
  she needed the rest of her breath for purposes other than talking. Gory,
• 2:12:50
  exclaimed Jimmy bean tersely and uncomprehendingly but admiringly. Then he added, I shouldn't
• 2:12:56
  think anybody who could talk like that runnin' would need to ask no questions to
• 2:13:00
  fill up time with. Pollyanna laughed. Well, anyhow, you can be
• 2:13:03
  glad of that, she retorted, for when I'm talking, you don't have
• 2:13:07
  to. When the house was reached, Pollyanna unhesitatingly piloted her companion straight into
• 2:13:15
  the presence of her amazed aunt. Oh Aunt Polly, she triumphed, Just
• 2:13:20
  look here, I've got something ever so much nicer even than Fluffy and Buffy
• 2:13:26
  for you to bring up. It's a real live boy. He won't mind
• 2:13:28
  a bit sleeping in the attic at first, you know, And he says
• 2:13:31
  he'll work, but I shall need him most of the time to play with.
• 2:13:35
  I reckon. Miss Polly grew white, then very red. She did
• 2:13:39
  not quite understand, but she thought she understood enough. Pollyanna, what does
• 2:13:46
  this mean? Who is this dirty little boy? Where did you find him?
• 2:13:50
  She demanded sharply. The dirty little boy fell back a step and looked
• 2:13:56
  toward the door. Pollyanna laughed merrily. If I didn't forget to tell you
• 2:14:01
  his name, I'm as bad as the man. And he is dirty too,
• 2:14:05
  isn't he. I mean, the boy is just like Fluffy and Buffy
• 2:14:07
  were when you took them in. But I reckon he'll improve all right by
• 2:14:11
  washing, just as they did. And oh, I most forgot again.
• 2:14:15
  She broke off with a laugh. This is Jimmy Bean, Aunt Polly,
• 2:14:20
  Well, what is he doing here? Why? Aunt Polly, I just
• 2:14:24
  told you. Polly Anda's eyes were wide with surprise. He's for you.
• 2:14:28
  I brought him home so he could live here. You know, he wants
• 2:14:33
  a home, and folks, I told him how good you were to me
• 2:14:35
  and to Fluffy and Buffy, and that I knew you would be to him,
• 2:14:39
  because of course he's even nicer than cats and dogs. Miss Polly dropped
• 2:14:43
  back in her chair and raised a shaking hand to her throat. The old
• 2:14:48
  helplessness was threatening once more to overcome her with a visible struggle. However,
• 2:14:54
  Miss Polly pulled herself suddenly erect. That will do, Pollyanna. This is
• 2:15:01
  a little the most absurd thing you've done yet, As if tramp cats and
• 2:15:05
  mangy dogs weren't bad enough. But you must needs bring home ragged little beggars
• 2:15:11
  from the street who There was a sudden stir from the boy. His eyes
• 2:15:16
  flashed and his chin came up with two strides of his sturdy little legs.
• 2:15:22
  He confronted Miss Polly fearlessly. I ain't a beggar, marmon. I don't
• 2:15:26
  want nothing to you. I was calculating to work, of course, from
• 2:15:30
  my board and keep. I wouldn't have come to your old house anyhow,
• 2:15:33
  if they see a girl hadn't a made me telling me how you was so
• 2:15:37
  good and kind that you'd be just dying to take me in. So there,
• 2:15:41
  and he wheeled about and stalked from the room with a dignity that would
• 2:15:46
  have been absurd had it not been so pitiful. Oh, and Polly choked.
• 2:15:52
  Pollyanna, why I thought you'd be glad to have him here. I'm
• 2:15:56
  sure I should think you'd be glad. Miss Polly raised her hand with a
• 2:16:01
  peremptory gesture of silence. Miss Polly's nerves had snapped at last. The good
• 2:16:07
  and kind of the boy's words were still ringing in her ears, and the
• 2:16:13
  old helplessness was almost upon her, she knew, Yet she rallied her forces
• 2:16:18
  with the last atom of her will power. Pollyanna, she cried, sharply,
• 2:16:24
  will you stop using that everlasting word, glad? It's glad, glad,
• 2:16:31
  glad from morning till night, until I think I shall grow wild from
• 2:16:37
  sheer amazement. Pollyanna's jaw dropped. Why and Polly, she breathed, I
• 2:16:43
  should think you'd be glad to have me go? Oh, she broke off,
• 2:16:46
  clapping her hands to her lips and hurrying blindly from the room. Before
• 2:16:52
  the boy had reached the end of the driveway, Pollyanna overtook him, Boy
• 2:16:56
  boy, Jimmy Bean, I want you to know how, oh, how
• 2:17:01
  sorry I am, she panted, catching him with a detaining hand. Sorry
• 2:17:05
  nothing, I ain't blaming you, retorted the boy suddenly. But I ain't
• 2:17:09
  no beggar, he added, with sudden spirit. Of course you aren't.
• 2:17:13
  But you mustn't blame Auntie, appealed Pollyanna. Probably I didn't do the introducing
• 2:17:18
  right anyhow, and I reckon I didn't tell her much who you were.
• 2:17:22
  She is good and kind, really, she's always been, but I probably
• 2:17:26
  didn't explain it right. I do wish I could find some place for you,
• 2:17:31
  though. The boy shrugged his shoulders and half turned away. Never mind,
• 2:17:35
  I guess I can find one myself. I ain't no beggar, you
• 2:17:39
  know. Pollyanna was frowning thoughtfully. Of a sudden she turned her face illumined,
• 2:17:46
  say, I'll tell you what I will do. The lady's aide meets
• 2:17:50
  this afternoon. I heard Aunt Polly say, so, I'll lay your case
• 2:17:54
  before them. That's what father always did when he wanted anything. Educating the
• 2:17:58
  heathen and new carpets, you know. The boy turned fiercely, well,
• 2:18:03
  I ate a heathen or a new carpet. Besides, what is a lady's
• 2:18:07
  aid? Pollyanna stared and shocked disapproval. Why, Jimmy Bean, wherever have
• 2:18:13
  you been brought up not to know what a lady's aid is? Oh?
• 2:18:16
  All right if you ain't telling, grunted the boy, turning and beginning to
• 2:18:20
  walk away indifferently. Pollyanna sprang to his side at once. It's it's why.
• 2:18:26
  It's just a lot of ladies that meet and sew and give suppers and
• 2:18:30
  raise money and talk. That's what a ladies aid, is they're awfully kind.
• 2:18:35
  That is most of mine was back home. I haven't seen this one
• 2:18:37
  here, but they're always good. I reckon, I'm going to tell them
• 2:18:41
  about you this afternoon. Again, the boy turned fiercely. Not much you
• 2:18:48
  will. Maybe you think I'm going to stand round and hear a whole lot
• 2:18:52
  of women call me a begga instead of just one nod much. Oh,
• 2:18:56
  but you wouldn't be there, or you'd Pollyanna quickly. I go alone,
• 2:19:01
  of course, and tell them you would. Yes, and I tell it
• 2:19:05
  better this time, hurried on Pollyanna, quick to see the signs of relenting
• 2:19:09
  in the boy's face. And there'd be some of em. I know that
• 2:19:13
  we'll be glad to give you a home. I'd work. Don't forget to
• 2:19:16
  say, that, cautioned the boy, of course, not promised, Pollyanna,
• 2:19:20
  happily sure now that her point was gained. Then I'll let you know
• 2:19:24
  tomorrow where by the road where I found you today, near missus Snow's house.
• 2:19:30
  All right, I'll be there, the boy paused before he went on
• 2:19:33
  slowly. Maybe i'd better go back then for tonight, to the home.
• 2:19:37
  You see, I ain't no other place to stay, and and I didn't
• 2:19:41
  leave till this mornin' I slipped out. I didn't tell em I wasn't comin
• 2:19:46
  back, else they'd pretend I couldn't come. Though, I'm thinkin they won't
• 2:19:50
  do no worrying when I don't show up sometime. They ain't like folks,
• 2:19:54
  you know, they don't care. I know, nodded Pollyanna with understanding eyes.
• 2:19:58
  But I'm su make sure when I see you tomorrow, I'll have just
• 2:20:03
  a common home and folks that do care all ready for you. Good Bye,
• 2:20:07
  she called brightly as she turned back toward the house. In the sitting
• 2:20:13
  room window at that moment, Miss Polly, who had been watching the two
• 2:20:16
  children, followed with somber eyes the boy until a bend of the road hid
• 2:20:22
  him from sight. Then she sighed, turned and walked listlessly upstairs. And
• 2:20:28
  Miss Polly did not usually move listlessly. In her ears still was the boy's
• 2:20:33
  scornful you was so good and kind. In her heart was a curious sense
• 2:20:39
  of desolation, as of something lost. End of chapter eleven. Chapter twelve,
• 2:20:48
  Before the Lady's Aid dinner, which came at noon in the Harrington homestead,
• 2:20:54
  was a silent meal on the day of the ladies Aid meeting. Pollyanna,
• 2:20:58
  it is true, try to talk, but she did not make a
• 2:21:01
  success of it, chiefly because four times she was obliged to break off a
• 2:21:07
  glad in the middle of it, much to her blushing discomfort. The fifth
• 2:21:11
  time it happened, Miss Polly moved her head wearily. They're there, child,
• 2:21:16
  Say it if you want to, she sighed. I'm sure I'd rather
• 2:21:20
  you did than not, if it's going to make all this fuss. Pollyanna's
• 2:21:24
  puckered little face cleared. Oh, thank you. I'm afraid it would be
• 2:21:28
  pretty hard not to say it. You see, I've played it so long,
• 2:21:33
  You've what demanded Aunt Polly played it the game, you know that,
• 2:21:37
  Father Pollyanna stopped with a painful blush at finding herself so soon again on forbidden
• 2:21:45
  ground. Aunt Polly frowned and said nothing. The rest of the meal was
• 2:21:50
  a silent one. Pollyanna was not sorry to hear Aunt Polly tell the Minister's
• 2:21:56
  wife over the telephone a little later that she would not be at the Lady's
• 2:22:01
  Aid meeting that afternoon, owing to a headache. When Aunt Polly went upstairs
• 2:22:05
  to her room and closed the door, Pollyanna tried to be sorry for the
• 2:22:09
  headache, but she could not help feeling glad that her aunt was not to
• 2:22:13
  be present that afternoon. When she laid the case of Jimmy Bean before the
• 2:22:18
  Lady's Aid, she could not forget that Aunt Polly had called Jimmy Bean a
• 2:22:24
  little beggar, and she did not want Aunt Polly to call him that before
• 2:22:28
  the Lady's Aid. Pollyanna knew that the Lady's Aid met at two o'clock in
• 2:22:33
  the chapel next the church, not quite half a mile from home. She
• 2:22:37
  planned her going therefore, so that she could get there a little before three.
• 2:22:43
  I want them all to be there, she said to herself. Else
• 2:22:46
  the very one that wasn't there might be the one who would be wanting to
• 2:22:50
  give Jimmy Bean a home. And of course two o'clock always meets three.
• 2:22:54
  Really two lady's aiders. Quietly, but with confident courage, Pollyanna sended the
• 2:23:00
  chapel steps, pushed open the door, and entered the vestibule. A soft
• 2:23:05
  babble of feminine chatter and laughter came from the main room. Hesitating only a
• 2:23:09
  brief moment, Pollyanna pushed open one of the inner doors. The chatter dropped
• 2:23:16
  to a surprised hush. Pollyanna advanced a little timidly. Now that the time
• 2:23:22
  had come. She felt unwontedly shy. After all, these half strange,
• 2:23:26
  half familiar faces about her were not her own. Dear lady's aid how do
• 2:23:33
  you do, ladies, aiders, she faltered politely, I'm Pollyanna Whittier.
• 2:23:37
  I reckon some of you know me maybe anyway, I do you only I
• 2:23:41
  don't know you altogether. This way, the silence could almost be felt.
• 2:23:46
  Now some of the ladies did know this rather extraordinary niece of their fellow member,
• 2:23:52
  and nearly all had heard of her. But not one of them could
• 2:23:56
  think of anything to say. Just then, I I've come to lay the
• 2:24:01
  case before you, stammered Pollyanna, after a moment, unconsciously falling into her
• 2:24:07
  father's familiar phraseology. There was a slight rustle. Did did your aunt send
• 2:24:13
  you? My dear, asked missus Ford, the minister's wife. Pollyanna colored
• 2:24:18
  a little. Oh no, I came all by myself. You see,
• 2:24:22
  I'm used to ladies Aders. It was lady Zaders that brought me up with
• 2:24:26
  father. Somebody tittered hysterically, and the minister's wife frowned, Yes, dear,
• 2:24:31
  what is it? Well, it's it's Jimmy Bean, sighed Pollyanna.
• 2:24:37
  He hasn't any home except the orphan one, and they're full and don't want
• 2:24:41
  him anyhow, he thinks, so he wants another. He wants one of
• 2:24:45
  the common kind that has a mother instead of a matron in it. Folks,
• 2:24:48
  you know little care. He's ten years old going on eleven. I
• 2:24:52
  thought some of you might like him to live with you. You know,
• 2:24:56
  well, did you ever, murmured a voice making the dazed pause that followed
• 2:25:01
  Pollyanna's words. With anxious eyes, Pollyanna swept the circle of faces about her.
• 2:25:07
  Oh I forgot to say, he will work, she supplemented eagerly.
• 2:25:11
  Still there was silence, Then coldly one or two women began to question her.
• 2:25:18
  After a time, they had all the story and began to talk among
• 2:25:22
  themselves animatedly, not quite pleasantly. Pollyanna listened with growing anxiety. Some of
• 2:25:28
  what was said she could not understand, as she did gather after a time,
• 2:25:33
  however, that there was no woman there who had a home to give
• 2:25:37
  him, though every woman seemed to think that some of the other might take
• 2:25:41
  him, as there were several who had no little boys of their own already
• 2:25:46
  in their homes, but there was no one who agreed herself to take him.
• 2:25:50
  Then she heard the minister's wife suggest timidly that they, as a society,
• 2:25:56
  might perhaps assume his support and education instead of sending quite so much money
• 2:26:01
  this year to the little boys in faraway India. A great many ladies talked
• 2:26:07
  then, and several of them talked all at once, and even more loudly
• 2:26:11
  and more unpleasantly than before. It seemed that their society was famous for its
• 2:26:18
  offering to Hindoo missions, and several said they should die of mortification if it
• 2:26:24
  should be less this year. Some of what was said at this time,
• 2:26:28
  Pollyanna again thought she could not have understood, too, for it sounded almost
• 2:26:33
  as if they did not care at all what the money did so long as
• 2:26:37
  the sum opposite the name of their society in a certain report headed the list,
• 2:26:43
  And of course that could not be what they meant at all. But
• 2:26:46
  it was all very confusing and not quite pleasant, so that Pollyanna was glad
• 2:26:52
  indeed when at last she found herself outside in the hushed, sweet air.
• 2:26:58
  Only she was very sorry too, for she knew it was not going to
• 2:27:03
  be easy or anything, but sad to tell Jimmy Bean tomorrow that the ladies
• 2:27:07
  aid had decided that they would rather send all their money to bring up the
• 2:27:11
  little Indian boys than to save out enough to bring up one little boy in
• 2:27:16
  their own town, for which they could not get a bit of credit in
• 2:27:20
  the report. According to the tall lady who wore spectacles, not but that
• 2:27:24
  it's good, of course to send money to the heathen, and I shouldn't
• 2:27:28
  want em not to send some there, sighed Pollyanna to herself as she trudged
• 2:27:33
  sorrowfully along. But they acted as if little boys here weren't any account,
• 2:27:39
  Only little boys way off, I should think, though they'd rather see Jimmy
• 2:27:43
  Bean grow than just a report. End of Chapter twelve, Chapter thirteen in
• 2:27:52
  Pendleton, woods. Pollyanna had not turned her steps toward home when she left
• 2:27:58
  the chapel. She had turned them instead toward Pendleton Hill. It had been
• 2:28:03
  a hard day for all. It had been a vacation one, as she
• 2:28:07
  termed the infrequent days when there was no sewing or cooking lessons, and Pollyanna
• 2:28:13
  was sure that nothing would do her quite so much good as a walk through
• 2:28:18
  the green quiet of Pendleton Woods up Pendleton Hill. Therefore, she climbed steadily
• 2:28:24
  in spite of the warm sun on her back. I don't have to get
• 2:28:28
  home to half past five, anyway, she was telling herself. And it'll
• 2:28:33
  be so much nicer to go around by the way of the woods, even
• 2:28:35
  if I do have to climb to get there. It was very beautiful in
• 2:28:41
  the Pendleton Woods, as Pollyanna knew by experience, but to day it seemed
• 2:28:46
  even more delightful than ever, notwithstanding her disappointment over what she must tell Jimmy
• 2:28:52
  Bean tomorrow. I wish they were up here, all those ladies who talk
• 2:28:58
  so loud, sighed polly Lea to herself, raising her eyes to the patches
• 2:29:03
  of vivid blue between the sunlit green of the tree tops. Anyhow, if
• 2:29:07
  they were up here, I just reckon they'd change and take Jimmy Bean for
• 2:29:11
  the little boy. All right, she finished, secure in her conviction,
• 2:29:16
  but unable to give a reason for it, even to herself. Suddenly,
• 2:29:20
  Pollyanna lifted her head and listened. A dog had barked some distance ahead.
• 2:29:26
  A moment later he came dashing toward her, still barking, Hello, Doggie,
• 2:29:31
  Hello. Pollyanna snapped her fingers at the dog and looked expectantly down the
• 2:29:35
  path. She had seen the dog once before. She was sure he had
• 2:29:39
  been then with the man, mister John Pendleton. She was looking now,
• 2:29:45
  hoping to see him. For some minutes, she watched eagerly, but he
• 2:29:48
  did not appear. Then she turned her attention toward the dog. The dog,
• 2:29:52
  as even Pollyanna could see, was acting strangely. He was still barking,
• 2:29:58
  giving little shit, short sharp yelps as if of alarm. He was
• 2:30:03
  running back and forth to in the path ahead. Soon they reached a side
• 2:30:07
  path, and down this the little dog fairly flew, only to come back
• 2:30:11
  at once, whining and barking, Oh that isn't the way home, laughed
• 2:30:16
  Pollyanna, still keeping to the main path, the little dog seemed frantic.
• 2:30:22
  Now, back and forth, back and forth between Pollyanna and the side path.
• 2:30:26
  He vibrated, barking and whining pitifully. Every quiver of his little brown
• 2:30:33
  body and every glance from his beseeching brown eyes were eloquent with appeal, So
• 2:30:39
  eloquent that at last Pollyanna understood, turned and followed him straight ahead. Now
• 2:30:45
  the little dog dashed madly, and it was not long before Pollyanna came upon
• 2:30:50
  the reason for it all, a man lying motionless at the foot of a
• 2:30:54
  steep overhanging massive rock a few yards from the side path. A twig cracked
• 2:31:00
  sharply under Pollyanna's foot, and the man turned his head with a cry of
• 2:31:05
  dismay. Pollyanna ran to his side. Mister Pendleton, Oh are you hurt?
• 2:31:11
  Hurt? Oh no, I'm just taking a sea esta in the sunshine,
• 2:31:15
  snapped the man irritably. See here, How much do you know?
• 2:31:18
  What can you do? Have you got any sense? Pollyanna caught her breath
• 2:31:22
  with a little gasp, but as was her habit, she answered the questions
• 2:31:26
  literally one by one. Why mister Pendleton, I don't know so very much,
• 2:31:31
  and I can't do a great many things, but most of the ladies
• 2:31:35
  aiders, except missrus Ralston said I had good sense. I heard him say
• 2:31:39
  so one day. They didn't know I heard, though, The man smiled
• 2:31:43
  grimly. There there, child, I beg your pardon. I'm sure it's
• 2:31:46
  only this confounded leg of mine. Now listen, He paused, and with
• 2:31:54
  some difficulty, reached his hand into his trousers pocket and brought out a bunch
• 2:31:58
  of keys, signaling out one between his thumb and forefinger. Straight through the
• 2:32:05
  path there, about five minutes walk is my house. This key will admit
• 2:32:09
  you to the side door under the port kocherie. Do you know what a
• 2:32:13
  port kochery is? Oh yes, sir, Auntie has one with the sun
• 2:32:16
  parlor over it. That's the roof I slept on. Only I didn't sleep,
• 2:32:20
  you know they found me. Ey Oh, well, when you get
• 2:32:24
  into the house, go straight through the vestibule and haul to the door at
• 2:32:28
  the end. On the big flat topped desk in the middle of the room,
• 2:32:33
  you'll find a telephone. Do you know how to use a telephone?
• 2:32:37
  Oh yes, sir by Once when Aunt Polly, never mind, Aunt Polly
• 2:32:41
  now cut in the man scowling as he tried to move himself. A little
• 2:32:46
  hunt up doctor Thomas Chilton's number on the card. You'll find somewhere around there.
• 2:32:54
  It ought to be on the hook down at the side, but probably
• 2:32:56
  won't be. You know, a telephone call, I suppose when you see
• 2:33:01
  one. Oh yes, sir, I just love aunt Polly's. There's such
• 2:33:03
  a lot of queer names. And tell doctor Chilton that John Pendleton is at
• 2:33:09
  the foot of the little Eagle Ledge in Pendleton Woods with a broken leg,
• 2:33:15
  and to come at once with a stretcher and two men. He'll know what
• 2:33:18
  to do. Besides that, tell him to come by the path from the
• 2:33:22
  house a broken leg. Oh, mister Pendleton, how perfectly awful, shuddered
• 2:33:28
  Pollyanna. But I'm so glad I came. Can't I do? Yes,
• 2:33:31
  you can, but evidently you won't. Will you go and do what I
• 2:33:37
  ask? And stop talking? Moaned the man. Faintly, and with a
• 2:33:39
  little sobbing cry, Pollyanna went. It was not long before she came in
• 2:33:46
  sight of the house. She had seen it before, though never so near
• 2:33:50
  as this. She was almost frightened now at the massiveness of the great pile
• 2:33:54
  of graystone, with its pillared verandahs and its imposing entrance. Pausing only a
• 2:34:01
  moment, however, she sped across the big neglected lawn and around the house
• 2:34:07
  to the side door under the port cushery, her fingers stiff from their tight
• 2:34:11
  clutch upon The keys were anything but skillful in their efforts to turn the bolt
• 2:34:16
  in the lock. But at last the heavy carved door swung slowly back on
• 2:34:22
  its hinges. Pollyanna caught her breath in spite of her feeling of haste.
• 2:34:28
  She paused a moment and looked fearfully through the vestibule to the wide, somber
• 2:34:33
  hall beyond her thoughts in a whirl. This was John Pendleton's house, the
• 2:34:37
  house of mystery, the house into which no one but its master entered,
• 2:34:43
  the house which sheltered somewhere a skeleton. Yet she, Pollyanna, was expected
• 2:34:50
  to enter alone these fearsome rooms and telephone the doctor that the master of the
• 2:34:54
  house lay now. With the little cry, Pollyanna, looking neither to the
• 2:35:00
  the right nor the left, fairly ran through the hall to the door at
• 2:35:03
  the end and opened it. The room was large and sumber, with dark
• 2:35:07
  woods and hangings like the hall, but through the west window, the sun
• 2:35:11
  through a long shaft of gold across the floor, gleamed dully on the tarnished
• 2:35:16
  brass and irons in the fireplace, and touched the nickel of the telephone on
• 2:35:22
  the great desk in the middle of the room. It was toward this desk
• 2:35:26
  that Pollyanna hurried tiptoed. The telephone card was not on its hook. It
• 2:35:31
  was on the floor, but Pollyanna found it and ran her shaking forefinger down
• 2:35:37
  through the seas to Chilton. In due time she had Doctor Chilton himself on
• 2:35:41
  the other end of the wires, and was tremblingly delivering her message and answering
• 2:35:48
  the doctor's terse pertinent questions. This done, she hung up the receiver and
• 2:35:52
  drew a long breath of relief. Only a brief glance did Pollyanna give about
• 2:35:58
  her then, with a confused vision in her eyes, of crimson draperies,
• 2:36:03
  book lined walls, a littered floor and untidy desk, innumerable closed doors,
• 2:36:09
  any one of which might conceal a skeleton, and everywhere dust dust dust,
• 2:36:16
  she flew back through the hall to the great carved door, still half open
• 2:36:20
  as she had left it. In what seemed, even to the injured man,
• 2:36:24
  an incredibly short time, Pollyanna was back in the woods at the man's
• 2:36:28
  side. Well what is the trouble? Couldn't you get in? He demanded.
• 2:36:33
  Pollyanna opened wide her eyes. Why of course I could. I'm here,
• 2:36:37
  she answered, as if I'd be here if I hadn't got in.
• 2:36:39
  And the doctor will be right up just as soon as possible. With the
• 2:36:43
  men and things, he said, he knew just where you were, so
• 2:36:46
  I didn't stay to show him I wanted to be with you, did you,
• 2:36:50
  smiled the man grimly. Well, I can't say I admire your taste.
• 2:36:54
  I should think you might find pleasanter companions. Do you mean because you're
• 2:37:00
  so cross? Thank you for your frankness, Yes, Pollyanna laughed softly.
• 2:37:07
  But you're only cross outside, you aren't cross inside a bit. Indeed,
• 2:37:11
  how do you know that, asked the man, trying to change the position
• 2:37:16
  of his head without moving the rest of his body. Oh lots of ways
• 2:37:20
  there like that, the way you act with the dog, she added,
• 2:37:24
  pointing to the long, slender hand that rested on the dog's sleek head near
• 2:37:28
  him. It's funny how dogs and cats know the insides of folks better than
• 2:37:33
  other folks do. Isn't it say, I'm going to hold your head?
• 2:37:35
  She finished abruptly. The man winced several times and groaned once softly while the
• 2:37:43
  change was being made. But in the end he found Pollyanna's lap a very
• 2:37:48
  welcome substitute for the rocky hollow in which his head had lain before. Well,
• 2:37:52
  that is better, he murmured faintly. He did not speak again for
• 2:37:58
  some time. Pollyanna watched his face, wondering if he were asleep. She
• 2:38:03
  did not think he was. He looked as if his lips were tight shut
• 2:38:09
  to keep back bones of pain. Pollyanna herself almost cried aloud as she looked
• 2:38:15
  at his great, strong body lying there so helpless. One hand with fingers
• 2:38:20
  tightly clenched, lay out flung motionless, the other limply open, lay on
• 2:38:26
  the dog's head. The dog, his wistful, eager eyes on his master's
• 2:38:30
  face, was motionless too. Minute by minute the time passed, the sun
• 2:38:35
  dropped lower in the west, and the shadows grew deeper under the trees.
• 2:38:41
  Pollyanna sat so still she hardly seemed to breathe. A bird alighted fearlessly within
• 2:38:46
  reach of her hand, and a squirrel whisked his bushy tail on a tree
• 2:38:50
  branch, almost under her nose, yet with his bright little eyes, all
• 2:38:56
  the while on the motionless dog. Last, the dog pricked up his ears
• 2:39:01
  and whined softly. Then he gave a short, sharp mark. The next
• 2:39:05
  moment Pollyanna heard voices, and very soon their owners appeared, three men carrying
• 2:39:11
  a stretcher in various other articles. The tallest of the party a smooth,
• 2:39:16
  shaven, kind eyed man whom Pollyanna knew on sight, as Doctor Chilton advanced
• 2:39:22
  cheerily. Well, my little lady playing nurse. Oh no, sir,
• 2:39:28
  smiled Pollyanna. I've only held his head. I haven't given him a mighty
• 2:39:31
  medicine. But I'm glad I was here, so am, I nodded the
• 2:39:35
  doctor as he turned his absorbed attention to the injured man. End of Chapter
• 2:39:43
  thirteen, Chapter fourteen, Just a matter of jelly. Pollyanna was a little
• 2:39:50
  late for supper on the night of the accident to John Pendleton, but as
• 2:39:54
  it happened, she escaped without reproof. Nancy met her at the door.
• 2:40:00
  Well, if I ain't glad to be settin my two eyes on you,
• 2:40:03
  she sighed in obvious relief. It's half past six. I know it,
• 2:40:07
  admitted Pollyanna anxiously. But I'm not to blame, truly, I'm not,
• 2:40:11
  and I don't think even Aunt Polly will say I am either. She won't
• 2:40:16
  have the chance, retorted Nancy, with huge satisfaction. She's gone, gone,
• 2:40:22
  gasped, Pollyanna, you don't mean that I've driven her away. Through
• 2:40:26
  Pollyanna's mind at the moment, trouped remorseful memories of the morning with its unwonted
• 2:40:33
  boy, cat and dog, and it's unwelcome glad and forbidden father that would
• 2:40:39
  spring to her forgetful little tongue. Oh, I didn't drive her away,
• 2:40:43
  Not much you did, scoffed Nancy. Her cousin died suddenly down in Boston,
• 2:40:48
  and then she had to go. She had one of them yeller telegram
• 2:40:52
  letters after you went away this afternoon, and she won't be back for three
• 2:40:56
  days. Now. I guess we're glad, all right. We'll be keep
• 2:41:00
  a house together, just you and me all the time. We will,
• 2:41:03
  we will, Pollyanna looked, shocked. Glad, Oh, Nancy, when
• 2:41:09
  it's a funeral. Oh but twarnt the funeral. I was glad for miss
• 2:41:13
  Pollyanna, it was, Nancy stopped abruptly. A shrewd twinkle came into her
• 2:41:18
  eyes. Why miss Pollyanna, As if it want yourself that was teaching me
• 2:41:24
  to play the game, She reproached her gravely. Pollyanna puckered her forehead in
• 2:41:28
  a troubled frown. I can't help it, Nancy, she argued, with
• 2:41:33
  a shake of her head. It must be that there are some things that
• 2:41:35
  tisn't right to play the game on, and I'm sure funerals is one of
• 2:41:39
  them. There's nothing in a funeral to be glad about, Nancy chuckled.
• 2:41:46
  We can be glad tainn arn, she observed demurely. But Pollyanna did not
• 2:41:52
  hear. She had begun to tell of the accident, and in a moment
• 2:41:56
  Nancy open mouthed, was listening the appointed place. The next afternoon, Pollyanna
• 2:42:03
  met Jimmy Bean according to agreement. As was to be expected, of course,
• 2:42:07
  Jimmy showed keen disappointment that the ladies aid preferred a little Indian boy to
• 2:42:13
  himself. Well maybe tis natural, he sighed. Of course, things you
• 2:42:18
  don't know about are always nicer and things you do, same as the potato
• 2:42:24
  on the other side of the plate is always the biggest. But I wish
• 2:42:26
  I'll look that way to somebody way off. Wouldn't it be just great?
• 2:42:31
  Now? If only somebody over in India wanted me. Pollyanna clapped her hands.
• 2:42:37
  Why, of course, that's the very thing, Jimmy, I'll write
• 2:42:41
  to my ladies aiders about you. They aren't over in India, they're only
• 2:42:45
  out west. But that's awful far away, just the same. I reckon
• 2:42:48
  you'd think so if you'd come all the way here as I did. Jimmy's
• 2:42:52
  face brightened. Do you think they would truly take me? He asked?
• 2:42:58
  Of course they would, don't They take little boys in India to bring up?
• 2:43:01
  Well, they can just play you or the little India boy this time.
• 2:43:07
  I reckon, you're far enough away to make a report, all right,
• 2:43:09
  you ate, I'll write em. I'll write Missus White. No,
• 2:43:13
  I'll write Missus Jones. Missus White has got the most money, but Missus
• 2:43:18
  Jones gives the most, which just kind of funny, isn't it when you
• 2:43:22
  think of it. But I reckon some of the ads will take you,
• 2:43:26
  all right. But don't forget to say I'll work for my board and keep
• 2:43:30
  put in. Jimmy, I ain't no beggar, and business is business,
• 2:43:33
  even with ladies ads, I'm thinking. He hesitated, then added, and
• 2:43:39
  I suppose I better stay where I be for a spell yet until you hear,
• 2:43:43
  of course, nodded Pollyanna emphatically. Then I'll know just where to find
• 2:43:48
  you. I'm sure you're far enough away for that, didn't Aunt Polly take
• 2:43:54
  say? She broke off suddenly? Do you suppose I was Aunt Polly's little
• 2:43:58
  girl from India? Well, if you ain't the queerest kid, grinned Jimmy
• 2:44:05
  as he turned away. It was about a week after the accident in Pendleton
• 2:44:09
  Woods that Pollyanna said to her aunt one morning, Aunt Polly, please,
• 2:44:13
  would you mind very much if I took missus Snow's caffoot jelly this week to
• 2:44:18
  someone else? I'm sure Missus Snow wouldn't this once. Dear me, Pollyanna,
• 2:44:22
  what are you up to now? Sighed her Aunt. You are the
• 2:44:28
  most extraordinary child. Pollyanna frowned a little anxiously. Aunt Polly, please,
• 2:44:35
  what is extraordinary? If you're extraordinary, you can't be ordinary? Can you.
• 2:44:41
  You certainly cannot. Oh that's all right, then, I'm glad.
• 2:44:46
  I'm extraordinary, sighed Pollyanna, her face clearing. You see, Missus White
• 2:44:52
  used to say Missus Rawson was a very ordinary woman, and she disliked Missus
• 2:44:56
  Raws and something awful. They were all fight. I mean father had.
• 2:45:01
  That is, I meant we had more trouble keeping peace between them than we
• 2:45:05
  did between any of the rest of the aters, corrected Pollyanna a little breathlessly
• 2:45:11
  from her efforts to steer between the scylla of her father's past commands in regard
• 2:45:16
  to speaking of church quarrels and the carib diso her aunt's present commands in regard
• 2:45:22
  to speaking of her father. Yes, yes, well, never mind anterposed
• 2:45:26
  aunt Polly a trifle impatiently. You do run on, so, Pollyanna,
• 2:45:31
  And no matter what we're talking about, you always bring up those lady Aders.
• 2:45:37
  Yes'm smiled, Pollyanna cheerfully. I reckon, I do maybe, but
• 2:45:39
  you see they used to bring me up, and that will do, Pollyanna
• 2:45:43
  interrupted a cold voice. Now what is it about this jelly nothing, Aunt
• 2:45:50
  Polly truly that you would mind. I'm sure you let me take jelly to
• 2:45:54
  her, So I thought you would to him this once. You see,
• 2:45:58
  broken legs aren't like like lifelong invalids, so his won't last forever as Missus
• 2:46:01
  Snow's does, and she can have all the rest of the things acted just
• 2:46:05
  once or twice him he broken leg? What are you talking about, Pollyanna?
• 2:46:13
  Pollyanna stared, then her face relaxed. Oh, I forgot, I
• 2:46:18
  reckon, you didn't know, you see, it happened while you were gone.
• 2:46:22
  It was the very day you went that I found him in the woods,
• 2:46:24
  you know, And I had to unlock his house and telephone for the
• 2:46:28
  men and the doctor and hold his head and everything. And of course then
• 2:46:31
  I came away and haven't seen him since. But when Nancy made the jelly
• 2:46:35
  for missus Snow this week, I thought how nice it would be if I
• 2:46:39
  could take it to him instead of her, just as once, Aunt Polly
• 2:46:41
  may. I, yes, yes, I suppose, so, acquiesced Miss
• 2:46:46
  Polly a little wearily. Who did you say he was the man? I
• 2:46:50
  mean, mister John Pendleton. Miss Polly almost sprang from her chair. John
• 2:46:58
  Pendleton, Yes, Nancy told me his name. Maybe you know him?
• 2:47:03
  Miss Polly did not answer this instead, she asked, do you know him?
• 2:47:09
  Pollyanna nodded, Oh, yes, he always speaks and smiles. Now
• 2:47:13
  he's only cross outside, you know. I'll go and get the jelly.
• 2:47:18
  Nancy had it most fixed when I came in, finished Pollyanna, already half
• 2:47:22
  way across the room. Pollyanna. Wait. Miss Polly's voice was suddenly very
• 2:47:28
  stern. I've changed my mind. I would prefer that missus Snow had that
• 2:47:33
  jelly to day as usual. That is all you may go now. Pollyanna's
• 2:47:39
  face fell. Oh, but Aunt Polly hers will last. She can always
• 2:47:45
  be sick and have things, you know, But his is just a broken
• 2:47:48
  leg, and legs don't last, I mean broken ones. He's had it
• 2:47:52
  a whole week now. Yes, I remember I heard mister John Pendleton had
• 2:47:56
  met with an accident, said Miss Polly little stiffly. But I do not
• 2:48:03
  care to be sending jelly to John Pendleton. Pollyanna. I know he is
• 2:48:07
  cross outside, admitted Pollyanna sadly. So I suppose you don't like him,
• 2:48:13
  but I wouldn't say twas you sent it. I'd say it was me.
• 2:48:16
  I like him, and I'd be glad to send him jelly. Miss Polly
• 2:48:20
  began to shake her head again. Then suddenly she stopped and asked, in
• 2:48:26
  a curiously quiet voice, does he know who you are? Pollyanna? The
• 2:48:31
  little girl sighed, I reckon not. I told him my name once,
• 2:48:37
  but he never calls me it. Never Does he know where you live?
• 2:48:41
  Oh no, I never told him that. Then he doesn't know you're my
• 2:48:46
  niece. I don't think so. For a moment there was silence. Miss
• 2:48:52
  Polly was looking at Pollyanna with eyes that did not seem to see her at
• 2:48:56
  all. The little girls, shifting impatiently from one small foot to the other,
• 2:49:03
  sighed audibly. Then Miss Polly roused herself with a start. Very well,
• 2:49:07
  Pollyanna, she said at last, still in that queer voice so unlike
• 2:49:13
  her own. You may take the jelly to mister Pendleton as your own gift,
• 2:49:18
  but understand I do not send it. Be very sure that he does
• 2:49:22
  not think I do. Yes'm no'm Thank you, Aunt Polly, exalted Pollyanna
• 2:49:28
  as she flew through the door. End of chapter fourteen. Chapter fifteen,
• 2:49:35
  Doctor Chilton, the great gray pile of masonry looked very different to Pollyanna when
• 2:49:41
  she made her second visit to the house of mister John Pendleton. Windows were
• 2:49:46
  open, an elderly woman was hanging out clothes in the backyard, and the
• 2:49:52
  doctor's gig stood under the porte cochert. As before, Pollyanna went to the
• 2:49:56
  side door. This time she rang the bell. Her fingers were not stiff
• 2:50:01
  today from a tight clutch on a bunch of keys. A familiar looking small
• 2:50:07
  dog bounded up the steps to greet her, but there was a slight delay
• 2:50:11
  before the woman who had been hanging out the clothes opened the door. If
• 2:50:15
  you please, I've brought some calf's foot jelly for mister Pendleton, smiled Pollyanna.
• 2:50:20
  Thank you, said the woman, reaching for the bowl in the little
• 2:50:22
  girl's hand. Who shall I say? Scent it? And it's calf's foot
• 2:50:26
  jelly. The doctor, coming into the hall at that moment, heard the
• 2:50:31
  woman's words and saw the disappointed look on Pollyanna's face. He stepped quickly forward.
• 2:50:37
  Ah, some calf's foot jelly, he asked genially, that will be
• 2:50:43
  fine. Maybe you'd like to see our patient. A Oh, yes,
• 2:50:46
  sir, beamed Pollyanna, and the woman, in obedience to a nod from
• 2:50:50
  the doctor, led the way down the hall at once, though plainly with
• 2:50:56
  vast surprise on her face. Behind the docor a young man, a trained
• 2:51:01
  nurse from the nearest city, gave a disturbed exclamation. But doctor didn't,
• 2:51:07
  mister Pendleton give orders not to admit anyone. Oh yes, nodded the doctor
• 2:51:13
  imperturbably. But I am giving orders now, I'll take the risk. Then
• 2:51:18
  he added, whimsically, you don't know, of course, but that this
• 2:51:22
  little girl is better than a six court bottle of tonic any day. If
• 2:51:26
  anything or anybody can take the grouch out of Pendleton this afternoon, she can,
• 2:51:31
  and that's why I sent her in. Who is she? For a
• 2:51:35
  brief moment, the doctor hesitated, She's the niece of one of our best
• 2:51:39
  known residents. Her name is Pollyanna Whittier. I I don't happen to enjoy
• 2:51:45
  a very extensive personal acquaintance with the little lady as yet, but lots of
• 2:51:50
  my patients do, I'm thankful to say. The nurse smiled. Indeed,
• 2:51:54
  And what are the special ingredients of this wonder working tonic of her? The
• 2:52:01
  doctor shook his head. I don't know. As near as I can find
• 2:52:05
  out, it is an overwhelming unquenchable gladness for everything that has happened or is
• 2:52:11
  going to happen at any rate. Her quaint speeches are constantly being repeated to
• 2:52:16
  me, and as near as I can make out, just being glad is
• 2:52:20
  the tenor of most of them all is he added with another whimsical smile as
• 2:52:26
  he stepped out onto the porch. I wish I could prescribe her and buy
• 2:52:31
  her as I would a box of pills. Though if there gets to be
• 2:52:35
  too many of her in the world, you and I might as well go
• 2:52:37
  ribbon selling and ditch digging for all the money we get out of nursing and
• 2:52:41
  doctoring, he laughed, picking up the reins and stepping into the gig.
• 2:52:46
  Pollyanna, meanwhile, in accordance with the doctor's orders, was being escorted to
• 2:52:52
  John Pendleton's rooms. Her way led through the great library at the end of
• 2:52:56
  the hall, and rap it. As was her progress through it, Pollyanna
• 2:53:01
  saw it at once that great changes had taken place. The book lined walls
• 2:53:05
  and the crimson curtains were the same, but there was no letter on the
• 2:53:09
  floor, no untidiness on the desk, and not so much as a grain
• 2:53:15
  of dust in sight, the telephone card hung in its proper place, and
• 2:53:18
  the brass and irons had been polished. One of the mysterious doors was open,
• 2:53:24
  and it was toward this that the maid led the way. A moment
• 2:53:28
  later, Pollyanna found herself in a sumptuously furnished bedroom. While the maid was
• 2:53:33
  saying, in a frightened voice, if you please, sir, here,
• 2:53:37
  here's a little girl with some jelly. The doctor said, I was to
• 2:53:41
  bring her in the next moment, Pollyanna found herself alone with a very cross
• 2:53:48
  looking man lying flat on his back in bed. See here, didn't I
• 2:53:54
  say, began an angry voice. Oh it's you. It broke off not
• 2:53:58
  very greatciously as Pollyanna advanced toward the bed. Yes, sir, smiled Pollyanna.
• 2:54:05
  Oh I'm so glad they let me in. You see. At first
• 2:54:07
  the lady most took my jelly, and I was so afraid I wasn't going
• 2:54:11
  to see you at all. Then the doctor came and he said I might.
• 2:54:13
  Wasn't he lovely to let me see you in spite of himself. The
• 2:54:18
  man's lips twitched into a smile, but all he said was humph, And
• 2:54:24
  I've brought you some jelly, resumed Pollyanna Calf's foot. I hope you like
• 2:54:28
  it, there was a rising inflection in her voice. Never ate it.
• 2:54:33
  The fleeting smile had gone and the scowl had come back to the man's face.
• 2:54:37
  For a brief instant, Pollyanna's countenance showed disappointment, but it cleared as
• 2:54:43
  she set the bowl of jelly down. Didn't you Well, if you didn't,
• 2:54:48
  then you can't know you don't like it anyhow, can you? So
• 2:54:50
  I'm reckon, I'm glad you haven't after all. Now if you knew,
• 2:54:54
  yes, yes, well, there's one thing I know, all right,
• 2:54:58
  and that is that I'm fu on my back right here this minute, and
• 2:55:03
  that I'm liable to stay here till doomsday, I guess. Pollyanna looked shocked.
• 2:55:09
  Oh no, it couldn't be till doomsday. You know, when the
• 2:55:13
  angel Gabriel blows his trumpet, unless it should come quicker than we think it
• 2:55:16
  will. Oh, of course, I know the Bible says it may come
• 2:55:20
  quicker than we think, but I don't think it will. That is,
• 2:55:22
  of course I believe the Bible. But I mean I don't think it will
• 2:55:26
  come as much quicker as it would if it should come now, And John
• 2:55:28
  Pendleton laughed suddenly and aloud. The nurse coming in at that moment, heard
• 2:55:35
  the laugh and beat a hurried, but a very silent retreat. He had
• 2:55:39
  the air of a frightened cook, who, seeing the danger of a breath
• 2:55:43
  of cold air striking a half done cake, hastily shuts the oven door.
• 2:55:48
  Aren't you cutting a little mixed, asked John Pendleton of Pollyanna. The little
• 2:55:54
  girl laughed, maybe, But what I mean is that legs don't last broken
• 2:56:00
  ones, you know, like lifelong invalids, same as missus Snow has got,
• 2:56:03
  so yours won't last till doomsday at all. I should think you could
• 2:56:07
  be glad of that. Oh I am, retorted the man grimly. And
• 2:56:11
  you didn't break but one, you can be glad twasn't two. Pollyanna was
• 2:56:16
  warming to her task, of course, so fortunate, sniffed the man with
• 2:56:22
  uplifted eyebrows. Looking at it from that standpoint, I suppose I might be
• 2:56:26
  glad I wasn't a centipede and didn't break fifty. Pollyanna chuckled. Oh that's
• 2:56:31
  the best, yet, she crowed, I know what a centipede. Is
• 2:56:35
  they've got lots of legs, and you can be glad. Oh, of
• 2:56:39
  course, interrupted the man sharply, all the old bitterness coming back to his
• 2:56:45
  voice. I can be glad too for all the rest. I suppose the
• 2:56:48
  nurse and the doctor and that confounded woman in the kitchen. Why, yes,
• 2:56:54
  sir, only think how bad would be if you didn't have them,
• 2:56:58
  well, i a, he demanded sharply. Why I say, only think
• 2:57:01
  how bad it would be if you didn't have them, And you lying here
• 2:57:05
  like this as if that wasn't the very thing that was at the bottom of
• 2:57:11
  the whole matter, retorted the man testily, Because I am lying here like
• 2:57:16
  this, and yet you expect me to say I'm glad because of a fool
• 2:57:22
  woman who disarranges the whole house and calls it regulating, and the man who
• 2:57:26
  aids and a bets her in it and calls it nursing, to say nothing
• 2:57:31
  of a doctor who eggs them both on, and the whole bunch of them,
• 2:57:35
  meanwhile expecting me to pay them for it. And pay them well too.
• 2:57:39
  Pollyanna frowned sympathetically. Yes, I know that part is too bad about
• 2:57:46
  the money when you've been saving it too all this time when a saving it
• 2:57:52
  buying beans and fish balls? You know, say, do you like beans
• 2:57:56
  or do you like turkey better? Only on account of the sixty cents?
• 2:58:00
  Look a here, child, what are you talking about? Pollyanna smiled radiantly
• 2:58:05
  about your money, you know, denying yourself and saving it for the heathen.
• 2:58:11
  You see, I found out about it, Why, mister Pendleton.
• 2:58:13
  That's one of the ways I knew you weren't cross inside. Nancy told me.
• 2:58:18
  The man's jaw dropped. Nancy told you I was saving money for the
• 2:58:24
  well. May I inquire who Nancy is? Our Nancy? She works for
• 2:58:30
  Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly Well. Who is Aunt Polly? She's Miss Polly
• 2:58:35
  Harrington. I live with her. The man made a sudden movement, Miss
• 2:58:41
  Polly Harrington, he breathed, you live with her. Yes, I'm her
• 2:58:46
  niece. She's taking me to bring up on account of my mother, you
• 2:58:48
  know, faltered Pollyanna in a low voice. She was her sister, and
• 2:58:52
  after father went to be with her and the rest of us in heaven,
• 2:58:56
  there wasn't anyone left for me down here, but the Lady's aid, so
• 2:59:00
  she took me The man did not answer. His face as he lay back
• 2:59:05
  on the pillow now was very white, so white that Pollyanna was frightened.
• 2:59:11
  She rose uncertainly to her feet. I reckon, maybe i'd better go now,
• 2:59:16
  she proposed. I I hope you'll like the jelly. The man turned
• 2:59:22
  his head suddenly and opened his eyes. There was a curious longing in their
• 2:59:26
  dark depths, which even Pollyanna saw, and at which she marveled. And
• 2:59:31
  so you are Miss Polly Harrington's niece, he said, gently, yes,
• 2:59:37
  sir. Still, the man's dark eyes lingered on her face until Pollyanna,
• 2:59:41
  feeling vaguely restless, murmured, I I suppose you know her. John Pendleton's
• 2:59:48
  lips curved in an odd smile. Oh, yes, I know her.
• 2:59:54
  He hesitated, then went on still with that curious smile. But you don't
• 2:59:58
  mean you can't mean that it was miss Polly Harrington who sent that jelly to
• 3:00:03
  me, he said slowly. Pollyanna looked distressed. N No, sir,
• 3:00:09
  she didn't, she said, I must be very sure not to let you
• 3:00:13
  think she did send it. But I I thought as much, vouchsafed the
• 3:00:18
  man, shortly, turning away his head and Pollyanna, still more distressed,
• 3:00:24
  tiptoed from the room under the port Coacherie. She found the doctor waiting in
• 3:00:28
  his gig. The nurse stood on the steps. Well, Miss Pollyanna,
• 3:00:33
  may I have the pleasure of seeing you home, asked the doctor, smilingly.
• 3:00:37
  I started to drive on a few minutes ago. Then it occurred to
• 3:00:41
  me that i'd wait for you. Thank you, sir, I'm glad you
• 3:00:45
  did. I just love to ride, beamed Pollyanna as he reached out his
• 3:00:50
  hand to help her in. Do you, smiled the doctor, nodding his
• 3:00:54
  head and farewell to the young man on the steps. Well, as near
• 3:00:58
  as I can, I can judge there are a good many things you love
• 3:01:03
  to do, a he added, as they drove briskly away. Pollyanna laughed,
• 3:01:07
  Why, I don't know, I reckon, perhaps there are, she
• 3:01:09
  admitted. I like to do most everything that's living. Of course, I
• 3:01:15
  don't like the other things very well, sewing and reading out aloud and all
• 3:01:18
  that. But they aren't living. No, what are they? Then?
• 3:01:22
  Aunt polly says, they're learning to live, sighed Pollyanna, with a rueful
• 3:01:28
  smile. The doctor smiled, now a little queerly does she well, I
• 3:01:33
  should think she might say just that, yes, responded Pollyanna. But I
• 3:01:39
  don't see it that way at all. I don't think you have to learn
• 3:01:43
  how to live. I didn't anyhow, The doctor drew a long sigh.
• 3:01:48
  After all, I'm afraid some of us do have to, little girl,
• 3:01:52
  he said. Then for a time he was silent. Pollyanna, stealing a
• 3:01:56
  glance at his face, felt vaguely sorry for him. He looked so sad
• 3:02:03
  she wished uneasily that she could do something. It was this, perhaps,
• 3:02:07
  that caused her to say, in a timid voice, Doctor Chiltern, I
• 3:02:11
  should think being a doctor would be the very gladdest kind of business there was.
• 3:02:16
  The doctor turned in surprise. Gladdest when I see so much suffering always
• 3:02:22
  everywhere I go, he cried. She nodded, I know, but you're
• 3:02:28
  helping it, don't you see, And of course you're glad to help it,
• 3:02:31
  and so that makes you the gladdest of any of us. All the
• 3:02:33
  time. The doctor's eyes filled with sudden, hot tears. The doctor's life
• 3:02:39
  was a singularly lonely one. He had no wife and no home save his
• 3:02:45
  two room office in a boarding house. His profession was very dear to him.
• 3:02:50
  Looking now into Pollyanna's shining eyes, he felt as if a loving hand
• 3:02:54
  had been suddenly laid on his head and blessing. He knew too that never
• 3:03:00
  again would a long day's work or a long night's weariness be quite without the
• 3:03:05
  newfound exultation that had come to him through Pollyanna's eyes. God bless you,
• 3:03:11
  little girl, he said unsteadily, then with a bright smile. His patients
• 3:03:16
  knew in love so well, he added. And I'm thinking, after all
• 3:03:20
  that it was the doctor quite as much as his patience that needed a draft
• 3:03:24
  of that tonic, all of which puzzled Pollyanna very much, until a chipmunk
• 3:03:30
  running across the road drove the whole matter from her mind. The doctor left
• 3:03:35
  Pollyanna at her own door, smiled at Nancy, who was sweeping off the
• 3:03:39
  front porch, then drove rapidly away. I've had a perfectly beautiful ride with
• 3:03:45
  the doctor, announced Pollyanna, bounding up the steps. He's lovely, Nancy,
• 3:03:50
  is he yes? And I told him I should think his business would
• 3:03:54
  be the very gladdest one there was. What going to see sick folks and
• 3:04:00
  folks one ain't sick, but thinks they is, which is worse. Nancy's
• 3:04:03
  face showed open skepticism. Pollyanna laughed gleefully. Yes, that's most what he
• 3:04:09
  said too. But there is a way to be glad even then, guess,
• 3:04:13
  Nancy frowned in meditation. Nancy was getting so she could play this game
• 3:04:18
  of being glad quite successfully. She thought. She rather enjoyed studying out Pollyanna's
• 3:04:24
  posers too, as she called some of the little girl's questions. Oh I
• 3:04:31
  know, she chuckled. It's just the opposite from what you told miss Snow.
• 3:04:35
  Opposite, repeated Pollyanna, obviously puzzled. Yes, you told her she
• 3:04:41
  could be glad because other folks wasn't like her. Oh sick, you know,
• 3:04:46
  yes, nodded Pollyanna. Well the doctor can be glad because he isn't
• 3:04:50
  like other folks, the sick ones. I mean what he doctors, finished
• 3:04:54
  Nancy in triumph. It was Pollyanna's turn to frown. Why yeah, she
• 3:05:00
  admitted, of course that is one way, but it isn't the way I
• 3:05:03
  said, And some way I don't seem to quite like the sound of it.
• 3:05:07
  It isn't exactly as if he said he was glad they were sick.
• 3:05:11
  But you do play the game so funny sometimes, Nancy, she sighed.
• 3:05:16
  As she went into the house, Pollyanna found her aunt in the sitting room.
• 3:05:20
  Who was that man, the one who drove you into the yard,
• 3:05:24
  Pollyanna questioned the lady a little sharply. Why Aunt Polly, that was doctor
• 3:05:28
  Chilton. Don't you know him, doctor Chilton? What was he doing here?
• 3:05:33
  He drove me home? Oh? When I gave the jelly to mister
• 3:05:37
  Pendleton, and Miss Polly lifted her head quickly. Pollyanna, he did not
• 3:05:41
  think I sent it? Oh, no, Aunt Polly, I told him
• 3:05:46
  you didn't. Miss Polly grew a sudden, vivid pink. You told him
• 3:05:52
  I didn't. Pollyanna opened wide her eyes at the remonstrative dismay in her aunt's
• 3:05:58
  voice. Why Aunt Polly, you said to Aunt Polly? Sighed, I
• 3:06:05
  said, Pollyanna, that I did not send it, and for you to
• 3:06:09
  be very sure that he did not think I did, which is a very
• 3:06:13
  different matter from telling him outright that I did not send it. And she
• 3:06:16
  turned vexedly away. Dear me, well, I don't see where the difference
• 3:06:22
  is, sighed Pollyanna. As she went to hang her hat on the one
• 3:06:26
  particular hook in the house upon which Aunt Polly had said that it must be
• 3:06:31
  hung. End of Chapter fifteen, Chapter sixteen, A red Rose and a
• 3:06:39
  lace shawl. It was on a rainy day, about a week after Pollyanna's
• 3:06:45
  visit to mister John Pimpleton that Miss Polly was driven by Timothy to an early
• 3:06:50
  afternoon committee meeting of the Lady's Aide Society. When she returned at three o'clock,
• 3:06:56
  her cheeks were a bright, pretty pink, and her hair, blown
• 3:07:00
  by the damp wind, had fluffed into cakes and curls wherever the loosened pins
• 3:07:05
  had given leave. Pollyanna had never before seen her aunt look like this.
• 3:07:11
  Oh oh, oh, why, Aunt Polly, you've got him too,
• 3:07:16
  she cried, rapturously, dancing round and round her aunt, as that lady
• 3:07:20
  entered the sitting room. Got what you impossible? Child? Pollyanna was still
• 3:07:26
  revolving round and round her aunt. And I never knew you had them?
• 3:07:31
  Can folks have them when you don't know they've got him? Do you suppose
• 3:07:33
  I could? For I go to heaven? I mean, she cried,
• 3:07:37
  pulling out with eager fingers the straight locks above her ears. But then they
• 3:07:41
  wouldn't be black if they did come. You can't hide the black part,
• 3:07:45
  Pollyanna, What does all this mean? Demanded Aunt Polly, hurriedly, removing
• 3:07:50
  her hat and trying to smooth back her disordered hair. No, no,
• 3:07:56
  please, Aunt Polly. Pollyanna's jubilant TV turned to one of distressed appeal.
• 3:08:03
  Don't smooth them out. It's those that I'm talking about, those darling little
• 3:08:07
  black curls, oh Aunt Polly, They're so pretty. Nonsense. What do
• 3:08:13
  you mean, Pollyanna, by going to the lady's aid the other day in
• 3:08:16
  that absurd fashion about that beggar boy. But it isn't nonsense, urged Pollyanna,
• 3:08:22
  answering only the first part of her aunt's remarks. You don't know how
• 3:08:26
  pretty you look with your hair like that, oh Aunt Polly. Please mayn't
• 3:08:31
  I do your hair like I did missus Snow's and put in a flower.
• 3:08:35
  I'd so love to see you that way? Why you'd be ever so much
• 3:08:39
  prettier than she was, Polly. Emma, Miss Polly spoke very sharply,
• 3:08:45
  all the more sharply because Pollyanna's words had given her an odd throb of joy.
• 3:08:50
  When before had anybody cared how she or her hair looked? When before
• 3:08:56
  had anybody loved to see her? Pretty? Pollyanna, you did not answer
• 3:09:01
  my question. Why did you go to the lady's aid in that absurd fashion?
• 3:09:07
  Yes? I know, but please, I didn't know it was absurd
• 3:09:11
  until I went and found out they'd rather see their report grow than Jimmy.
• 3:09:15
  So then I wrote to my lady's aiders, cause Jimmy is far away from
• 3:09:18
  them, you know, and I thought maybe he could be very little India
• 3:09:22
  boy, same as Aunt Polly was. I your little India girl, and
• 3:09:26
  Aunt Polly, you will let me do your hair, won't you. Aunt
• 3:09:28
  Polly put her hand to her throat. The old helpless feeling was upon her.
• 3:09:33
  She knew. But Pollyanna, when the ladies told me this afternoon how
• 3:09:39
  you came to them, I was so ashamed. I Pollyanna began to dance
• 3:09:45
  up and down lightly on her toes. You didn't You didn't say I couldn't
• 3:09:48
  do your hair, she crowed triumphantly. And so I'm sure it means just
• 3:09:54
  the other way round, sort of like it did the other day about mister
• 3:09:56
  Pendleton's jelly that you didn't send, but did want me to say you didn't
• 3:10:01
  send you know? Now wait just where you are. I'll get a comb,
• 3:10:05
  but Pollyanna, Pollyanna, remonstrated Aunt Polly, following the little girl from
• 3:10:09
  the room and panting upstairs after her. Oh did you come up here?
• 3:10:16
  Pollyanna greeted her at the door of Miss Polly's own room. That'll be nicer
• 3:10:20
  yet, I've got the comb. Now sit down, please right here.
• 3:10:24
  Oh, I'm so glad you let me do it, But Pollyanna, I
• 3:10:28
  I Miss Polly did not finish her sentence. To her helpless amazement, she
• 3:10:35
  found herself in the low chair before the dressing table, with her hair already
• 3:10:41
  tumbling about her ears under ten eager but very gentle fingers. Oh my,
• 3:10:46
  what pretty hair you've got, prattled Pollyanna. And there's so much more of
• 3:10:52
  it than missus Snow has too. But of course you need more anyhow,
• 3:10:56
  because you're well and you can go to places where folks can see it.
• 3:10:58
  My I reckon folks will be glad when they see it, and surprised too,
• 3:11:03
  because you hit it so long. Why, Aunt Polly, I'll make
• 3:11:07
  you so pretty. Everybody'll just love to look at you, Pollyanna gasp,
• 3:11:13
  they stifled but shocked voice from a veil of hair. I'm sure I don't
• 3:11:18
  know why I'm letting you do this silly thing. Why, Aunt Polly,
• 3:11:22
  I should think you'd be glad to have folks like to look at you,
• 3:11:24
  don't you like to look at pretty things. I'm ever so much happier when
• 3:11:28
  I look at pretty folks, because when I look at the other kind,
• 3:11:31
  I'm so sorry for them. But but and I just love to do folks's
• 3:11:35
  hair, purd Pollyanna contentedly. I did quite a lot of the ladies' aters,
• 3:11:41
  but there wasn't any of them so nice as yours. Missus White's was
• 3:11:45
  pretty nice, though, and she looked just lovely one day when I dressed
• 3:11:48
  her up in Oh, Aunt Polly, I've just happened to think of something,
• 3:11:52
  but it's a secret, and I shan't tell. Now your hair is
• 3:11:56
  almost done and pretty quick. I'm going to leave you just a minute,
• 3:12:01
  and you must promise, promise, promise not to stir our peak even till
• 3:12:05
  I come back, now, remember, she finished, as she ran from
• 3:12:09
  the room aloud. Miss Polly said nothing to herself, she said that,
• 3:12:15
  of course she should at once undo the absurd work of her niece's fingers and
• 3:12:20
  put her hair up properly again, as for peeking, just as if she
• 3:12:24
  cared how. At that moment, unaccountably, Miss Polly caught a glimpse of
• 3:12:30
  herself in the mirror of the dressing table, and what she saw sent such
• 3:12:35
  a flush of rosy color to her cheeks that she only flushed the moor at
• 3:12:39
  the sight. She saw a face not young, it is true, but
• 3:12:43
  just now alight with excitement and surprise. The cheek swore a pretty pink,
• 3:12:50
  the eyes sparkled, The hair, dark and still damp from the outdoor air,
• 3:12:54
  lay in loose waves about the forehead, and curved back over the ears
• 3:13:00
  in wonderfully becoming lines, with softening little curls here and there. So amazed
• 3:13:05
  and absorbed was Miss Polly with what she saw in the glass that she quite
• 3:13:11
  forgot her determination to do over her hair until she heard Pollyanna enter the room
• 3:13:16
  again. Before she could move in, she felt a folded something slipped across
• 3:13:22
  her eyes and tied in the back. Pollyanna, Pollyanna, what are you
• 3:13:26
  doing? She cried, Pollyanna chuckled. That's just what I don't want you
• 3:13:31
  to know, Aunt Polly, and I was afraid you would peek, so
• 3:13:35
  I tied on the handkerchief. Now sit still, it won't take but just
• 3:13:39
  a minute, and then I'll let you see. But Pollyanna began, Miss
• 3:13:45
  Polly struggling blindly to her feet. You must take this off, you child
• 3:13:50
  child, What are you doing? She gasped as she felt they soft something
• 3:13:56
  slipped about her shoulders. Pollyanna only chuckle the more gleefully with trembling fingers.
• 3:14:03
  She was draping about her aunt's shoulders the fleecy folds of a beautiful lay shawl,
• 3:14:09
  yellowed from long years of packing away and fragrant with lavender. Pollyanna had
• 3:14:16
  found the shawl the week before, when Nancy had been regulating the attic,
• 3:14:20
  and it had occurred to her to day that there was no reason why her
• 3:14:24
  aunt, as well as Missus White of her western home, should not be
• 3:14:28
  dressed up. Her task completed, Pollyanna surveyed her work with eyes that approved,
• 3:14:35
  but that saw yet one touch. Wanting promptly, therefore, she pulled
• 3:14:39
  her aunt toward the sun parlor, where she could see a belated red rose
• 3:14:45
  blooming on the trellis within reach of her hand. Pollyanna, what are you
• 3:14:50
  doing? Where are you taking me to? Recoiled aunt Polly vainly trying to
• 3:14:54
  hold herself back. Pollyanna, I shall not. It's just a sun parlor.
• 3:15:00
  Only a minute. I'll have you ready now, quicker in no time,
• 3:15:03
  panted Pollyanna, reaching for the rose and thrusting it into the soft hair
• 3:15:07
  above Miss Polly's left ear. There, she exulted, untying the knot of
• 3:15:13
  the handkerchief and flinging the bit of linen far from her. Oh wit,
• 3:15:18
  Polly, Now, I reckon, you'll be glad I'd dressed you up for
• 3:15:22
  one. Dazed to moment, Miss Polly looked at her bedecked self and at
• 3:15:28
  her surroundings. Then she gave a low cry and fled to her room.
• 3:15:33
  Pollyanna, following the direction of her aunt's last dismayed gaze, saw through the
• 3:15:39
  open windows of the sun parlor the horse and gig. Turning into the driveway.
• 3:15:45
  She recognized that once the man who held the reins. Delightedly, she
• 3:15:48
  leaned forward, Doctor Chiltern, Doctor Chiltern, do you want to see me.
• 3:15:54
  I'm up here, yes, smiled the doctor a little gravely. Will
• 3:15:58
  you come down please. In the bedroom, Pollyanna found a flush faced,
• 3:16:03
  angry eyed woman plucking at the pins that held a lay shawl in place.
• 3:16:07
  Pollyanna, how could you, moaned the woman. To think of you rigging
• 3:16:11
  me up like this and then letting me be seen. Pollyanna stopped in dismay.
• 3:16:18
  But you looked lovely, perfectly lovely, Aunt Polly, and lovely,
• 3:16:24
  scorned the woman, flinging the shawl to one side and attacking her hair with
• 3:16:28
  shaking fingers. Oh, Aunt Polly, please please let the hair stay stay
• 3:16:33
  like this as if I would. And Miss Polly pulled the locks so tightly
• 3:16:39
  back that the last curl lay stretched dead at the ends of her fingers.
• 3:16:46
  Oh dear, and you did look so pretty, almost, sobbed Pollyanna.
• 3:16:50
  As she stumbled through the door. Downstairs, Pollyanna found the doctor waiting in
• 3:16:56
  his gig. I've prescribed you for a patient, and he sent me to
• 3:17:00
  get the prescription filled, announced the doctor. Will you go, you mean
• 3:17:03
  an errand to the drug store, asked Pollyanna, a little uncertainly. I
• 3:17:09
  used to go some for the ladies aiders. The doctor shook his head with
• 3:17:13
  a smile. Not exactly. It's mister John Pendleton. He would like to
• 3:17:18
  see you today, if you'll be so good as to come. It stopped
• 3:17:20
  raining, so I drove down after you. Will you come, I'll call
• 3:17:24
  for you and bring you back before six o'clock. I'd love to, exclaimed
• 3:17:30
  Pollyanna. Let me ask aunt polly In a few minutes she returned, hat
• 3:17:35
  in hand, but with rather a sober face. Didn't your aunt want you
• 3:17:39
  to go? Asked the doctor a little diffidently as they drove away. Yes,
• 3:17:43
  sighed Pollyanna. She she wanted me to go too much. I'm afraid
• 3:17:50
  wanted you to go too much. Pollyanna sighed again. Yes, I reckon,
• 3:17:54
  She meant she didn't want me there, you see, she said,
• 3:17:58
  yes, yes, run along, run along? Do I wish you'd gone
• 3:18:01
  before? The doctor smiled, but with his lips only his eyes were very
• 3:18:07
  grave. For some time he said nothing. Then a little hesitatingly, he
• 3:18:13
  asked, wasn't it your aunt I saw with you a few minutes ago in
• 3:18:18
  the window of the sun parlor. Pollyanna drew a long breath. Yes,
• 3:18:24
  that's what's the whole trouble. I suppose you see I dressed her up in
• 3:18:28
  a perfectly lovely lay shawl I found upstairs, and I fixed her hair and
• 3:18:31
  put on a rose, and she looked so pretty. Didn't you think she
• 3:18:37
  looked just lovely? For a moment, the doctor did not answer. When
• 3:18:41
  he did speak, his voice was so low Pollyanna could but just hear the
• 3:18:46
  words. Yes, Pollyanna, I I thought she did look just lovely,
• 3:18:52
  did you. I'm so glad I'll tell her. Nodded. The little girl
• 3:18:56
  contentedly. To her surprise, the doctor gave a sudden exclamation. Never,
• 3:19:01
  Pollyanna, I'm afraid I shall have to ask you not to tell her that.
• 3:19:05
  Why, doctor Chilton, why not? I should think you'd be glad,
• 3:19:09
  but she might not be cut in the doctor. Pollyanna considered this for
• 3:19:15
  a moment. That's so maybe she wouldn't, She sighed, I remember now,
• 3:19:20
  twas cause she saw you that she ran and she as she spoke afterward
• 3:19:24
  about her being seen in that rig I thought as much, declared the doctor
• 3:19:30
  under his breath. Still, I don't see why maintained Pollyanna when she looked
• 3:19:35
  so pretty. The doctor said nothing. He did not speak again, indeed,
• 3:19:41
  until they were almost to the Great Stone House, in which John Pendleton
• 3:19:45
  lay with a broken leg end of Chapter sixteen, Chapter seventeen, Just like
• 3:19:52
  a book, John Pendleton greeted Pollyanna to day with a smile. Well,
• 3:20:00
  miss Pollyanna, I'm thinking you must be a very forgiving little person, else
• 3:20:05
  you wouldn't have come to see me again to day, by mister Pendleton,
• 3:20:09
  I was real glad to come, and I'm sure I don't see why I
• 3:20:11
  shouldn't be either. Oh well, you know I was pretty cross with you,
• 3:20:16
  I'm afraid, both the other day when you so kindly brought me the
• 3:20:20
  jelly and that time when you found me with the broken leg at first.
• 3:20:24
  By the way, too, I don't think i've ever thanked you for that.
• 3:20:28
  Now, I'm sure that even you would admit that you were very forgiving
• 3:20:31
  to come and see me after such ungrateful treatment as that. Pollyanna stirred uneasily.
• 3:20:37
  But I was glad to find you, that is, I don't mean
• 3:20:41
  I was glad your leg was broken, of course, she corrected hurriedly.
• 3:20:43
  John Pendleton smiled, I understand your tongue does get away with you once in
• 3:20:50
  a while. Doesn't it, Miss Pollyanna. I do thank you, however,
• 3:20:52
  and I consider you a very brave little girl to do what you did
• 3:20:56
  that day. I thank you for the jelly two, he added in a
• 3:21:01
  louder voice. Did you like it, asked Pollyanna with interest, very much.
• 3:21:05
  I suppose there isn't any more to day that Aunt Polly didn't send,
• 3:21:11
  is there? He added with an odd smile. His visitor looked distressed.
• 3:21:16
  No, no, sir, she hesitated, then went on with heightened color.
• 3:21:22
  Please, mister Pendleton, I didn't mean to be rude the other day
• 3:21:24
  when I said Aunt Polly did not send the jelly. There was no answer.
• 3:21:30
  John Pendleton was not smiling now. He looked straight ahead of him,
• 3:21:33
  with eyes that seemed to be gazing through and beyond the object before them.
• 3:21:39
  After a time, he drew a long sigh and turned to Pollyanna. When
• 3:21:43
  he spoke, his voice carried the old nervous fretfulness. Well, well,
• 3:21:48
  this will never do at all. I didn't send it for you to see
• 3:21:52
  me moping this time. Listen out in the library, the big room where
• 3:21:56
  the telephone is. You know you will find a carved box on the lower
• 3:22:00
  shelf of the big case with glass doors in the corner, not far from
• 3:22:05
  the fireplace. That is, it'll be there. If that confounded woman hasn't
• 3:22:09
  regulated it to somewhere else, you may bring it to me. It is
• 3:22:13
  heavy, but not too heavy for you to carry. I think. Oh,
• 3:22:16
  I'm awfully strong, declared Pollyanna cheerfully, as she sprang to her feet.
• 3:22:22
  In a minute, she had returned with a box. It was a
• 3:22:26
  wonderful half hour that Pollyanna spent. Then. The box was full of treasures,
• 3:22:33
  curios that John Pendleton had picked up in years of travel, and concerning
• 3:22:37
  each there was some entertaining story, whether it were a set of exquisitely carved
• 3:22:43
  chessmen from China or a little jade idyl from India. It was after she
• 3:22:48
  had heard the story about the idol that Pollyanna murmured wistfully, Well, I
• 3:22:54
  suppose it would be better to take a little boy in India to bring up
• 3:22:58
  one that did know any more than to think that God was in that doll
• 3:23:01
  thing, than it would be to take Jimmy Bean, a little boy who
• 3:23:05
  knows God is up in the sky. Still, I can't help wishing they
• 3:23:09
  had wanted Jimmy bean To besides the India boys. John Pendleton did not seem
• 3:23:16
  to hear again. His eyes were staring straight before him, looking at nothing.
• 3:23:22
  But soon he had roused himself and had picked up another curio to talk
• 3:23:26
  about. The visit certainly was a delightful one, but before it was over,
• 3:23:33
  Pollyanna was realizing that they were talking about something besides the wonderful things in
• 3:23:37
  the beautiful carved box. They were talking of herself, of Nancy, of
• 3:23:43
  Aunt Polly, and of her daily life. They were talking too, even
• 3:23:46
  of the life in home long ago in the far western town. Not until
• 3:23:52
  it was nearly time for her to go did the man say, in a
• 3:23:54
  voice Pollyanna had never before heard from stern John Pendleton, little girl, I
• 3:24:01
  want you to come see me often, will you. I'm lonesome and I
• 3:24:07
  need you. There's another reason, and I'm going to tell you that too.
• 3:24:11
  I thought at first, after I found out who you were the other
• 3:24:15
  day, that I didn't want you to come anymore. You reminded me of
• 3:24:20
  something I have tried for long years to forget. So I said to myself
• 3:24:26
  that I never wanted to see you again. And every day when the doctor
• 3:24:30
  asked if I wouldn't let him bring you to me. I said no,
• 3:24:35
  But after a time I found I was wanting to see you so much that
• 3:24:39
  the fact that I wasn't seeing you was making me remember all the more vividly
• 3:24:45
  the thing I was so wanting to forget. So now I want you to
• 3:24:48
  come, will you, little girl? Why yes, mister Pendleton, breathed
• 3:24:54
  Pollyanna, her eyes luminous with sympathy for the sad faced man lying back on
• 3:25:00
  the pillow before her. I'd love to come, thank you, said John
• 3:25:05
  Pendleton gently. After supper that evening, Pollyanna, sitting on the back porch,
• 3:25:11
  told Nancy all about mister John Pendleton's wonderful carved box and the still more
• 3:25:18
  wonderful things it contained. And to think, sighed Nancy, that he showed
• 3:25:22
  you all them things and told you about him like that. Him that's so
• 3:25:26
  cross. He never talks to no one, no one. Oh but he
• 3:25:30
  isn't cross, Nancy, only outside, demurred Pollyanna with quick loyalty. I
• 3:25:35
  don't see why everybody thinks he's so bad either. They wouldn't if they knew
• 3:25:39
  him, And even Aunt Polly doesn't like him very well. She wouldn't send
• 3:25:43
  the jelly to him, you know, and she was so afraid he'd thinks
• 3:25:46
  she did send it. Probably she didn't call him, no duty, shrugged
• 3:25:50
  Nancy. But what beats me is how he happened to take to you,
• 3:25:54
  so, miss Pollyanna, meaning no offense to you, of course. But
• 3:25:58
  he ain't the sort of man generally it takes to kids. He ain't he
• 3:26:01
  eight, Pollyanna smiled happily. But he did, Nancy, She nodded,
• 3:26:07
  Only I reckon, even he didn't want to all the time. Why only
• 3:26:11
  today he owned up that one time he just felt he never wanted to see
• 3:26:13
  me again because I reminded him of something he wanted to forget. But afterwards,
• 3:26:18
  what's that? Interrupted Nancy excitedly. He said, you reminded him of
• 3:26:24
  something he wanted to forget. Yes, but afterwards, what was it?
• 3:26:28
  Nancy was eagerly insistent. He didn't tell me. He just said it was
• 3:26:33
  something the mystery, breathed Nancy in an awestruck voice. That's why he took
• 3:26:41
  to you in the first place, Oh, miss Pollyanna. Why that's just
• 3:26:46
  like a book. I've read lots of him. Lady Maud's secret and the
• 3:26:50
  lost air and hidden for years. All of them had mysteries and things like
• 3:26:54
  this, my stars an stockings. Just think of having a book lived right
• 3:27:01
  under your nose like this and me not knowing it all the time. Now,
• 3:27:05
  tell me everything everything, he said, Miss Pollyanna. There's a deer,
• 3:27:09
  no wonder he took to you. No wonder, no wonder. But
• 3:27:13
  he didn't, cried Pollyanna, not till I talked to him first. And
• 3:27:18
  he didn't even know who I was, till I took the calf's foot jelly
• 3:27:22
  and had to make him understand that Aunt Polly didn't send it. And Nancy
• 3:27:26
  sprang to her feet and clasped her hands together. Suddenly, Oh oh,
• 3:27:31
  miss Pollyanna, I know, I know, I know, I know,
• 3:27:37
  she exulted rapturously. The next minute she was down at Pollyanna's side. Again,
• 3:27:43
  tell me now, think an answer, straight and true, she urged
• 3:27:46
  excitedly. It was after he found out you was Miss Polly's niece that he
• 3:27:52
  said he didn't ever want to see you again, wasn't it. Oh?
• 3:27:54
  Yes, I told him that the last time I saw him, and he
• 3:27:58
  told me this today, I thought as much, triumphed Nancy, and Miss
• 3:28:03
  Polly wouldn't send the jelly herself, would she know? And you told him
• 3:28:07
  she didn't send it? Why yes, I and he began to act queer
• 3:28:11
  and cry out sudden after he found out you was her niece. He did
• 3:28:16
  that, didn't he? Why yes, he did act a little queer over
• 3:28:20
  that jelly, admitted Pollyanna with a thoughtful frown. Nancy drew a long sigh.
• 3:28:28
  There I've got it sure, Now listen, mister John Pendleton was miss
• 3:28:33
  Polly Harrington's lover, she announced impressively, with a furtive glance over her shoulder.
• 3:28:39
  Why Nancy, he couldn't be. She doesn't like him, objected Pollyanna.
• 3:28:45
  Nancy gave her a scornful glance. Of course she don't, that's the
• 3:28:50
  quarrel. Pollyanna looked incredulous, and with another long breath, Nancy happily settled
• 3:28:58
  herself to tell the story. It's like this. Just before you come,
• 3:29:03
  mister Tom told me Miss Polly had had a lover once. I didn't believe
• 3:29:07
  it. I couldn't her and a lover, But mister Tom said she had,
• 3:29:11
  and that he was living now right in this town. And now I
• 3:29:16
  know of course it's John Pendleton. Hadn't he got a mystery in his life?
• 3:29:22
  Don't he shut himself up in that grand house alone and never speak to
• 3:29:26
  no one? Didn't he act queer when he found out you was Miss Polly's
• 3:29:31
  niece? And now hain't he owned up and said that you remind him of
• 3:29:35
  something he wants to forget. Just as if anybody couldn't see twas Miss Polly
• 3:29:39
  and her saying she wouldn't send him no jelly too. Why Miss Pollyanna,
• 3:29:45
  it's as plain as the nose on your face. It is. It is,
• 3:29:48
  oh, breathed Pollyanna in white eyed amazement. But Nancy, I should
• 3:29:54
  think if they loved each other, they'd make up sometime, both of'em,
• 3:29:58
  all alone sow all these I should think they'd be glad to make up.
• 3:30:03
  Nancy sniffed disdainfully. I guess maybe you don't know much about lovers,
• 3:30:07
  Miss Pollyanna. You ain't big enough yet anyhow. But if there is a
• 3:30:11
  set of folks in the world, what wouldn't have no use for that air
• 3:30:16
  glad game of urine. It'd be a pair of quarreling lovers, and that's
• 3:30:20
  what they be, ain't he crossed his sticks most generally, and ain't she
• 3:30:24
  Nancy stopped abruptly, remembering just in time to whom and about whom she was
• 3:30:31
  speaking. Suddenly, however, she chuckled, I ain't saying, though,
• 3:30:35
  Miss Pollyanna, but what it would be a pretty slick piece of business if
• 3:30:39
  you could get them to play in it? So they would be glad to
• 3:30:43
  make up. But my land, wouldn't folks stare some Miss polly and him?
• 3:30:48
  I guess though there ain't much chance, much chance. Pollyanna said nothing,
• 3:30:54
  but when she went into the house a little later, her face was
• 3:30:58
  very thoughtful. End of Chapter seventeen, Chapter eighteen Prisms. As the warm
• 3:31:09
  August days passed, Pollyanna went very frequently to the Great House on Pendleton Hill.
• 3:31:16
  She did not feel, however, that her visits were really a success,
• 3:31:20
  not but that the man seemed to want her there. He sent for
• 3:31:24
  her indeed frequently, but that when she was there, he seemed scarcely any
• 3:31:28
  happier for her presence. At least so Pollyanna thought. He talked to her,
• 3:31:33
  It was true, and he showed her many strange and beautiful things,
• 3:31:39
  books, pictures, and curios, But he still fretted audibly over his own
• 3:31:45
  helplessness, and he chafed visibly under the rules and regulations of the unwelcome members
• 3:31:50
  of his household. He did indeed seem to like to hear Pollyanna talk,
• 3:31:56
  however, and Pollyanna talked. Pollyanna liked to talk, but she was never
• 3:32:01
  sure that she would not look up and find him laying back on his pillow
• 3:32:07
  with that white, hurt look that always pained her, And she was never
• 3:32:11
  sure which, if any of her words had brought it there. As for
• 3:32:15
  telling him the glad game and trying to get him to play it, Pollyanna
• 3:32:20
  had never seen the time yet when she thought he would care to hear about
• 3:32:24
  it. She had twice tried to tell him, but neither time had she
• 3:32:28
  got beyond the beginning of what her father had said. John Pendleton had,
• 3:32:31
  on each occasion, turned the conversation abruptly to another subject. Pollyanna never doubted
• 3:32:39
  now that John Pendleton was her aunt Polly's one time lover, and with all
• 3:32:45
  the strength of her loving, loyal heart, she wished she could in some
• 3:32:50
  way bring happiness into their to her mind, miserably lonely lives, just how
• 3:32:56
  she was to do this, however, she could not see. She talked
• 3:33:01
  to mister Pendleton about her aunt, and he listened, sometimes politely, sometimes
• 3:33:05
  irritably, frequently with a quizzical smile on his usually stern lips. She talked
• 3:33:11
  to her aunt about mister Pendleton, or rather she tried to talk to her
• 3:33:16
  about him as a general thing. However, Miss Polly would not listen long.
• 3:33:22
  She always found something else to talk about. She frequently did that,
• 3:33:26
  however, when Pollyanna was talking of others, of doctor Chilton, for instance,
• 3:33:31
  Pollyanna laid this though to the fact that it had been doctor Chilton who
• 3:33:35
  had seen her in the sun parlor with the rose in her hair and the
• 3:33:39
  lace shawl draped about her shoulders. Aunt Polly indeed seemed particularly bitter against doctor
• 3:33:46
  Chilton, as Pollyanna found out one day when a hard cold shut her up
• 3:33:52
  in the house. If you are not better by night, I shall send
• 3:33:56
  for the doctor, Aunt polly said, shall you? Then? I'm going
• 3:34:00
  to be worse, gurgled Pollyanna. I'd love to have doctor Chilton come to
• 3:34:03
  see me. She wondered, then at the look that came to her aunt's
• 3:34:07
  face, it will not be doctor Chilton, Pollyanna. Miss Polly said sternly.
• 3:34:13
  Doctor Chilton is not our family physician. I shall send for doctor Warren
• 3:34:18
  if you are worse. Pollyanna did not grow worse, however, and doctor
• 3:34:24
  Warren was not summoned. Oh I'm so glad too, Pollyanna said to her
• 3:34:30
  aunt that evening. Of course I like doctor Warren and all that, but
• 3:34:33
  I like doctor Chilton better, and I'm afraid he'd feel hurt if I didn't
• 3:34:37
  have him. You see, he wasn't really to blame after all that he
• 3:34:41
  happened to see you when I dressed you up so pretty that day, Aunt
• 3:34:43
  Polly, She finished wistfully, that will do, Pollyanna, I really do
• 3:34:50
  not wish to discuss doctor Chilton. Are his feelings reproved Miss Polly decisively.
• 3:34:56
  Pollyanna looked at her for a moment with mourn interested eyes. Then she sighed,
• 3:35:03
  I just love to see you, and your cheeks are pink like that,
• 3:35:05
  Aunt Polly. But I would so like to fix your hair if why,
• 3:35:11
  Aunt Polly, But her aunt was already out of sight down the hall.
• 3:35:16
  It was toward the end of August that Pollyanna, making an early morning
• 3:35:20
  call on John Pendleton found the flaming band of blue and gold and green etched
• 3:35:24
  with red and violet, laying across his pillow. She stopped short in awed
• 3:35:31
  delight. Why, mister Pendleton, it's a baby rainbow, a real rainbow.
• 3:35:37
  Come in to pay you a visit, she exclaimed, clapping her hands
• 3:35:41
  together softly. Oh oh, oh, how pretty it is. But how
• 3:35:46
  did it get in? She cried? The man laughed a little grimly.
• 3:35:50
  John Pendleton was particularly out of SARTs with the world this morning. Well,
• 3:35:56
  I suppose it got in through the beveled air of that glass thermometer in the
• 3:36:01
  window, he said, wearily. The sun shouldn't strike it at all,
• 3:36:05
  but it does in the morning. Oh but it's so pretty, mister Pendleton,
• 3:36:11
  And does just the sun do that? My? If it was mine,
• 3:36:15
  I'd have it hang in the sun all day long. Lots of good
• 3:36:18
  you'd get out of the thermometer, then, laughed the man. How do
• 3:36:22
  you suppose you could tell how hot it was or how cold it was if
• 3:36:26
  the thermometer hung in the sun all day? I shouldn't care, breathed Pollyanna,
• 3:36:31
  her fascinated eyes on the brilliant band of colors, across the pillow,
• 3:36:37
  just as if anybody'd care when they were living all the time in the rainbow,
• 3:36:41
  the man laughed. He was watching Pollyanna's wrapped face a little curiously.
• 3:36:48
  Suddenly a new thought came to him. He touched the bell at his side.
• 3:36:54
  Nora, he said, when the elderly maid appeared to the door,
• 3:36:56
  bring me one of the big brass kent sticks from the mantel in the front
• 3:37:01
  drawing room. Yes, sir, murmured the woman, looking slightly dazed.
• 3:37:05
  In a minute she had returned. A musical tinkling entered the room with her.
• 3:37:11
  As she advanced wonderingly toward the bed. It came from the prism pendants
• 3:37:16
  encircling the old fashioned candelabrum in her hand. Thank you, you may set
• 3:37:22
  it here on the stand, directed the man. Now get a string and
• 3:37:26
  fasten it to the sash curtain fixtures of that window there. Take down the
• 3:37:31
  sash curtain and let the string reach straight across the window from side to side.
• 3:37:37
  That will be all, thank you, he said. When she had
• 3:37:41
  carried out his directions. As she left the room, he turned, smiling
• 3:37:46
  eyes toward the wondering Pollyanna. Bring me the candlestick, now, please,
• 3:37:50
  Pollyanna. With both hands, she brought it, and in a moment he
• 3:37:54
  was slipping off the pendants one by one until they lay a dozen of them
• 3:38:01
  side by side on the bed. Now, my dear, suppose you take
• 3:38:05
  them and hook them to that little straying Nora fixed across the window. If
• 3:38:09
  you really want to live in a rainbow, I don't see, but we'll
• 3:38:13
  have to have a rainbow for you to live in. Pollyanna had not hung
• 3:38:18
  up three of the pendants in the sunlit window before she saw a little of
• 3:38:24
  what was going to happen. She was so excited that she could scarcely control
• 3:38:28
  her shaking fingers enough to hang up the rest. But at last her task
• 3:38:33
  was finished, and she stepped back with a low cry of the light.
• 3:38:39
  It had become a fairy land that sumptuous but dreary bedroom. Everywhere were bits
• 3:38:46
  of dancing red and green, violet and orange, gold and blue. The
• 3:38:52
  wall, the floor, and the furniture, even to the bed itself were
• 3:38:56
  a flame with shimmering bits of color. Oh wow, lovely breathed Pollyanna.
• 3:39:01
  Then she laughed, Suddenly, I just reckon the sun himself is trying to
• 3:39:07
  play the game, now, don't you? She cried, forgetting for a
• 3:39:11
  moment that mister Pendleton could not know what she was talking about. Oh,
• 3:39:16
  how I wish I had a lot of those things. How I would like
• 3:39:18
  to give them to Aunt Polly and missus Snow and lots of folks, I
• 3:39:24
  reckon, then they'd be glad all right? Why? I think even Aunt
• 3:39:26
  Polly gets so glad she couldn't help banging doors if she lived in a rainbow
• 3:39:31
  like that, don't you, mister Pendleton laughed? Well, from my remembrance
• 3:39:37
  of your aunt, Miss Pollyanna, I must say, I think it would
• 3:39:41
  take something more than a few prisms and the sunlight too, to make her
• 3:39:46
  bang many doors for gladness. But come now, really, what do you
• 3:39:50
  mean? Pollyanna started slightly. Then she drew a long breath. Oh I
• 3:39:56
  forgot. You don't know about the game? I remember? Now, Suppose
• 3:40:01
  you tell me then? And this time Pollyanna told him. She told him
• 3:40:05
  the whole thing, from the very first, from the crutches that should have
• 3:40:11
  been a dull. As she talked, she did not look at his face.
• 3:40:13
  Her rapt eyes were still on the dancing flecks of color from the prism
• 3:40:18
  pendance swaying in the sunlit window. And that's all, she sighed when she
• 3:40:24
  had finished. And now you know why I said. The sun was trying
• 3:40:28
  to play it that game. For a moment there was silence. Then a
• 3:40:33
  low voice from the bed said, unsteadily perhaps, But I'm thinking that the
• 3:40:41
  very finest prism of them all is yourself, Pollyanna. Oh but I don't
• 3:40:46
  show beautiful red and green and purple when the sun shines through me, mister
• 3:40:50
  Pendleton, don't you, smiled the man, and Pollyanna, looking into his
• 3:40:54
  face, wondered why there were tears in his eyes. No, she said,
• 3:41:00
  Then after a minute she added, mournfully, I'm afraid, mister Pendleton,
• 3:41:03
  the sun doesn't make anything but freckles out of me. Aunt Polly says,
• 3:41:07
  it does make them. The man laughed a little, and again Pollyanna
• 3:41:13
  looked at him. The laugh had sounded almost like a sob end of chapter
• 3:41:20
  eighteen, Chapter nineteen, which is somewhat surprising. Pollyanna entered school in September.
• 3:41:28
  Preliminary examinations showed that she was well advanced for a girl of her years,
• 3:41:33
  and she was soon a happy member of a class of girls and boys
• 3:41:37
  of her own age. School in some ways was a surprise to Pollyanna,
• 3:41:43
  and Pollyanna certainly in many ways was very much of a surprise to school.
• 3:41:48
  They were soon on the best of terms, however, and to her aunt,
• 3:41:52
  Pollyanna confessed that going to school was living after all, though she had
• 3:41:58
  had her doubts before. In spite of her delight in her new work,
• 3:42:03
  Pollyanna did not forget her old friends. True. She could not give them
• 3:42:07
  quite so much time now, of course, but she gave them what time
• 3:42:11
  she could. Perhaps. John Pendleton, of them all, however, was
• 3:42:16
  the most dissatisfied. One Saturday afternoon, he spoke to her about it.
• 3:42:22
  See here, Pollyanna, how would you like to come and live with me?
• 3:42:24
  He asked, a little impatiently. I don't see anything of you nowadays,
• 3:42:30
  Pollyanna laughed. Mister Pendleton was such a funny man. I thought you
• 3:42:33
  didn't like to have folks round, she said. He made a wry face.
• 3:42:39
  Oh, but that was before you taught me to play that wonderful game
• 3:42:43
  of yours. Now I'm glad to be waited on hand and foot. Never
• 3:42:48
  mind, I'll be on my own two feet yet. One of these days,
• 3:42:50
  then I'll see whose steps around, he finished, picking up one of
• 3:42:56
  the crutches at his side and shaking it playfully at the little girl. They
• 3:43:00
  were sitting in the Great Library to day. Oh, but you aren't really
• 3:43:03
  glad at all for things you just say you are, pouted Pollyanna, her
• 3:43:07
  eyes on the dog dozing before the fire. You know you don't play the
• 3:43:11
  game right ever, mister Pendleton. You know you don't. The man's face
• 3:43:16
  grew suddenly very grave. That's why I want you, little girl, to
• 3:43:22
  help me play it. Will you come? Pollyanna turned in surprise. Mister
• 3:43:26
  Pendleton, you don't really mean that, but I do. I want you.
• 3:43:31
  Will you come? Pollyanna looked distressed. Why, mister Pendleton, I
• 3:43:37
  can't you know? I can't why I'm Aunt Polly's. A quick something crossed
• 3:43:43
  the man's face that Pollyanna could not quite understand. His head came up almost
• 3:43:50
  fiercely. You're no more hers than perhaps she would let you come to me,
• 3:43:54
  he finished, more gently. Would you come? If she did?
• 3:43:58
  Pollyanna frowned deep thought. But Aunt Polly has been so so good to me,
• 3:44:03
  she began slowly, and she took me when I didn't have anybody left.
• 3:44:07
  But the ladies aid, And again that spasm of something crossed the man's
• 3:44:13
  face, but this time when he spoke, his voice was low and very
• 3:44:18
  sad. Pollyanna, long years ago, I love somebody very much. I
• 3:44:24
  hope to bring her someday to this house. I pictured how happy we'd be
• 3:44:30
  together in our home, all the long years to come, Yes, pitied
• 3:44:35
  Pollyanna, her eyes shining with sympathy. But well I didn't bring her here.
• 3:44:41
  Never mind why I just didn't, that's all. And ever since then,
• 3:44:46
  this great, great pile of stone has been a house, never a
• 3:44:50
  home. It takes a woman's hand and heart are a child's presence to make
• 3:44:56
  a home. Pollyanna and I have not had either. Now will you come,
• 3:45:00
  my dear Pollyanna sprang to her feet. Her face was fairly illumined.
• 3:45:07
  Mister Pendleton, you you mean that you wish you you had that woman's hand
• 3:45:11
  in heart all this time? Why, yes, Pollyanna, Oh, I'm
• 3:45:16
  so glad. Then it's all right, sighed the little girl. Now you
• 3:45:20
  can take us both, and everything will be lovely. Take you both,
• 3:45:24
  repeated the man, dazedly. A faint doubt crossed Pollyanna's countenance. Well,
• 3:45:31
  of course, Aunt Polly isn't won over yet, but I'm sure she will
• 3:45:33
  be if you tell it to her, just as you did to me,
• 3:45:37
  and then we'd both come. Of course, A look of actual terror leaped
• 3:45:41
  to the man's eyes. Aunt Polly, come here. Pollyanna's eyes widened a
• 3:45:48
  little. Would you rather go there? She asked? Of course, the
• 3:45:52
  house isn't quite so pretty, but it's nearer. Pollyanna, what are you
• 3:45:56
  talking about, asked the man very gently. Now, why about where we're
• 3:46:01
  going to live? Of course, rejoined Pollyanna in obvious surprise. I thought
• 3:46:05
  you meant here at first. You said it was here that you had wanted
• 3:46:07
  Aunt Polly's hand in heart all these years to make home. And an inarticulate
• 3:46:11
  cry came from the man's throat. He raised his hand and began to speak,
• 3:46:16
  but the next moment he dropped his hand nervelessly at his side. The
• 3:46:22
  doctor, Sir, said the maid in the doorway. Pollyanna rose at once.
• 3:46:28
  John Pendleton turned to her feverishly. Pollyanna, for heaven's sake, say
• 3:46:33
  nothing of what I've asked you yet, he begged in a low voice.
• 3:46:35
  Pollyanna dimpled into a sunny smile. Of course, not just as if I
• 3:46:41
  didn't know, you'd rather tell her yourself, she called back merrily over his
• 3:46:45
  shoulder. John Pendleton fell limply back in his chair. Why what's up?
• 3:46:50
  Demanded the doctor A minute later, his fingers on his patient's galloping pulse.
• 3:46:54
  A whimsical smile trembled on John Pendleton's lips. Overdose your tonic, I guess,
• 3:47:01
  he laughed as he noted the doctor's eyes following Pollyanna's little figure down the
• 3:47:07
  driveway. End of chapter nineteen, Chapter twenty, which is more surprising.
• 3:47:16
  Sunday mornings, Pollyanna usually attended church and Sunday School. Sunday afternoons, she
• 3:47:22
  frequently went for a walk with Nancy. She had planned one for the day
• 3:47:26
  after her Saturday afternoon visit to mister John Pendleton, but on the way home
• 3:47:31
  from Sunday School, Doctor chilten overtook her in his gig and brought his horse
• 3:47:37
  to a stop. Suppose you let me drive you home, Pollyanna, he
• 3:47:41
  suggested, I want to speak to you a minute. I was just driving
• 3:47:46
  out to your place to tell you. He went on. As Pollyanna settled
• 3:47:50
  herself at his side, mister Pendleton sent a special request for you to go
• 3:47:54
  see him this afternoon. Sure, he says, it's very important. Pollyanna
• 3:48:01
  nodded happily, Yes it is, I know, I'll go. The doctor
• 3:48:05
  eyed her with some surprise. I'm not sure I shall let you, after
• 3:48:09
  all, he declared, his eyes twinkling. You seemed more upsetting than soothing
• 3:48:15
  yesterday, young lady. Pollyanna laughed. Oh, it wasn't me truly,
• 3:48:20
  not really, you know, not so much as it was Aunt Polly.
• 3:48:24
  The doctor turned with a quick start. You're aunt, he ejaculated. Pollyanna
• 3:48:28
  gave a happy little bounce in her seat. Yes, and it's so exciting
• 3:48:33
  and lovely, just like a story, you know. I I'm going to
• 3:48:37
  tell you, she burst out. With sudden decision. He said not to
• 3:48:41
  mention it, but he wouldn't mind your knowing. Of course, he meant
• 3:48:45
  not to mention it to her her. Yes, Aunt Polly, and of
• 3:48:50
  course he would want to tell her himself instead of having me do it.
• 3:48:54
  Lovers, so lovers. As the doctor said the word, the horse started
• 3:49:00
  violently, as if the hand that held the reins had given a sharp jerk.
• 3:49:05
  Yes, nodded Pollyanna happily. That's the story part, you see.
• 3:49:09
  I didn't know it till Nancy told me. She said Aunt Polly had a
• 3:49:13
  lover years ago and they quarreled. She didn't know who it was at first,
• 3:49:18
  but we found out. Now it's mister Pendleton, you know. The
• 3:49:22
  doctor relaxed suddenly, the hand holding the reins fell limply to his lap.
• 3:49:28
  Oh no, I didn't know, he said, quarreling. Pollyanna hurried on.
• 3:49:35
  They were nearing the Harrington homestead. Yes, and I'm so glad now
• 3:49:39
  it's come out lovely. Mister Pendleton asked me to come and live with him,
• 3:49:43
  but of course I wouldn't leave Aunt Polly like that, after she'd been
• 3:49:46
  so good to me. Then he told me all about the woman's hand and
• 3:49:50
  heart that he used to want, and I found out that he wanted it
• 3:49:54
  now, and I was so glad for of course, if he wants to
• 3:49:58
  make up the quarrel, everything will be all right now, and Aunt Polly
• 3:50:01
  and I will both go to live there, or else you'll come to live
• 3:50:03
  with us. Of Course Aunt Polly doesn't know yet, and we haven't got
• 3:50:07
  everything settled. So I suppose that's why he wanted to see me this afternoon.
• 3:50:11
  Sure, the doctor sat suddenly erect. There was an odd smile on
• 3:50:16
  his lips. Yes, I can well imagine that mister John Pendleton does want
• 3:50:22
  to see you, Pollyanna, He nodded, as he pulled his horse to
• 3:50:26
  a stop before the door. There's Aunt Polly now in the window, cried
• 3:50:31
  Pollyanna. Then a second later, why no, she isn't, but I
• 3:50:35
  thought I saw her. No, she isn't there now, said the doctor.
• 3:50:41
  His lips had suddenly lost their smile. Pollyanna found a very nervous John
• 3:50:46
  Pendleton waiting for her that afternoon, Pollyanna, he began at once, I've
• 3:50:50
  been trying all night to puzzle out what you meant by all that yesterday about
• 3:50:56
  my wanting your aunt Polly's hand in heart hair all these years? What did
• 3:51:01
  you mean? Why? Because you were lovers, you know, once,
• 3:51:05
  and I was so glad you still felt that way now lovers your Aunt Polly
• 3:51:09
  and I. At the obvious surprise in the man's voice, Pollyanna opened wide
• 3:51:16
  her eyes. Why mister Pendles, and Nancy said you were. The man
• 3:51:20
  gave a short, little laugh. Indeed, well, I'm afraid I shall
• 3:51:26
  have to say that Nancy didn't know then you weren't lover's. Pollyanna's voice was
• 3:51:33
  tragic, with dismay. Never and it isn't all coming out like a book.
• 3:51:39
  There was no answer. The man's eyes were mootally fixed out the window,
• 3:51:43
  Oh dear, and it was all going so splendidly, almost sobbed Pollyanna.
• 3:51:50
  I'd have been so glad to come with Aunt Polly. And you won't
• 3:51:54
  know. The man asked the question, without turning his head, of course,
• 3:51:58
  not I'm Aunt Polly's. The man turned, now, all most fiercely.
• 3:52:05
  Before you were hers, Pollyanna. You were your mother's, and it
• 3:52:09
  was your mother's hand and heart that I wanted long years ago, my mother's.
• 3:52:16
  Yes, I had not meant to tell you, but perhaps it's better
• 3:52:20
  after all that I do now. John Pendleton's face had grown very white.
• 3:52:26
  He was speaking with evident difficulty. Pollyanna, her eyes wide and frightened and
• 3:52:31
  her lips parted, was gazing at him fixedly. I loved your mother,
• 3:52:35
  but she didn't love me. After a time she went away with your father.
• 3:52:41
  I did not know until then how much I did care. The whole
• 3:52:46
  world suddenly seemed to turn black under my fingers. And but never mind.
• 3:52:52
  For long years I have been a cross crabbed, unlovable, unloved old man,
• 3:52:58
  though I'm not nearly sixty yet, Pollyanna. Then one day, like
• 3:53:03
  one of the prisons that you love so well, little girl, you danced
• 3:53:07
  into my life and flecked my dreary old world with dashes of the purple and
• 3:53:13
  gold and scarlet of your own bright cheeriness. I found out after a time
• 3:53:20
  who you were, and and I thought then I never wanted to see you
• 3:53:24
  again. I didn't want to be reminded of your mother. But you know
• 3:53:28
  how that came out. I just had to have you come, And now
• 3:53:31
  I want you always, Pollyanna. Won't you come now? But mister Pendleton,
• 3:53:37
  I there's aunt Polly. Pollyanna's eyes were blurred with tears. The man
• 3:53:43
  made an impatient gesture, What about me? How do you suppose I'm going
• 3:53:48
  to be glad about anything without you, my Pollyanna. It's only since you
• 3:53:54
  came that I've been even half glad to live. But if I had you
• 3:53:58
  for my own, little girl, I'd be glad for anything. And I'd
• 3:54:03
  try to make you glad too, my dear, you shouldn't have a wish,
• 3:54:07
  ungratified. All my money to the last cent should go to make you
• 3:54:11
  happy. Pollyanna looks shocked. Why, mister Pendleton, as if I'd let
• 3:54:16
  you spend it on me, all that money you've saved for the heathen.
• 3:54:20
  A dull red came to the man's face. He started to speak, but
• 3:54:24
  Pollyanna was still talking. Besides, anybody with such a lot of money as
• 3:54:28
  you have doesn't need me to make you glad about things. You're making other
• 3:54:33
  folks so glad, giving them things that you just can't help being glad yourself.
• 3:54:37
  Why look at those prisms you gave missus snow and me, and the
• 3:54:39
  gold piece you gave Nancy on her birthday. And yes, yes, never
• 3:54:45
  mind about all that, interrupted the man. His face was very, very
• 3:54:48
  red now, And no wonder, perhaps it was not for giving things that
• 3:54:54
  John Pendleton had been best known in the past. That's all nonsense. It
• 3:55:00
  wasn't much anyhow, But what there was was because of you. You gave
• 3:55:03
  those things, not I. Yes you did, he repeated, in answer
• 3:55:07
  to the shocked denial in her face, And that only goes to prove all
• 3:55:13
  the more how I need you, little girl, he added, his voice
• 3:55:16
  softening into tender pleading once more. If ever, ever I am to play
• 3:55:22
  the glad game, Pollyanna, you have to come and play it with me.
• 3:55:28
  The little girl's forehead puckered into a wistful frown. Aunt Polly has been
• 3:55:33
  so good to me, she began, but the man interrupted her sharply.
• 3:55:37
  The old irritability had come back to his face. Impatience, which would brook
• 3:55:43
  no opposition, had been a part of John Pendleton's nature, too long to
• 3:55:48
  yield very easily now to restraint. Of course, she's been good to you,
• 3:55:52
  but she doesn't want you. I'll warrant half so much as I do.
• 3:55:56
  He contested, Why, mister Pendleton, she's glad? I know to
• 3:56:00
  have glad, interrupted the man, thoroughly losing his patience. Now, I'll
• 3:56:05
  wager Miss Polly doesn't know how to be glad for anything. Oh, she
• 3:56:09
  does her duty. I know she's a very dutiful woman. I've had experience
• 3:56:16
  with her duty before. I'll acknowledge we haven't been the best of friends for
• 3:56:20
  the last fifteen or twenty years, but I know her. Everyone knows her.
• 3:56:24
  And she isn't the glad kind, Pollyanna, she doesn't know how to
• 3:56:28
  be. As for your coming to me, you just ask her and see
• 3:56:33
  if she won't let you come. And oh, little girl, little girl,
• 3:56:35
  I want you, so, he finished brokenly. Pollyanna rose to her
• 3:56:41
  feet with a long sigh. All right, I'll ask her, she said,
• 3:56:46
  wistfully. Of course I don't mean that I wouldn't like to live here
• 3:56:50
  with you, mister Pendleton. But she did not complete her sentence. There
• 3:56:56
  was a moment's silence. Then she added, well, anyhow, I'm glad
• 3:57:00
  I didn't tell her yesterday, because then I supposed she was wanted to John
• 3:57:05
  Pendleton smiled grimly. Why yes, Pollyanna, I guess it is just as
• 3:57:09
  well you didn't mention it yesterday. I didn't only to the doctor. And
• 3:57:13
  of course he didn't count the doctor, cried John Pendleton, turning quickly.
• 3:57:20
  Not doctor Chilton. Yes, when he came to tell me you wanted to
• 3:57:24
  see me today, you know well of all, the muttered the man,
• 3:57:28
  falling back in his chair. Then he sat up with sudden interest. And
• 3:57:33
  what did doctor Chiltern say, he asked. Pollyanna frowned thoughtfully why. I
• 3:57:39
  don't remember, not much, I reckon. Oh he did say, he
• 3:57:43
  could well imagine you did want to see me? Oh did he indeed,
• 3:57:48
  answered John Pendleton, and Pollyanna wondered why he gave that sudden, queer little
• 3:57:54
  laugh. End of chapter twenty, he won a question answered. The sky
• 3:58:03
  was darkening fast with what appeared to be an approaching thunder shower when Pollyanna hurried
• 3:58:09
  down the hill from John Pendleton's house. Half way home, she met Nancy
• 3:58:15
  with an umbrella. By that time, however, the clouds had shifted their
• 3:58:18
  position and the shower was not so imminent. Guess it's going round to the
• 3:58:24
  north, announced Nancy, eyeing the sky critically. I thought twas all the
• 3:58:28
  time, but miss Polly wanted me to come with this. She was worried
• 3:58:33
  about ye was, she murmured Pollyanna, abstractedly eyeing the clouds. In her
• 3:58:37
  turn. Nancy sniffed a little. You didn't seem to notice what I said,
• 3:58:43
  she observed, aggrievedly. I said your aunt was worried about you,
• 3:58:48
  oh, sighed Pollyanna, remembering suddenly the question she was so soon to ask
• 3:58:54
  her aunt. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare her. Well,
• 3:58:58
  I'm glad, retorted Nancy. Unexpectedly, I am, I am. Pollyanna
• 3:59:05
  stared, glad that Aunt Polly was scared about me. Why Nancy, that
• 3:59:09
  is it the way to play the game, to be glad for things like
• 3:59:13
  that? She objected, that want no game in it, retorted Nancy,
• 3:59:18
  never thought of it. You don't seem to sense what it means to have
• 3:59:22
  Miss Polly worried about your child. Why it means worried and worried is hard
• 3:59:30
  to feel, maintained Pollyanna. What else can it mean? Nancy tossed her
• 3:59:35
  head. Well, I'll tell you what it means. It means she's at
• 3:59:39
  last getting down somewhar's near human like folks, and that she ain't just doing
• 3:59:46
  her duty by you all the time. Why, Nancy, the mirror of
• 3:59:50
  the scandalized Pollyanna. Aunt Polly always does her duty. She's she's a very
• 3:59:56
  dutiful woman. Unconsciously, Pollyanna repeated John Pendleton's words of half an hour before.
• 4:00:03
  Nancy chuckled, You're right she is, and she always was, I
• 4:00:07
  guess, but she something more now since you came. Pollyanna's face changed,
• 4:00:13
  her brows drew into a troubled frown there. That's what I was going to
• 4:00:18
  ask you, Nancy, She sighed, Do you think Aunt Polly likes to
• 4:00:22
  have me here? Would she mind if if I wasn't here anymore? Nancy
• 4:00:28
  threw a quick look into the little girl's sarped face. She had expected it
• 4:00:33
  to be asked this question long before, and she had dreaded it. She
• 4:00:39
  had wondered how she should answer it, how she could answer it honestly without
• 4:00:43
  cruelly hurting the questioner. But now now, in the face of the new
• 4:00:48
  suspicions that had become convictions by the afternoon's umbrella sending, Nancy only welcomed the
• 4:00:56
  question with open arms. She was sure that with a clean conscience to day
• 4:01:01
  she could set the love hungry little girl's heart at rest. Likes to have
• 4:01:07
  ye here? Would she missya if you would here? Cried Nancy indignantly,
• 4:01:13
  as if that wasn't just what I was tellin of you. Didn't she send
• 4:01:16
  me posthaste with an umbrella cause she see a little cloud in the sky.
• 4:01:22
  Didn't she make me toatcha things all downstairs so you could have the pretty room
• 4:01:26
  you wanted? Why Miss Pollyanna, when you remember how at first she hated
• 4:01:31
  to have it. With a choking cough, Nancy pulled herself up in time.
• 4:01:37
  An it ain't just things I can put my fingers on neither, rushed
• 4:01:41
  on Nancy breathlessly. It's little way she has that shows how you've been softenin
• 4:01:46
  her up, an mellerin her down, the cat and the dog, an
• 4:01:50
  the way she speaks to me, And oh, lots o things. Why
• 4:01:54
  miss Pollyanna. There ain't no tellin how she'd miss ya. If you want
• 4:01:58
  here, finished Nancy, speaking with an enthusiastic certainty that was meant to hide
• 4:02:05
  the perilous admission she had almost made before. Even then, she was not
• 4:02:09
  quite prepared for the sudden joy that illumined Pollyanna's face. Oh, Nancy,
• 4:02:16
  I'm so glad, glad glad. You don't know how glad I am that
• 4:02:20
  Aunt Polly wants me as if I leave her, now, thought Pollyanna,
• 4:02:26
  as she climbed the stairs to her room. A little later. I always
• 4:02:30
  knew I wanted to live with Aunt Polly, but I reckon maybe I didn't
• 4:02:33
  know quite how much I wanted Aunt Polly to want to live with me.
• 4:02:39
  The task of telling John Pendleton of her decision would not be an easy one,
• 4:02:45
  Pollyanna knew, and she dreaded it. She was very fond of John
• 4:02:50
  Pendleton, and she was very sorry for him, because he seemed to be
• 4:02:54
  so sorry for himself. She was sorry too, for the long, lonely
• 4:02:58
  life that had made him so unhappy, and she was grieved that it had
• 4:03:03
  been because of her mother that he had spent those dreary years. She pictured
• 4:03:09
  the great Gray House as it would be after its master was well again,
• 4:03:13
  with its silent rooms, its littered floors, its disordered desk, and her
• 4:03:18
  heart ached for his loneliness. She wished that somewhere someone might be found who
• 4:03:26
  And it was at this point that she sprang to her feet with a little
• 4:03:31
  cry of joy at the thought that had come to her. As soon as
• 4:03:35
  she could, after that, she hurried up the hill to John Pendleton's house,
• 4:03:41
  and in due time she found herself in the great dim library, with
• 4:03:46
  John Pendleton himself sitting near her, his long, thin hands lying idle on
• 4:03:52
  the arms of his chair, and his faithful little dog at his feet.
• 4:03:56
  Well, Pollyanna, is it to be the glad game with me all the
• 4:04:00
  rest of my life? Asked the man gently. Oh yes, cried Pollyanna.
• 4:04:05
  I've thought of the very gladdest kind of thing for you to do and
• 4:04:09
  with you, asked John Pendleton, his mouth growing a little stern at the
• 4:04:13
  corners. No, no, but Pollyanna, you aren't going to say no,
• 4:04:20
  interrupted a voice deep with emotion. I have got to, mister Pendleton,
• 4:04:26
  truly I have Aunt Polly. Did she refuse to let you come?
• 4:04:31
  I I didn't ask her, stammered the little girl, miserably, Pollyanna.
• 4:04:37
  Pollyanna turned away her eyes. She could not meet the hurt, grieved gaze
• 4:04:43
  of her friend. So you didn't even ask her? I couldn't, sir,
• 4:04:48
  truly, faltered Pollyanna. You see, I've found out without asking.
• 4:04:52
  Aunt Polly wants me with her, and Aunt I want to stay too,
• 4:04:58
  she confessed bravely. You don't know how good she's been to me, and
• 4:05:03
  and I think, really sometimes she's beginning to be glad about things, lots
• 4:05:07
  of things, and you know she never used to be. You said it
• 4:05:11
  yourself, Oh, mister Pendleton, I couldn't leave Aunt Polly. Now.
• 4:05:16
  There was a long pause, only the snapping of the wood fire in the
• 4:05:20
  grate broke the silence. At last, However, the man spoke, no,
• 4:05:26
  Pollyanna, I see you couldn't leave her now, he said, I
• 4:05:31
  won't ask you again. The last word was so low it was almost inaudible,
• 4:05:37
  but Pollyanna heard. Oh, but you don't know about the rest of
• 4:05:41
  it, she reminded him eagerly. There's the very gladdest thing you can do.
• 4:05:46
  Truly, there is not for me, Pollyanna, Yes, sir,
• 4:05:52
  for you. You said it. You said, only a a woman's hand
• 4:05:56
  and heart are A child's presence could make a home. And I can get
• 4:06:01
  it for you. A child's presence, not me, you know, but
• 4:06:05
  another one, as if I would have any. But you resented an indignant
• 4:06:11
  voice. But you will when you know you're so kind and good. Why
• 4:06:16
  think of the prisms and the gold pieces and all that money you say for
• 4:06:20
  the heathen, And Pollyanna interrupted the man savagely, once for all, let
• 4:06:26
  us end that nonsense. I've tried to tell you half a dozen times before.
• 4:06:31
  There is no money for the Heathen. I never sent a penny to
• 4:06:37
  them in my life. There he lifted his chin and braced himself to meet
• 4:06:41
  what he expected. The grieved disappointment of Pollyanna's eyes. To his amazement.
• 4:06:46
  However, there was neither grief nor disappointment in Pollyanna's eyes. There was only
• 4:06:52
  surprised joy. Oh oh, she cried, clapping her hands. I'm so
• 4:06:58
  glad, that is, she corrected, coloring distressfully. I don't mean that.
• 4:07:03
  I'm not sorry for the heathen, only just now. I can't help
• 4:07:05
  being glad that you didn't want the little India boys, because all the rest
• 4:07:09
  have wanted them. And I'm so glad you'd rather have Jimmy Bean. Now
• 4:07:13
  I know you'll take him. Take who Jimmy Bean. He's the child's presence,
• 4:07:20
  you know, and he'll be so glad to be it. I had
• 4:07:24
  to tell him last week that even my lady's aid out West wouldn't take him,
• 4:07:28
  and he was so disappointed. But now when he hears of this,
• 4:07:31
  he'll be so glad, will he? Well, I won't ejaculated the man
• 4:07:37
  decisively, Pollyanna, This is sheer nonsense. You don't mean you won't take
• 4:07:43
  him. I certainly do mean just that, But he'd be a lovely child's
• 4:07:48
  presence, faltered Pollyanna. She was almost crying now. And you couldn't be
• 4:07:54
  lonesome with Jimmy round. I don't doubt it, rejoined the man, But
• 4:07:58
  huh, I think I prefer the lonesomeness. It was then that Pollyanna,
• 4:08:05
  for the first time in weeks, suddenly remembered something Nancy had once told her.
• 4:08:11
  She raised her chin aggrievedly. Maybe you think a nice live little boy
• 4:08:16
  wouldn't be better than that old dead skeleton you keep somewhere, But I think
• 4:08:20
  it would. Skeleton, Yes, Nancy said, you had one in your
• 4:08:24
  closets somewhere. Why what? Suddenly the man threw back his head and laughed.
• 4:08:33
  He laughed very heartily, indeed so heartily that Pollyanna began to cry from
• 4:08:39
  pure nervousness. When he saw that John Pendleton sat erect very promptly, his
• 4:08:43
  face grew grave at once. Pollyanna, I suspect you are right, more
• 4:08:50
  right than you know, he said gently. In fact, I know that
• 4:08:54
  a nice live little boy would be far better than my a skeleton in the
• 4:09:01
  closet. Only we aren't always willing to make the exchange. We are apt
• 4:09:05
  to still cling to our skeletons. Pollyanna, however, suppose you tell me
• 4:09:11
  a little more about this nice little boy, and Pollyanna told him. Perhaps
• 4:09:16
  the laugh cleared the air, or perhaps the pathos of Jimmy Bean's story,
• 4:09:22
  as told by Pollyanna's eager little lips touched a heart already strangely softened at all
• 4:09:28
  events. When Pollyanna went home that night, she carried with her an invitation
• 4:09:33
  for Jimmy Bean himself to call at the Great House with Pollyanna the next Saturday
• 4:09:39
  afternoon. And I'm so glad, and I'm sure you like him, sighed
• 4:09:43
  Pollyanna as she said goodbye. I do so want Jimmy Bean to have a
• 4:09:48
  home and folks that care, you know. End of Chapter twenty one,
• 4:09:56
  Chapter twenty two, Sermons and wood Box. On the afternoon that Pollyanna told
• 4:10:03
  John Pendleton of Jimmy Bean, the Reverend paul Ford climbed the hill and entered
• 4:10:09
  the Pendleton woods, hoping that the hushed beauty of gods out of doors would
• 4:10:15
  still the tumult that his children of men had wrought. The Reverend paul Ford
• 4:10:20
  was sick at heart month by month for a year past conditions in the parish
• 4:10:26
  under him had been growing worse and worse, until it seemed that now turn
• 4:10:31
  which way he would, he encountered only wrangling, backbiting, scandal and jealousy.
• 4:10:39
  He had argued, pleaded, rebuked and ignored by turns, and always
• 4:10:43
  and through all he had prayed earnestly, hopefully, But to day miserably he
• 4:10:50
  was forced to own that matters were no better, but rather worse. Two
• 4:10:54
  of his deacons were at swords points over a silly something that only endless brooding
• 4:11:01
  had made of any account. Three of his most energetic women workers had withdrawn
• 4:11:05
  from the Ladies Aid Society because a tiny spark of gossip had been fanned by
• 4:11:13
  wagging tongues into a devouring flame of scandal. The choir had split over the
• 4:11:20
  amount of solo work given to a fanciedly preferred singer. Even the Christian Endeavor
• 4:11:26
  Society was in a ferment of unrest, owing to open criticism of two of
• 4:11:31
  its officers. As to the Sunday School, it had been the resignation of
• 4:11:37
  its superintendent and two of its teachers that had been the last straw, and
• 4:11:41
  that had sent the harrised minister to the Quiet Woods for prayer and meditation under
• 4:11:48
  the green arch of the trees. The Reverend paul Ford faced the thing squarely.
• 4:11:54
  To his mind, the crisis had come. Something must be done,
• 4:12:00
  and done at once. The entire work of the church was at a standstill.
• 4:12:05
  The Sunday services, the weekday prayer meeting, the missionary teas, even
• 4:12:09
  the suppers and socials were becoming less and less well attended. True, a
• 4:12:15
  few conscientious workers were still left, but they pulled across purposes. Usually and
• 4:12:20
  always they showed themselves to be acutely aware of the critical eyes all about them,
• 4:12:26
  and of the tongues that had nothing to do but to talk about what
• 4:12:30
  the eyes saw. And because of all this, the Reverend paul Ford understood
• 4:12:35
  very well that he God's minister, the church, the town, and even
• 4:12:39
  Christianity itself was suffering, and might suffer still more unless clearly something must be
• 4:12:48
  done, and done it once. But what Slowly the minister took from his
• 4:12:52
  pocket the notes he had made for his next Sunday sermon. Frowningly, he
• 4:12:58
  looked at them, his mouth settled into stern lines as allowed. Very impressively,
• 4:13:03
  he read the verses on which he had determined to speak. But woe
• 4:13:09
  unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of
• 4:13:15
  Heaven against men, for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffering ye them
• 4:13:20
  that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees,
• 4:13:24
  hypocrites, for ye devour widow's houses, and for a pretense make long prayer.
• 4:13:31
  Therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and
• 4:13:37
  pharisees, hypocrites, for ye pay the tithe of mint and aniece and common,
• 4:13:43
  and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy,
• 4:13:48
  and faith. These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the
• 4:13:52
  other undone. It was a bitter denunciation in the green isle of the woods.
• 4:14:00
  The minister's deep voice rang out with scathing effect. Even the birds and
• 4:14:05
  squirrels seemed hushed into odd silence. It brought to the minister a vivid realization
• 4:14:11
  of how those words would sound the next Sunday, when he should utter them
• 4:14:16
  before his people in the sacred hush of the church. His people, they
• 4:14:22
  were his people. Could he do it? Dare he do it? Dare
• 4:14:26
  he not do it? It was a fearful denunciation, even without the words
• 4:14:31
  that would follow his own words. He had prayed and prayed, He had
• 4:14:37
  pleaded earnestly for help, for guidance, he longed, Oh, how earnestly
• 4:14:41
  he longed to take now, in this crisis, the right step. But
• 4:14:46
  was this the right step? Slowly, the minister folded the papers and thrust
• 4:14:52
  them back into his pocket. Then, with a sigh that was almost moan,
• 4:14:56
  he flung himself down at the foot of a tree and hovered his face
• 4:15:01
  with his hands. It was there that Pollyanna, on her way home from
• 4:15:05
  the Pendleton house, found him. With a little cry. She ran forward.
• 4:15:09
  Oh oh, mister Ford, you you haven't broken your leg or or
• 4:15:13
  anything, have you? She gasped. The minister dropped his hands and looked
• 4:15:18
  up quickly. He tried to smile. No, dear, No, indeed,
• 4:15:22
  I'm just resting, oh, sighed Pollyanna, falling back a little.
• 4:15:28
  That's all right then, you see, mister Pendleton had broken his leg when
• 4:15:33
  I found him, But he was lying down though, and you were sitting
• 4:15:35
  up. Yes, I am sitting up, and I haven't broken anything.
• 4:15:41
  The doctor's can mend. The last words were very low, but Pollyanna heard
• 4:15:46
  them. A swift change crossed her face. Her eyes glowed with tender sympathy.
• 4:15:52
  I know what you mean. Something plagues you. Father used to feel
• 4:15:54
  like that. Lots of times, I reckon ministers do most generally, you
• 4:16:00
  see, there's such a lot depends on him somehow. The Reverend paul Ford
• 4:16:04
  turned a little wonderingly, was your father, and minister, Pollyanna? Yes,
• 4:16:10
  sir, didn't you know? I suppose everybody knew that he married Aunt
• 4:16:14
  Polly's sister and she was my mother. Oh, I understand, but you
• 4:16:18
  see, I haven't been here many years, so I don't know all the
• 4:16:21
  family histories. Yes, sir, I mean no, sir, smiled Pollyanna.
• 4:16:26
  There was a long pause. The minister, still sitting at the foot
• 4:16:30
  of the tree, appeared to have forgotten Pollyanna's presence. He had pulled some
• 4:16:34
  papers from his pocket and unfolded them, but he was not looking at them.
• 4:16:40
  He was gazing instead at a leaf on the ground a little distance away,
• 4:16:45
  and it was not even a pretty leaf. It was brown and dead.
• 4:16:48
  Pollyanna, looking at him, felt vaguely sorry for him. It's it's
• 4:16:53
  a nice day, she began, hopefully. For a moment, there was
• 4:16:57
  no answer. Then the minister looked up with a start. What. Oh
• 4:17:02
  uh, Yes, it is a very nice day, and tisn't cold at
• 4:17:06
  all either, even if tis October, observed Pollyanna still more hopefully. Mister
• 4:17:11
  Pendleton had a fire, but he said he didn't need it. It was
• 4:17:14
  just to look at I like to look at fires, don't you. There
• 4:17:18
  was no reply this time, though Pollyanna waited patiently before she tried again by
• 4:17:23
  a new route. Do you like being a minister? The Reverend Paul Ford
• 4:17:29
  looked up now very quickly Do I like? Why? What an odd question?
• 4:17:34
  Why do you ask that, my dear? Nothing? Only the way
• 4:17:37
  you looked it made me think of my father. He used to look like
• 4:17:41
  that sometimes, did he. The Minister's voice was polite, but his eyes
• 4:17:48
  had gone back to the dried leaf on the ground. Yes, I used
• 4:17:52
  to ask him, just as I did you if he was glad he was
• 4:17:55
  a minister. The man under the tree smiled a little sadly. Well what
• 4:18:00
  did he say? Oh? He always said he was, of course,
• 4:18:03
  But most always he said too that he wouldn't stay a minister a minute if
• 4:18:07
  twasn't for the rejoicing texts. The what the Reverend Paul Ford's eyes left the
• 4:18:15
  leaf and gazed wonderingly into Pollyanna's merry little face. Well that's what my father
• 4:18:21
  used to call him, she laughed. Of course, the Bible didn't name
• 4:18:23
  him that. But it's all those that begin be glad in the Lord,
• 4:18:27
  or rejoice greatly, or shout for jaw and all that, you know,
• 4:18:32
  such a lot of them. Once, when Father felt specially bad, he
• 4:18:37
  counted him. There were eight hundred of them. Eight hundred yes, that
• 4:18:41
  told you to rejoice and be glad. You know. That's why father named
• 4:18:45
  him the rejoicing texts. Oh, there was an odd look on the minister's
• 4:18:51
  face. His eyes had fallen to the words on the top paper in his
• 4:18:55
  hands. But woe unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites. And so your
• 4:19:02
  father liked those rejoicing texts. He murmured, oh, yes, nodded Pollyanna
• 4:19:07
  emphatically. He said he felt better right away that first day he thought to
• 4:19:11
  count him. He said, if God took the trouble to tell us eight
• 4:19:15
  hundred times to be glad on rejoice, he must want us to do it
• 4:19:19
  some. And Father felt ashamed that he hadn't done it. More after that
• 4:19:23
  they got to be such a comfort to him. You know when things went
• 4:19:26
  wrong, when the ladies adiers got to fight, I mean, when they
• 4:19:30
  didn't agree about something, corrected Pollyanna hastily. Why it was those texts too,
• 4:19:36
  Father said that made him think of the game. He began with me
• 4:19:40
  on the crutches. But he said twas the rejoicing text that started him on
• 4:19:42
  it. And what game might that be? Asked the minister about finding something
• 4:19:48
  in everything to be glad about? You know, as I said, he
• 4:19:52
  began with me on the crutches. And once more Pollyanna told her story,
• 4:19:59
  this time time to a man who listened with tender eyes and understanding ears.
• 4:20:03
  A little later, Pollyanna and the Minister descended the hill hand in hand.
• 4:20:10
  Pollyanna's face was radiant. Pollyanna loved to talk, and she had been talking
• 4:20:15
  now for some time. There seemed to be so many many things about the
• 4:20:19
  game or father and the old home life that the minister wanted to know.
• 4:20:25
  At the foot of the hill, their ways parted, and Pollyanna down one
• 4:20:29
  road and the minister down another, walked on alone in the Reverend paul Ford's
• 4:20:36
  study. That evening the minister sat thinking. Near him on the desk lay
• 4:20:40
  a few loose sheets of paper his sermon notes, under the suspended pencil in
• 4:20:45
  his fingers. Lay other sheets of paper blank his sermon to be. But
• 4:20:51
  the minister was not thinking either of what he had written, or of what
• 4:20:55
  he intended to write. In his imagination. He was far away in a
• 4:21:00
  little western town with a missionary minister who was poor, sick, worried,
• 4:21:06
  and almost alone in the world, but who was poring over the Bible to
• 4:21:11
  find how many times his Lord and Master had told him to rejoice and be
• 4:21:17
  glad. After a time, with a long sigh, the Reverend paul Ford
• 4:21:22
  roused himself, came back from the far western town, and adjusted the sheets
• 4:21:27
  of paper under his hand. Matthew twenty third, thirteen fourteen and twenty three,
• 4:21:34
  he wrote. Then, with a gesture of impatience, he dropped his
• 4:21:38
  pencil and pulled toward him a magazine left on the desk by his wife a
• 4:21:42
  few minutes before. Listlessly, his tired eyes turned from paragraph to paragraph until
• 4:21:49
  these words arrested them. A father one day said to his son Tom,
• 4:21:56
  who he knew had refused to fill his mother's wood box that morning, Tom,
• 4:22:00
  I'm sure you'll be glad to go and bring in some wood for your
• 4:22:03
  mother. And without a word, Tom went, why just because his father
• 4:22:08
  showed so plainly that he expected him to do the right thing. Suppose he
• 4:22:14
  had said, Tom, I overheard what you said to your mother this morning,
• 4:22:18
  and I'm ashamed of you. Go at once and fill that wood box.
• 4:22:22
  I'll warrant that wood box would be empty. Yet, so far as
• 4:22:26
  Tom was concerned, on and on read the minister a word here, a
• 4:22:30
  line, there, a paragraph somewhere else. What men and women need is
• 4:22:37
  encouragement. Their natural resisting powers should be strengthened, not weakened. Instead of
• 4:22:42
  always harping on a man's faults, tell him of his virtues, try to
• 4:22:48
  pull him out of his rut of bad habits. Hold up to him his
• 4:22:52
  better self, his real self that can dare and do and win out the
• 4:22:57
  influence of a beautiful help. My full, hopeful character is contagious and may
• 4:23:03
  revolutionize a whole town. People radiate what is in their minds and in their
• 4:23:07
  hearts. If a man feels kindly and obliging, his neighbors will feel that
• 4:23:12
  way too before long. But if he scolls and scowls and criticizes his neighbors
• 4:23:18
  will return scowl for scowl, and add interest. When you look for the
• 4:23:25
  bad expecting it, you will get it. When you know you will find
• 4:23:29
  the good, you will get that. Tell your son Tom, you know
• 4:23:33
  he'll be glad to feel that wood box. Then watch him start alert and
• 4:23:37
  interested. The minister dropped the paper and lifted his chin. In a moment,
• 4:23:42
  he was on his feet, tramping the narrow room back and forth,
• 4:23:47
  back and forth. Later, some time later, he drew a long breath
• 4:23:52
  and dropped himself in the chair at his desk, God helping me. I'll
• 4:23:57
  do it, he cried. So I'll tell all my Toms. I know
• 4:24:03
  they'll be glad to feel that wood box. I'll give them work to do,
• 4:24:07
  and I'll make them so full of the very joy of doing it that
• 4:24:11
  they won't have time to look at their neighbor's woodboxes. And he picked up
• 4:24:15
  his sermon notes, tour straight through the sheets, and cast them from him,
• 4:24:21
  so that on one side of his chair lay woe be unto you,
• 4:24:25
  and on the other scribes and pharisees hypocrites. While across the smooth white paper,
• 4:24:30
  before him, his pencil fairly flew after first drawing one black line through
• 4:24:37
  Matthew twenty third, thirteen, fourteen, and twenty three. Thus it happened
• 4:24:41
  that the Reverend paul Ford's sermon the next Sunday was a veritable bugle call to
• 4:24:48
  the best that was in every man and woman and child that heard it,
• 4:24:52
  and the text was one of Pollyanna's shining eight hundred Be glad in the Lord,
• 4:24:59
  and rejoice he righteous, and shout for joy all ye that are upright
• 4:25:03
  in heart. End of chapter twenty two, Chapter twenty three an accident.
• 4:25:12
  At mister Snow's request, Pollyanna went one day to doctor Chilton's office to get
• 4:25:18
  the name of a medicine which mister Snow had forgotten. As it chanced,
• 4:25:22
  Pollyanna had never before seen the inside of doctor Chilton's office. I've never been
• 4:25:29
  to your home before. This is your home, isn't it, she said,
• 4:25:32
  looking interestedly about her. The doctor smiled a little sadly. Yes,
• 4:25:37
  such as tis, he answered, as he wrote something on the pad of
• 4:25:41
  paper in his hand. But it's a pretty poor apology for a home,
• 4:25:45
  Pollyanna. They're just rooms, that's all, not a home. Pollyanna nodded
• 4:25:52
  her head wisely. Her eyes glowed with sympathetic understanding. I know it takes
• 4:25:57
  a woman's hand or heart and a child's presence to make a home, she
• 4:26:02
  said. Eh. The doctor wheeled about abruptly. Mister Pendleton told me,
• 4:26:07
  nodded Pollyanna again, about the woman's hand in heart or the child's presence.
• 4:26:11
  You know, why don't you get a woman's hand in heart, doctor Chilton?
• 4:26:15
  Or maybe you'd take Jimmy Bean if mister Pendleton doesn't want him. Doctor
• 4:26:19
  Chilton laughed a little constrainedly. So mister Pendleton says it takes a woman's hand
• 4:26:26
  and heart to make a home, does he, he asked evasively, Yes,
• 4:26:30
  he says his is just a house too. Why don't you, doctor
• 4:26:33
  Chilton? Why don't I what The doctor had turned back to his desk,
• 4:26:38
  get a woman's hand in heart? Oh, I forgot. Pollyanna's face showed
• 4:26:44
  suddenly a painful color. I suppose I ought to tell you it wasn't Aunt
• 4:26:48
  Polly that mister Pendleton loved long ago, and so we we aren't going to
• 4:26:53
  live there. You see, I told you it was, But I made
• 4:26:56
  a mistake. I hope you didn't tell anyone, she finished anxiously. No,
• 4:27:03
  I didn't tell any one, Pollyanna replied the doctor a little queerly.
• 4:27:07
  Oh that's all right, then, sighed Pollyanna in relief. You see you're
• 4:27:11
  the only one I told. And I thought mister Pendleton looked sort of funny
• 4:27:15
  when I said I told you, did he? The doctor's lips twitched.
• 4:27:22
  Yes, and of course he wouldn't want many people to know it when twasn't
• 4:27:25
  true. But why don't you get a woman's hand in heart, doctor Chiltern.
• 4:27:30
  There was a moment's silence, then very gravely, the doctor said,
• 4:27:34
  they're not always to be had for the asking little girl. Pollyanna frowned thoughtfully.
• 4:27:41
  But I should think you could get em, she argued. The flattering
• 4:27:45
  emphasis was unmistakable. Thank you, laughed the doctor with uplifted eyebrows, then
• 4:27:52
  gravely again, I'm afraid some of your older sisters would not be quite so
• 4:27:57
  confident. At least they they haven't shown themselves to be so obliging, he
• 4:28:03
  observed. Pollyanna frowned again, then her eyes widened in surprise. Why,
• 4:28:11
  doctor Chilton, you don't mean you didn't try to get somebody's hand in heart
• 4:28:15
  once, like mister Pendleton, and and couldn't, did you. The doctor
• 4:28:21
  got to his feet a little abruptly. They're there, Pollyanna, Never mind
• 4:28:26
  about that, now, don't let other people's troubles worry your little head.
• 4:28:30
  Suppose you run back now to mister Snow. I've written down the name of
• 4:28:34
  the medicine and the directions how she is to take it. Was there anything
• 4:28:38
  else? Pollyanna shook her head, No, sir, thank you, sir,
• 4:28:42
  she murmured soberly. As she turned toward the door from the little hallway.
• 4:28:48
  She called back, her face suddenly alight. Anyhow, I'm glad it
• 4:28:52
  twasn't my mother's hand in heart that you wanted and couldn't get, Doctor Chilton,
• 4:28:56
  goodbye. It was on the last day of October that the accident occurred.
• 4:29:03
  Pollyanna, hurrying home from school, crossed the road at an apparently safe
• 4:29:07
  distance in front of a swiftly approaching motorcar. Just what happened, no one
• 4:29:14
  could seem to tell afterward, Neither was there anyone found who could tell why
• 4:29:18
  it happened, or who was to blame that it did happen. Pollyanna However,
• 4:29:22
  at five o'clock was born, limp and unconscious into the little room that
• 4:29:29
  was so dear to her, there by a white faced Aunt Polly and a
• 4:29:33
  weeping Nancy. She was undressed tenderly and put to bed, while from the
• 4:29:37
  village hastily summoned by telephone, Doctor Warren was hurrying as fast as another motor
• 4:29:44
  car could bring him. And you didn't need to look at her aunt's face.
• 4:29:48
  Nancy was sobbing to Old Tom in the garden after the doctor had arrived,
• 4:29:52
  and was closeted in the hushed room. You didn't need to look at
• 4:29:56
  her aunt's face to see that torrent, no deuty, that was eating her.
• 4:30:00
  Your hands don't shake, and your eyes don't look as if you was
• 4:30:03
  trying to hold back the angel of death himself, when you're just doing your
• 4:30:07
  duty, mister Tom. They don't, they don't. Is she hurt bad?
• 4:30:11
  The old man's voice shook. There ain't no telling, sobbed Nancy.
• 4:30:18
  She laid back that white and still she might easy be dead, but Miss
• 4:30:22
  Polly says she dead. And Miss Polly had ought to know if anyone would
• 4:30:26
  She kept up such a listening and a feeling for her heart beats and her
• 4:30:30
  breath. Couldn't you tell anything what it had done to her? That that
• 4:30:36
  Old Tom's face worked convulsively. Nancy's lips relaxed a little. I wish you
• 4:30:41
  would call it something, mister Tom, and something good and strong, too
• 4:30:45
  dratted to think of its running down our little girl. I always hated the
• 4:30:48
  evil smelling things anyhow, I did. I did. But where is she
• 4:30:52
  hurt? I don't know, I don't know, moaned Nancy. There's but
• 4:30:57
  a little cut on her blessed head. But t ain't bad. That ain't,
• 4:31:02
  Miss Polly says. She says she's afraid. It's infernally she's hurt.
• 4:31:06
  A faint flicker came into Old Tom's eyes. I guess you mean internally,
• 4:31:11
  Nancy, he said dryly. She's hurt infernally? All right, play take
• 4:31:17
  that automobile. But I don't guess Miss Polly'll be using that word all the
• 4:31:21
  same. Ay, Well, I don't know, I don't know, moaned
• 4:31:25
  Nancy, with a shake of her head as she turned away. Seems as
• 4:31:29
  if I just couldn't stand it till that doctor gets out of there. I
• 4:31:33
  wish I had a washing to do. The biggest washin I ever see?
• 4:31:37
  I do I do? She wailed, wringing her hands helplessly. Even after
• 4:31:42
  the doctor was gone, however, there seemed to be little that Nancy could
• 4:31:45
  tell mister Tom. There appeared to be no bones broken, and the cut
• 4:31:51
  was of slight consequence. But the doctor had looked very grave, had shaken
• 4:31:56
  his hat slowly, and had said that time alone could tell. After he
• 4:32:00
  had gone, Miss Polly had shown a face even whiter and more drawn looking
• 4:32:06
  than before. The patient had not fully recovered consciousness, but at present she
• 4:32:11
  seemed to be resting as comfortably as could be expected. A trained nurse had
• 4:32:15
  been sent for and would come that night. That was all, and Nancy
• 4:32:19
  turned sobbingly and went back to her kitchen. It was sometime during the next
• 4:32:26
  forenoon that Pollyanna opened conscious eyes and realized where she was. Why Aunt Polly,
• 4:32:33
  what's the matter? Isn't it daytime? Why don't I get up?
• 4:32:37
  She cried? Why Aunt Polly, I can't get up, she moaned,
• 4:32:41
  falling back on the pillow after an ineffectual attempt to lift herself. No,
• 4:32:45
  Dear, I wouldn't try just yet, soothed her aunt quickly, but very
• 4:32:49
  quietly, but what is the matter. Why can't I get up? Miss
• 4:32:56
  Polly's eyes asked an agonized question of the white capped young woman standing in the
• 4:33:00
  window out of the range of Pollyanna's eyes. The young woman nodded, tell
• 4:33:06
  her the lips said. Miss Polly cleared her throat and tried to swallow the
• 4:33:11
  lump that would scarcely let her speak. You were hurt, dear by the
• 4:33:15
  automobile last night, but never mind that. Now Auntie wants you to rest
• 4:33:21
  and go to sleep again. Hurt. Oh, yes, I I ran.
• 4:33:26
  Pollyanna's eyes were dazed. She lifted her hand to her forehead. Why
• 4:33:30
  it's done up and it hurts, yes, dear, but never mind,
• 4:33:34
  Just just rest. But aunt Polly, I feel so funny and so bad.
• 4:33:41
  My legs feel so so queer, only they don't feel at all.
• 4:33:47
  With an imploring look into the nurse's face, Miss Polly struggled to her feet
• 4:33:52
  and turned away. The nurse came forward quickly. Suppose you let me talk
• 4:33:56
  to you now, she began cheerily. I'm I'm sure, I think it's
• 4:34:00
  high time we were getting acquainted, and I'm going to introduce myself. I
• 4:34:04
  am mishunt, and I've come to help your aunt take care of you.
• 4:34:08
  And the very first thing I'm going to do is to ask you to swallow
• 4:34:12
  these little white pills for me. Pollyanna's eyes grew a bit wild. But
• 4:34:18
  I don't want to be taken care of that is not for long. I
• 4:34:22
  would get up. You know, I go to school. Can't I go
• 4:34:25
  to school tomorrow? From the window where Aunt Polly stood now there came a
• 4:34:29
  half stifled cry tomorrow, smiled the nurse brightly. Well I may not let
• 4:34:36
  you out quite so soon as that, miss Pollyanna, but just swallow these
• 4:34:40
  little pills for me, please, and we'll see what they'll do. All
• 4:34:45
  right, agreed Pollyanna somewhat doubtfully. But I must go to school day after
• 4:34:49
  tomorrow. There are examinations then, you know. She spoke again. A
• 4:34:53
  minute later. She spoke of school and of the automobile and how her head
• 4:34:59
  ached. But very soon her voice trailed into silence under the blessed influence of
• 4:35:04
  the little white pills she had swallowed. End of Chapter twenty three. Chapter
• 4:35:11
  twenty four, John Pendleton. Pollyanna did not go to school tomorrow, nor
• 4:35:18
  the day after tomorrow. Pollyanna, however, did not realize this, except
• 4:35:23
  momentarily, when a brief period of full consciousness sent insistent questions to her lips.
• 4:35:30
  Pollyanna did not realize anything, in fact, very clearly, until a
• 4:35:34
  week had passed. Then the fever subsided, the pain lessened somewhat, and
• 4:35:40
  her mind awoke to full consciousness. She had then to be told all over
• 4:35:45
  again what had occurred. And so it's hurt that I am and not sick,
• 4:35:51
  she sighed at last. Well I'm glad of that. Glad, Pollyanna
• 4:35:56
  asked her aunt, who was sitting by the bed. Yes, Oh,
• 4:36:00
  I'd so much rather have broken legs like mister Pendleton's than life long invalids like
• 4:36:03
  missus Snow. You know, broken legs get well and life long invalids,
• 4:36:08
  don't. Miss polly who had said nothing whatever about broken legs, got suddenly
• 4:36:14
  to her feet and walked to the little dressing table across the room. She
• 4:36:18
  was picking up one object after another now and putting each down in an aimless
• 4:36:23
  fashion, quite unlike her usual decisiveness. Her face was not aimless looking at
• 4:36:30
  all, however, it was white and drawn. On the bed. Pollyanna
• 4:36:34
  lay blinking at the dancing band of colors on the ceiling, which came from
• 4:36:38
  one of the prisms in the window. I'm glad it isn't smallpox. That
• 4:36:42
  ails me too, she murmured contentedly. That would be worse than freckles.
• 4:36:48
  And I'm glad tisn't hooping cough. I've had that and it's horrid. And
• 4:36:52
  I'm glad it isn't appendicitis nor measles, cause they're catching measles? Are I
• 4:36:56
  mean? And they wouldn't let you stay here. You seem to be glad
• 4:37:00
  for a good many things, my dear, faltered aunt polly, putting her
• 4:37:04
  hand to her throat as if her color bound. Pollyanna laughs softly. I
• 4:37:10
  am. I've been thinking of them, lots of them all the time.
• 4:37:12
  I've been looking up at that rainbow. I love rainbows. I'm so glad
• 4:37:18
  mister Pendleton gave me those prisms. I'm glad of some things I haven't said
• 4:37:22
  yet. I don't know, but I'm most glad I was hurt, Pollyanna.
• 4:37:26
  Pollyanna laughed softly again. She turned luminous eyes on her aunt. Well,
• 4:37:33
  you see, since I've been hurt, you called me, dear,
• 4:37:37
  lots of times, and you didn't before. I love to be called dear
• 4:37:41
  by folks that belonged to you. I mean, some of the ladies' aders
• 4:37:45
  did call me that, and of course that was pretty nice, but not
• 4:37:48
  so nice as if they had belonged to me like you do, Oh,
• 4:37:52
  Aunt Polly, I'm so glad you belonged to me. Aunt Polly did not
• 4:37:56
  answer. Her hand was at her throat again, and her eyes were full
• 4:38:00
  of tears. She had turned away and was hurrying from the room through the
• 4:38:06
  door by which the nurse had just entered. It was that afternoon that Nancy
• 4:38:11
  ran out to Old Tom, who was cleaning harnesses in the barn. Her
• 4:38:15
  eyes were wild, Mister Tom, Mister Tom, guess what happened? She
• 4:38:19
  panted. You couldn't guess in a thousand years. You couldn't. You couldn't.
• 4:38:23
  Then I calculate I won't try, retorted the man grimly, specially as
• 4:38:27
  I hain't got more than ten to live anyhow. Probably you'd better tell me
• 4:38:32
  first off, Nancy, Well, listen, then, who do you suppose
• 4:38:37
  is in the party now with mistress? Who? I say? Old Tom
• 4:38:41
  shook his head. There ain't no tellin, he declared, yes there is.
• 4:38:45
  I'm telling it's John Pendleton show. Now you jokin girl? Not much,
• 4:38:52
  I am, and me letting him in myself, crutches and all,
• 4:38:56
  and the team he came in awaitin this minute at the door for him,
• 4:39:00
  just as if he won the cranky old crosspatch. He is what never talks
• 4:39:04
  to no one. Just think, mister Tom him are calling on her?
• 4:39:11
  Well why not? Demanded the old man a little aggressively. Nancy gave him
• 4:39:17
  a scornful glance, as if you didn't know better than me, she derided.
• 4:39:22
  Eh, oh, you needn't be so innocent, she retorted, with
• 4:39:26
  mock indignation. You what led me while goose chasing in the first place?
• 4:39:30
  What do you mean? Nancy glanced through the open barn door toward the house
• 4:39:37
  and came a step nearer to the old man. Listen, twas you that
• 4:39:41
  was telling me Miss Polly had a lover in the first place, wasn't it?
• 4:39:45
  Well? One day I thinks I find two and two and I puts
• 4:39:49
  them together and makes four, But it turns out to be five and no
• 4:39:53
  four at all at all. With a gesture of indifference, old Tom turned
• 4:39:59
  and fell to way. If you're going to talk to me. You've got
• 4:40:03
  to talk plain horse, since, he declared testily. I never was no
• 4:40:07
  hand for figures. Nancy laughed. Well it's this, she explained, I
• 4:40:12
  heard something that made me think him and Miss Polly was lovers. Mister Pendleton.
• 4:40:18
  Old Tom straightened up. Yees, oh, I know now he wasn't.
• 4:40:22
  It was that blessed child's mother he was in love with, and that's
• 4:40:26
  why he wanted. But never mind that part, she added, hastily,
• 4:40:32
  remembering just in time her promised to Pollyanna not to tell that mister Pendleton had
• 4:40:37
  wished her to come and live with him. Well, I've been askin folks
• 4:40:41
  about him some since, and I've found out that him and Miss Polly hain't
• 4:40:45
  been friends for years, and that she been hatin him like piesin' owin to
• 4:40:51
  the silly gossip that coupled their names together when she was eighteen or twenty.
• 4:40:56
  Yes, I remember, not at old Tom. It was three or four
• 4:41:00
  years after missus Jenny give him the mitten and went off with the other chap.
• 4:41:04
  Miss Polly knew about it, of course, and was sorry for him,
• 4:41:07
  so she tried to be nice to him. Maybe she overdid it a
• 4:41:11
  little. She hated that minister Chap who had took off her sister. At
• 4:41:15
  any rate, somebody began to make trouble. They said she was running after
• 4:41:21
  him, running after any man. Her interjected Nancy, I know it,
• 4:41:26
  but they did, declared Old Tom. And of course no gal of any
• 4:41:32
  spunkles, staying that. Then about that time come her own lover and the
• 4:41:36
  trouble with him. After that, she shut up like an arst and wouldn't
• 4:41:40
  have nothing to do with nobody for a spell. Her heart just seemed to
• 4:41:45
  turn bitter at the core. Yes, I know I've heard about that.
• 4:41:48
  Now, rejoined Nancy, And that's why you could have knocked me down with
• 4:41:53
  a feather. When I see him at the door, him what she hain't
• 4:41:57
  spoke to for years. But I let him in and went and told him.
• 4:42:02
  What did she say? Old Tom held his breath suspended nothing. At
• 4:42:07
  first, she was so still, I thought she hadn't heard, and I
• 4:42:11
  was just going to say it over when she speaks up quiet like, tell
• 4:42:15
  mister Pendleton, I will be down at once, And I come and told
• 4:42:19
  him. Then I come out here and told you finished Nancy, casting another
• 4:42:23
  backward glance toward the house. Humph grunted Old Tom and fell to work again.
• 4:42:30
  In the ceremonious parlor of the Harrington homestead, mister John Pendleton did not
• 4:42:36
  have to wait long before a swift step warned him of Miss Polly's coming.
• 4:42:41
  As he attempted to rise, she made a gesture of remonstrance. She did
• 4:42:45
  not offer her hand, however, and her face was coldly reserved. I
• 4:42:51
  called to ask for Pollyanna, he began at once A little brusquely. Thank
• 4:42:55
  you. She is about the same, said miss Polly, and that is
• 4:43:00
  won't you tell me how she is? His voice was not quite steady this
• 4:43:03
  time. A quick spasm of pain crossed the woman's face. I can't,
• 4:43:10
  I wish I could? You mean you don't know? Yes, But the
• 4:43:15
  doctor, doctor Warren, himself seems at sea. He is in correspondence now
• 4:43:22
  with a New York specialist. They have arranged for a consultation at once.
• 4:43:26
  But but what were her injuries that you don't know? A slight cut on
• 4:43:32
  the head, one or two bruises, and and an injury to the spine
• 4:43:37
  which has seemed to cause paralysis from the hips down. A low cry came
• 4:43:42
  from the man, then a brief silence, then huskully, he asked,
• 4:43:47
  and Pollyanna, how does she take it? She doesn't understand at all how
• 4:43:52
  things really are, and I can't tell her, but she must know something.
• 4:43:59
  Miss Polly lifted her hand to the collar at her throat in the gesture
• 4:44:03
  that had become so common to her of late. Oh. Yes, she
• 4:44:07
  knows she can't move, but she thinks her legs are broken. She says,
• 4:44:12
  She's glad it's broken legs like yours, rather than life long invalids like
• 4:44:18
  missus Snow's, because broken legs get well and the other doesn't. She talks
• 4:44:23
  like that all the time, until it seems as if I should die.
• 4:44:30
  Through the blur of tears in his own eyes, the man saw the drawn
• 4:44:33
  face opposite twisted with emotion. Involuntarily, his thoughts went back to what Pollyanna
• 4:44:40
  had said when he had made his final plea for her presence. Oh,
• 4:44:45
  I couldn't leave Aunt Polly now. It was this thought that made him ask
• 4:44:49
  very gently, as soon as he could control his voice, I wonder if
• 4:44:55
  you know, Miss Harrington, how hard I tried to get Pollyanna to come
• 4:45:00
  and live with me with you, Pollyanna. The man winced a little at
• 4:45:04
  the tone in her voice, but his own voice was still impersonally cool when
• 4:45:10
  he spoke again, Yes, I wanted to adopt her legally, you understand,
• 4:45:15
  making her my heir. Of course, the woman in the opposite chair
• 4:45:19
  relaxed a little. It came to her suddenly, what a brilliant future it
• 4:45:25
  would have meant for Pollyanna, this adoption, And she wondered if Pollyanna were
• 4:45:30
  old enough and mercenary enough to be tempted by this man's money and position.
• 4:45:36
  I am very fond of Pollyanna, the man was continuing. I am fond
• 4:45:41
  of her, both for her own sake and for her mother's. I stood
• 4:45:45
  ready to give Pollyanna the love that had been twenty five years in storage.
• 4:45:51
  Love. Miss Polly remembered suddenly why she had taken this child in the first
• 4:45:56
  place, and with the recollection came the remains remembrance of Pollyanna's own words uttered
• 4:46:03
  that very morning, I love to be called dear by folks that belonged to
• 4:46:07
  you. And it was this love hungry little girl that had been offered the
• 4:46:12
  stored up affection of twenty five years and she was old enough to be tempted
• 4:46:18
  by love with a sinking heart. Miss Polly realized that with a sinking heart
• 4:46:23
  too, she realized something else, the dreariness of her own future now without
• 4:46:30
  Pollyanna, Well, she said, and the man, recognizing the self control
• 4:46:36
  that vibrated through the harshness of the tone, smile sadly she would not come.
• 4:46:41
  He answered, why she would not leave you? She said you had
• 4:46:48
  been so good to her. She wanted to stay with you. And she
• 4:46:52
  said she thought you wanted her to stay, he finished. As he pulled
• 4:46:56
  himself to his feet, he not looked toward Miss Polly. He turned his
• 4:47:02
  face resolutely toward the door, but instantly he heard a swift step at his
• 4:47:07
  side and found a shaking hand thrust toward him. When the specialist comes and
• 4:47:12
  I know anything definite about Pollyanna, I will let you hear it from me,
• 4:47:18
  said a trembling voice. Goodbye, and thank you for coming. Pollyanna
• 4:47:22
  will be pleased. End of Chapter twenty four. Chapter twenty five, A
• 4:47:30
  waiting game. On the day after John Pendleton's call at the Harrington Homestead,
• 4:47:37
  Miss Polly set herself to the task of preparing Pollyanna for the visit of the
• 4:47:41
  specialist. Pollyanna, my dear, she began gently, We have decided that
• 4:47:48
  we want another doctor besides doctor Warren to see you. Another one might tell
• 4:47:52
  us something new to do to help you get well faster, you know.
• 4:47:57
  A joyous light came to Pollyanna's face. Doctor Chiltern, Oh, Aunt,
• 4:48:03
  Polly, I'd love to have doctor Chiltern. I've wanted him all the time,
• 4:48:07
  but I was afraid you didn't on account of his seeing you in the
• 4:48:10
  sun parlor that day, you know, so I didn't like to say anything,
• 4:48:14
  but I'm so glad you do want him, Aunt. Polly's face had
• 4:48:17
  turned white, then red, then back to white again, But when she
• 4:48:22
  answered, she showed very plainly that she was trying to speak lightly and cheerfully.
• 4:48:27
  Oh no, my dear, it wasn't doctor Chilton at all. That
• 4:48:30
  I meant. It is a new doctor, a very famous doctor from New
• 4:48:34
  York who, uh, who knows a great deal about hurts like yours.
• 4:48:41
  Pollyanna's face fell. I don't believe he knows half so much as doctor Chilton.
• 4:48:45
  Oh yes he does, I'm sure, dear. But it was doctor
• 4:48:49
  Chilton who doctored mister Pendleton's broken leg. Aunt Polly, if if you don't
• 4:48:55
  mind very much, I would like to have doctor Chiltern, truly I would.
• 4:49:00
  A distressed color suffused Miss Polly's face. For a moment, she did
• 4:49:06
  not speak at all. Then she said gently, though yet with the touch
• 4:49:10
  of her old stern decisiveness. But I do mind, Pollyanna, I mind
• 4:49:15
  very much. I would do anything, almost anything for you, my dear,
• 4:49:22
  But I for reasons which I do not care to speak of now,
• 4:49:26
  I don't wish doctor Chilton called in on on this case. And believe me,
• 4:49:30
  he cannot know so much about about your trouble as this great doctor does,
• 4:49:36
  who will come from New York tomorrow. Pollyanna still looked unconvinced. But
• 4:49:42
  Aunt Polly, if you loved doctor Chilton, what, Pollyanna. Aunt Polly's
• 4:49:48
  voice was very sharp now, her cheeks were very red too. I say,
• 4:49:53
  if you love doctor Chilton and didn't love the other one, sighed Pollyanna.
• 4:49:57
  Seems to me that would make some difference in the good he would do.
• 4:50:00
  And I love doctor Chiltern. The nurse entered the room with that moment,
• 4:50:06
  and Aunt Polly rose to her feet abruptly, a look of relief on
• 4:50:11
  her face. I am very sorry, Pollyanna, she said, a little
• 4:50:15
  stiffly, But I'm afraid you'll have to let me be the jarge this time.
• 4:50:21
  Besides, it's already arranged. The New York doctor is coming tomorrow.
• 4:50:26
  As it happened, however, the New York doctor did not come tomorrow.
• 4:50:30
  At the last moment, a telegram told of an unavoidable delay owing to the
• 4:50:36
  sudden illness of the specialist himself. This led Pollyanna into a renewed pleading for
• 4:50:41
  the substitution of doctor Chilton. Which would be so easy, now, you
• 4:50:45
  know. But as before, Aunt Polly shook her head and said no,
• 4:50:49
  dear, very decisively, yet with a still more anxious assurance, that she
• 4:50:56
  would do anything, anything but that, to please Dear Pollyanna. As the
• 4:51:03
  days of waiting passed one by one, it did indeed seem that Aunt Polly
• 4:51:07
  was doing everything but that that she could do to please her niece. I
• 4:51:12
  wouldn't have believed it. You couldn't have made me believe it, Nancy said
• 4:51:17
  to Old tom one morning. That don't seem to be a minute in the
• 4:51:21
  day that Miss Polly ate just hanging around, waiting to do something for that
• 4:51:25
  blessed lamb. If tain't more than to let in the cat and her what
• 4:51:29
  wouldn't let fluff for buff upstairs for love of money a week ago? And
• 4:51:33
  now she lets them tumble all over the bed just because it pleads us,
• 4:51:37
  Miss Pollyanna. And when she ain't doing nothing else, she's moving them little
• 4:51:41
  glass danglers round to different windows in the room so the sun will make the
• 4:51:45
  rainbows dance, as that blessed child calls it. She sent Timothy down to
• 4:51:52
  Cobb's greenhouse three times for fresh flowers, and that besides all the posies fetched
• 4:51:56
  into her too. And the other day, if I didn't find her sittin
• 4:52:02
  for the bed with the nurse actually doin her hair, and Miss Pollyanna looking
• 4:52:07
  on and bossing from the bed, her eyes all shining and happy. And
• 4:52:11
  I declared the goodness if Miss Polly hain't warn her hair like that every day
• 4:52:17
  now, just to please that blessed child, Old Tom chuckled, Well,
• 4:52:22
  it strikes me miss Polly herself ain't lookin none the worse for wearing them.
• 4:52:26
  A curls round her forehead, he observed dryly, course she ain't, retorted
• 4:52:30
  Nancy indignantly. She looks like folks now she's actually almost cared for now,
• 4:52:37
  Nancy interrupted the old man with the slow grin. You know what you said
• 4:52:42
  when I told you she was handsome Once Nancy shrugged her shoulders. Oh she
• 4:52:48
  ain't handsome, of course, but I will own up. She don't look
• 4:52:51
  like the same woman, what with the ribbons an lace jiggers. Miss Pollyanna
• 4:52:56
  makes a weaar around her neck. I told you so, nodded the man.
• 4:53:00
  I told you she weren't old. Nancy laughed. Well, i'll on
• 4:53:06
  up. She hain't got quite so good an imitation of it as she did
• 4:53:08
  have for Miss Pollyanna. Came say, mister Tom, who was a lover?
• 4:53:15
  I hain't found that out yet. I hate, I hate, hain't
• 4:53:18
  you? Asked the old man, with an odd look on his face.
• 4:53:22
  Well I guess you won't then from me, Oh, mister Tom, come
• 4:53:26
  on now, wheedled the girl. You see that hate many folks here that
• 4:53:30
  I can't ask, Maybe not, but there's one anyhow that ain't answering,
• 4:53:34
  grinned old Tom. Then abruptly the light died from his eyes. How is
• 4:53:40
  she today, the little gal. Nancy shook her head. Her face too,
• 4:53:45
  had sobered, just saying, mister Tom, there ain't no special difference,
• 4:53:49
  as I can see or anybody I guess. She just lays there and
• 4:53:53
  sleeps and talks on and tries to smile and be glad because the sun sets
• 4:53:59
  off, the moon rises, or some such thing, till it's enough to
• 4:54:03
  make your heart break with achin. I know it's the game. Bless her
• 4:54:07
  sweetheart, nodded Old Tom, blinking a little. She told you then about
• 4:54:12
  that air game. Oh, yes, she told me long ago. The
• 4:54:18
  old man hesitated, then went on his lips, twitching a little. I
• 4:54:22
  was growling one day because I was so bent up an crooked, And what
• 4:54:26
  do you suppose a little thing? Said? I couldn't guess. I wouldn't
• 4:54:32
  think she could find anything about that to be glad about. She did.
• 4:54:36
  She said I could be glad anyhow that I didn't have to stoop so far
• 4:54:41
  to do my weedin', because I was already bent part way over. Nancy
• 4:54:47
  gave a wistful laugh. Well, I ain't surprised, after all, you
• 4:54:51
  might know she'd find something. We been playing it that game since almost the
• 4:54:56
  first, cause they'll want no one else she could play. Though she did
• 4:55:00
  speak of her aunt, Miss Polly. Nancy chuckled. I guess you hain't
• 4:55:07
  got such an awful difference opinion of the mistress than I have, she bridled.
• 4:55:11
  Old Tom stiffened. I was only thinkin' twould be some of a surprise
• 4:55:17
  to her, he explained, with dignity. Well, I guessed would be,
• 4:55:22
  then retorted Nancy, I ain't sayin what twould be now. I'd believe
• 4:55:26
  anything of the mistress now, even that she'd take to play in it herself.
• 4:55:32
  But hain't the little gal told her. Ever, she's told everyone else.
• 4:55:36
  I guess I'm hearin of it everywhere now, says she was hurted,
• 4:55:38
  said Tom, Well, she didn't tell Miss Polly, rejoined Nancy. Miss
• 4:55:44
  Pollyanna told me long ago that she couldn't tell her cause her aunt didn't like
• 4:55:48
  to have her talk about her father, and twas her father's game, and
• 4:55:53
  she'd have to talk about him if she did tell it, so she never
• 4:55:56
  told her. Oh I see us see. The old man nodded his head
• 4:56:02
  slowly. He was always bitter against the menace, the chap all of'em
• 4:56:07
  cause he took Miss Jennie away from him, and Miss Polly, young as
• 4:56:11
  she was, could never forgive him. She was that fond of Miss Jenny
• 4:56:15
  in them days. I see, I see twas a bad mess, he
• 4:56:21
  sighed as he turned away. Yes, twas all round, all round,
• 4:56:25
  sighed Nancy in her turn, as she went back to her kitchen. For
• 4:56:30
  no one were those days of waiting easy. The nurse tried to be cheerful,
• 4:56:34
  but her eyes were troubled. The doctor was openly nervous and impatient.
• 4:56:38
  Miss Polly said little, but even the softening waves of hair about her face
• 4:56:45
  and the becoming laces at her throat could not hide the fact that she was
• 4:56:48
  growing thin and pale. As to Pollyanna, Pollyanna petted the dog, smoothed
• 4:56:55
  the cat's sleek head, admired the flowers, and ate the fruits and jellies
• 4:56:59
  that were sent in to her, and returned innumerable cheery answers to the many
• 4:57:04
  messages of love and inquiry that were brought to her bedside. But she too
• 4:57:10
  grew pale and thin, and the nervous activity of the poor little hands and
• 4:57:14
  arms only emphasized the pitiful motionlessness of the once active, little feet and legs
• 4:57:22
  now lying so woefully quiet under the blankets. As to the game, Pollyanna
• 4:57:27
  told Nancy these days, how glad she was going to be when she could
• 4:57:30
  go to school again, go to see missus Snow, go to call on
• 4:57:34
  mister Pendleton, and go to ride with Doctor Chiltern. Nor did she seem
• 4:57:40
  to realize that all this gladness was in the future, not the present.
• 4:57:44
  Nancy, however, did realize it and cry about it when she was alone.
• 4:57:51
  End of chapter twenty five. Chapter twenty six a door ajar, just
• 4:57:57
  a week from the time doctor Mead this specialist was first expected. He came.
• 4:58:03
  He was a tall, broad shiuldered man with kind gray eyes and a
• 4:58:07
  cheerful smile. Pollyanna liked him at once and told him, so, you
• 4:58:12
  look quite a lot like my doctor, you see, she added, engagingly,
• 4:58:17
  Your doctor, Doctor Mee glanced in evident surprise at doctor Warren talking with
• 4:58:22
  the nurse a few feet away. Doctor Warren was a small, brown eyed
• 4:58:26
  man with a pointed brown beard. Oh that isn't my doctor, smiled Pollyanna,
• 4:58:32
  divining his thought. Doctor Warren is aunt Polly's doctor. My doctor is
• 4:58:37
  doctor Chilton, Oh, said Doctor Meade a little oddly, his eyes resting
• 4:58:42
  on Miss Polly, who, with a vivid blush, had turned hastily away.
• 4:58:48
  Yes, Pollyanna hesitated, then continued with her usual truthfulness. You see,
• 4:58:53
  I wanted doctor Chilton all the time, but Aunt Polly wanted you.
• 4:58:57
  She said, you knew more than doctor Chiltern anyway about broken legs like mine.
• 4:59:03
  And of course if you do, I can be glad for that.
• 4:59:07
  Do you a swift Something crossed the doctor's face that Pollyanna could not quite translate.
• 4:59:14
  Only time can tell that, little girl, he said gently. Then
• 4:59:18
  he turned a gray face toward doctor Warren, who had just come to the
• 4:59:22
  bedside. Everyone said afterward that it was the cat that did it. Certainly,
• 4:59:29
  if Fluffy had not poked an insistent paw and nose against Pollyanna's unlatched door,
• 4:59:34
  the door would not have swung noiselessly open on its hinges until it stood
• 4:59:41
  perhaps a foot ajar. And if the door had not been opened, Pollyanna
• 4:59:45
  would not have heard her aunt's words in the hall. The two doctors,
• 4:59:51
  the nurse, and Miss Polly stood talking in Pollyanna's room. Fluffy had just
• 4:59:56
  jumped to the bed with a little purring of joy, when through the open
• 5:00:02
  door sounded clearly and sharply Aunt Polly's agonized exclamation, not fat doctor, Not
• 5:00:11
  that you don't mean the child will never walk again. It was all confusion.
• 5:00:18
  Then first from the bedroom came Pollyanna's terrified aunt, Polly. Aunt Polly.
• 5:00:23
  Then Miss Polly, seeing the open door and realizing that her words had
• 5:00:29
  been heard, gave a little low moan, and for the first time in
• 5:00:33
  her life, fainted dead away. The nurse, with a choking she heard,
• 5:00:41
  stumbled toward the door. The two doctors stayed with Miss Polly. Doctor
• 5:00:45
  Mead had to stay he had caught Miss Polly as she fell. Doctor Warren
• 5:00:48
  stood by helplessly. It was not until Pollyanna cried out again sharply, and
• 5:00:55
  the nurse closed the door, that the two men, with a despairing glance
• 5:01:00
  into each other's eyes, awoke to the immediate duty of bringing the woman in
• 5:01:04
  doctor Meade's arms back to unhappy consciousness. In Pollyanna's room, the nurse had
• 5:01:11
  found a purring gray cat on the bed, vainly trying to attract the attention
• 5:01:17
  of a white faced, wild eyed little girl, Miss Hunt, please,
• 5:01:21
  I want Aunt Polly. I want her ride away quick please. The nurse
• 5:01:23
  closed the door and came forward hurriedly. Her face was very pale. She
• 5:01:30
  she can't come just this minute, dear, She will a little later.
• 5:01:33
  What is it? Can't I get it? Pollyanna shook her head. But
• 5:01:37
  I want to know what she said just now? Did you hear her?
• 5:01:41
  I want Aunt Polly she said something. I want her to tell me.
• 5:01:45
  Tisn't true? Tisn't true. The nurse tried to speak, but no words
• 5:01:49
  came. Something in her face sent an added terror to Pollyanna's eyes. Miss
• 5:01:56
  Hunt, you did hear her? It is true? Isn't true? You
• 5:02:00
  don't mean I can't ever walk again? They're there, dear. Don't don't
• 5:02:06
  choke the nurse. Perhaps he didn't know, Perhaps he was mistaken. There's
• 5:02:11
  lots of things that could happen, you know. But Aunt Polly said he
• 5:02:15
  did know. She said he knew more than anybody else about broken legs like
• 5:02:19
  mine. Yes, yes, I know, dear, but all doctors make
• 5:02:23
  mistakes sometimes. Just just don't think any more about it now, please don't,
• 5:02:29
  dear. Pollyanna flung out her arms wildly. But I can't help thinking
• 5:02:34
  about it, She sobbed. It's all there is now to think about.
• 5:02:38
  Why, Miss Hunt? How am I going to school or to see mister
• 5:02:42
  Pendleton or missus Snow or anybody. She caught her breath and sobbed wildly for
• 5:02:48
  a moment. Suddenly she stopped and looked up, a new terror in her
• 5:02:53
  eyes. Why, Miss Hunt, If I can't walk, how am I
• 5:03:00
  ever going to be glad for anything? Miss Hunt did not know the game,
• 5:03:06
  but she did know that her patient must be quightened, and that at
• 5:03:10
  once, in spite of her own perturbation and heartache, her hands had not
• 5:03:15
  been idle. And she stood now at the bedside with the quitening powder ready
• 5:03:19
  there, Dear, just take this, she soothed, And by and bye,
• 5:03:23
  we'll be more rested, and we'll see what can be done. Then
• 5:03:26
  things aren't half as bad as they seem, Dear, lots of times,
• 5:03:30
  you know. Obediently, Pollyanna took the medicine and sipped the water from the
• 5:03:34
  glass and Miss Hunt's hand. I know that sounds like things father used to
• 5:03:41
  say, faltered Pollyanna, blinking off the tears. He said, there was
• 5:03:45
  always something about everything that might be worse, But I reckon he'd never just
• 5:03:51
  heard you couldn't ever walk again. I don't see how there can be anything
• 5:03:56
  about that that could be worse, do you? Miss Hunt did not reply,
• 5:04:03
  she could not trust herself to speak just then. End of Chapter twenty
• 5:04:08
  six, Chapter twenty seven, two Visits. It was Nancy who was sent
• 5:04:15
  to tell mister John Pendleton of doctor Mead's verdict. Miss Polly had remembered her
• 5:04:21
  promise to let him have direct information from the house. To go herself,
• 5:04:26
  or to write a letter, she felt to be almost equally out of the
• 5:04:29
  question. It occurred to her then to send Nancy. There had been a
• 5:04:33
  time when Nancy would have rejoiced greatly at this extraordinary opportunity to see something of
• 5:04:41
  the House of Mystery and its master. But to day her heart was too
• 5:04:45
  heavy to rejoice at anything. She scarcely even looked about her at all.
• 5:04:49
  Indeed, during the few minutes she waited for mister John Pendleton to appear,
• 5:04:56
  I'm Nancy, sir, she said, respectfully, in response to the surprise
• 5:05:00
  questioning of his eyes when he came into the room. Miss Harrington sent me
• 5:05:03
  to tell you about Miss Pollyanna Well in spite of the curt terseness of the
• 5:05:10
  word, Nancy quite understood the anxiety that lay behind that short. Well,
• 5:05:17
  it ain't well, mister Pendleton, she choked. You don't mean, he
• 5:05:21
  paused, and she bowed her head miserably. Yes, sir, he says,
• 5:05:26
  she can't walk again. Never for a moment, there was absolute silence
• 5:05:32
  in the room. Then the man spoke, in a voice shaken with emotion.
• 5:05:37
  Poor little girl, Poor little girl. Nancy glanced at him, but
• 5:05:42
  dropped her eyes at once. She had not supposed that sour cross stern John
• 5:05:49
  Pendleton could look like that. In a moment, he spoke again, still
• 5:05:53
  in the low, unsteady voice. It seems cruel never to and said the
• 5:06:00
  sunshine again, my little prism girl. There was another silence, Then abruptly,
• 5:06:06
  the man asked, She herself doesn't know yet, of course does she.
• 5:06:11
  But she does, sir, sobbed Nancy. And that's what makes it
• 5:06:15
  all the harder. She found out drapped that cat. I begs your pardon,
• 5:06:19
  apologized the girl hurriedly. It's only that the cat pushed open the door
• 5:06:23
  and miss Pollyanna overheard him talking. She found out that way, poor little
• 5:06:30
  girl, sighed, the man again. Yes, sir, you'd say so
• 5:06:34
  if you could see her. Choked Nancy, I ain't seen her but twice
• 5:06:38
  since she knew about it, and it done me up both times. You
• 5:06:41
  see, it's also fresh and new to her, and she keeps thinking all
• 5:06:47
  the time of new things she can't do. Now it worries her too,
• 5:06:51
  cause she can't seem to be glad. Maybe you don't know about her game,
• 5:06:56
  though, broke off Nancy apologetically the glad game, asked the man.
• 5:07:00
  Oh, yes, she told me of that. Oh she did well.
• 5:07:04
  I guess she has told it generally to most folks. But you see now
• 5:07:08
  she she can't play it herself, and it worries her. She says she
• 5:07:14
  can't think of a thing, not a thing about this, not walking again
• 5:07:18
  to be glad about? Well, why should she? Retarded the man almost
• 5:07:23
  savagely. Nancy shifted her feet uneasily. That's the way I felt, too,
• 5:07:30
  till I happened to think it would be easier if she could find something,
• 5:07:34
  you know, so I tried to remind her, to remind her of
• 5:07:41
  what John Pendleton's voice was still angrily impatient of how she told others to play
• 5:07:48
  it. Miss now when the rest you know, and what she said for
• 5:07:52
  them to do. But the poor little lamb just cries and says it don't
• 5:07:56
  seem the same somehow. She says, it's easy to tell lifelong invalid is
• 5:08:00
  how to be glad, but tain't the same thing when you're the lifelong invalid
• 5:08:04
  yourself. I'd have to try to do it. She says. She's told
• 5:08:07
  herself over and over again how glad she is that other folks ain't like her,
• 5:08:12
  but that all the time she's saying it, she ain't really thinking of
• 5:08:15
  anything, only how she can't ever walk again. Nancy paused, but the
• 5:08:21
  man did not speak. He sat with his hand over his eyes. Then
• 5:08:26
  I tried to remind her how she used to say the game was all the
• 5:08:29
  nicer to play when when it was hard, resumed Nancy in a dull voice.
• 5:08:33
  But she says, that too, is different when it really is hard.
• 5:08:38
  And I must be going now, sir, She broke off abruptly.
• 5:08:42
  At the door. She hesitated, turned and asked timidly, I couldn't be
• 5:08:48
  telling miss Pollyanna that that you'd seen Jimmy Bean again? I suppose, sir,
• 5:08:52
  could I I don't see how you could, as I haven't seen him,
• 5:08:56
  observed the man and little sharply, Why nothing, they are only well,
• 5:09:00
  you see, that's one of the things that she was feeling bad about,
• 5:09:03
  that she couldn't take him to see you. Now. She said she'd
• 5:09:07
  taken him once, but she didn't think he showed off very well that day,
• 5:09:11
  and that she was afraid you didn't think he would make a very nice
• 5:09:15
  child's presence after all. Maybe you know what she means by that, but
• 5:09:18
  I didn't, sir, Yes, I know what she means, all right,
• 5:09:25
  sir. It was only that she was waiting to take him again,
• 5:09:27
  she said, so as to show you he really was a lovely child's presence.
• 5:09:32
  And now she she can't drat that automobile. I beg your pardon,
• 5:09:36
  sir, goodbye, and Nancy fled precipitately. It did not take long for
• 5:09:42
  the entire town of Beldingsville to learn that the great New York doctor had said
• 5:09:48
  Pollyanna Whittier would never walk again. And certainly never before had the town been
• 5:09:55
  so stirred. Everybody knew by sight now the peacuant, little freckle face that
• 5:10:00
  had always a smile of greeting, and almost everybody knew of the game that
• 5:10:06
  Pollyanna was playing, to think that now, never again would that smiling face
• 5:10:11
  be seen on their streets, never again, with that cheery little voice proclaimed
• 5:10:15
  the gladness of some everyday experience. It seemed unbelievable, impossible, cruel.
• 5:10:23
  In kitchens and sitting rooms and over backyard fences, women talked of it and
• 5:10:29
  wept openly. On street corners and in store lounging places. The men talked
• 5:10:34
  to and wept, though not so openly, and neither the talking nor the
• 5:10:40
  weeping grew less when fast on the heels of the news itself came Nancy's pitiful
• 5:10:47
  story that Pollyanna, face the face with what had come to her, was
• 5:10:52
  bemoaning most of all the fact that she could not play the game, that
• 5:10:56
  she could not now be glad over anything. It was then that the same
• 5:11:03
  thought must have in some way come to Pollyanna's friends at all events. Almost
• 5:11:08
  at once, the mistress of the Harrington Homestead, greatly to her surprise,
• 5:11:14
  began to receive calls, calls from people she knew and people she did not
• 5:11:18
  know, Calls from men, women, and children, many of whom Miss
• 5:11:23
  Polly had not supposed that her niece knew at all. Some came in and
• 5:11:29
  sat down for a stiff five or ten minutes. Some stood awkwardly on the
• 5:11:33
  porch steps, fumbling with hats or handbags according to their sex. Some brought
• 5:11:38
  a book, a bunch of flowers, or a dainty to tempt the palate.
• 5:11:42
  Some cried frankly, some turned their backs and blew their noses furiously.
• 5:11:48
  But all inquired very anxiously for the little injured girl, and all sent her
• 5:11:53
  some message. And it was these messages which, after a time, stirred
• 5:11:59
  Miss Polly to action. First came mister John Pendleton. He came without his
• 5:12:06
  crutches today. I don't need to tell you how shocked I am. He
• 5:12:10
  began, almost harshly, But can nothing be done? Miss Polly gave a
• 5:12:15
  gesture of despair. Oh, we're doing, of course. All the time.
• 5:12:19
  Doctor Meade prescribed certain treatments and medicines that might help, and doctor Warren
• 5:12:25
  is carrying them out to the letter, of course, But doctor Meade held
• 5:12:29
  out almost no hope. John Pendleton rose abruptly, though he had but just
• 5:12:36
  come. His face was white, and his mouth was set into stern lines.
• 5:12:41
  Miss Polly, looking at him, knew very well why he felt that
• 5:12:45
  he could not stay longer in her presence. At the door, he turned,
• 5:12:49
  I have a message for Pollyanna, he said, Will you tell her
• 5:12:52
  please that I have seen Jimmy Bean and that he's going to be my boy
• 5:12:59
  here after her tell her. I thought she would be glad to know I
• 5:13:03
  shall adopt him. Probably for a brief moment, Miss Polly lost her usual
• 5:13:08
  well bred self control. You will adopt Jimmy Bean, she gasped. The
• 5:13:15
  man lifted his chin a little. Yes, I think Pollyanna will understand.
• 5:13:21
  You will tell her. I thought she would be glad. Why, of
• 5:13:26
  of course, faltered Miss Polly. Thank you, bowed John Pendleton as he
• 5:13:30
  turned to go. In the middle of the floor, Miss Polly stood silent
• 5:13:36
  and amazed, still looking after the man who had just left her. Even
• 5:13:41
  yet, she could scarcely believe what her ears had heard. John Pendleton adopt
• 5:13:45
  Jimmy Bean. John Pendleton, wealthy, independent, morose, reputed to be
• 5:13:52
  miserly and supremely selfish to adopt a little boy, and such a little boy
• 5:13:59
  with the somewhat dazed face, Miss Polly went upstairs to Pollyanna's room. Pollyanna,
• 5:14:04
  I have a message for you from mister John Pendleton. He has just
• 5:14:08
  been here, he says, to tell you he has taken Jimmy Bean for
• 5:14:15
  his little boy. He said he thought you'd be glad to know it.
• 5:14:19
  Pollyanna's wistful little face flamed into sudden joy. Glad, glad, well,
• 5:14:25
  I reckon, I am glad, oh, Aunt Polly. I've so wanted
• 5:14:30
  to find a place for Jimmy, and that's such a lovely place. Besides,
• 5:14:33
  I'm so glad for mister Pendleton too. You see, now he'll have
• 5:14:37
  the child's presence. The what Pollyanna colored painfully. She had forgotten that she
• 5:14:44
  had never told her aunt of mister Pendleton's desire to adopt her, and certainly
• 5:14:48
  she would not wish to tell her now that she had ever thought for a
• 5:14:52
  minute of leaving her this, dear Aunt Polly. The child's presence, stammered
• 5:14:59
  Polly hastily. Mister Pendleton told me once, you see that only a woman's
• 5:15:03
  hand and heart, or a child's presence could make a home. And now
• 5:15:08
  he's got it, the child's presence. Oh I see, said Miss Polly,
• 5:15:15
  very gently, and she did see more than Pollyanna realized. She saw
• 5:15:22
  something of the pressure that was probably brought to bear on Pollyanna herself at the
• 5:15:26
  time. John Pendleton had asked her to be the child's presence, which was
• 5:15:32
  to transform his great pile of gray stone into a home. I see,
• 5:15:37
  she finished, her eyes stinging with sudden tears. Pollyanna, fearful that her
• 5:15:44
  aunt might ask further embarrassing questions, hastened to lead the conversation away from the
• 5:15:49
  Pendleton house and its master. Doctor Chilton says so too, that it takes
• 5:15:55
  a woman's hand and heart, or a child's presence to make a home,
• 5:15:59
  you know, she remarked. Miss Polly turned with a start, Doctor Chilton,
• 5:16:03
  how do you know that he told me so twas when he said he
• 5:16:08
  lived in just rooms, you know, not a home. Miss Polly did
• 5:16:12
  not answer. Her eyes were out the window. So I asked him why
• 5:16:18
  he didn't get him a woman's hand in heart and have a home, Pollyanna.
• 5:16:22
  Miss Polly had turned sharply, her cheeks showed a sudden color. Well,
• 5:16:27
  I did, he looked so so sorrowful? What did he say?
• 5:16:33
  Miss Polly asked the question as if in spite of some force within her that
• 5:16:37
  was urging her not to ask it. He didn't say anything for a minute.
• 5:16:42
  Then he said, very low, that you couldn't always get him for
• 5:16:47
  the askin There was a brief silence. Miss Polly's eyes had turned again to
• 5:16:52
  the window. Her cheeks were still unnaturally pink. Pollyanna sighed, he once
• 5:16:59
  won anyhow I know, and I wish he could have one. Why,
• 5:17:03
  Pollyanna, how do you know? Because afterwards on another day he said something
• 5:17:08
  else He said that low too, But I heard him. He said that
• 5:17:12
  he'd give all the world if he did have one woman's hand in heart.
• 5:17:18
  Why, Aunt Polly, what's the matter? Aunt Polly had risen hurriedly and
• 5:17:22
  gone to the window. Nothing, dear, I was changing the position of
• 5:17:26
  this prism, said Aunt Polly, whose whole face was now aflame. End
• 5:17:34
  of Chapter twenty seven. Chapter twenty eight, The Game and its Players.
• 5:17:41
  It was not long after John Pendleton's second visit that Milly Snow called one afternoon.
• 5:17:48
  Milly Snow had never before been to the Harrington homestead. She blushed and
• 5:17:53
  looked very embarrassed when Miss Polly entered the room. I I came to inquire
• 5:18:00
  for the little girl. She stammered, you are very kind. She is
• 5:18:03
  about the same. How is your mother? Rejoined to Miss Polly wearily,
• 5:18:11
  that is what I came to tell you, That is to ask you to
• 5:18:14
  tell Miss Pollyanna harried on the girl, breathlessly and incoherently. We think it's
• 5:18:19
  so awful, so perfectly awful, that the little thing can't ever walk again.
• 5:18:25
  And after all she's done for us too, for mother, you know,
• 5:18:27
  teaching her to play the game and all that, And when we heard
• 5:18:32
  how she couldn't play it herself, poor little dear, I'm sure I don't
• 5:18:36
  see how she can either in her condition. But when we remembered all the
• 5:18:40
  things she said to us, we thought if she could only know what she
• 5:18:44
  had done for us, that it would help you know in her own case
• 5:18:48
  about the game, because she could be glad, that is a little glad.
• 5:18:52
  Millie stopped helplessly and seemed to be waiting for Miss Polly to speak.
• 5:18:59
  Miss Polly, that's sat politely listening, but with a puzzled, questioning look
• 5:19:03
  in her eyes. Only about half of what had been said had she understood.
• 5:19:07
  She was thinking now that she always had known that Millie's snow was queer,
• 5:19:14
  but she had not supposed she was crazy. In no other way,
• 5:19:17
  however, could she account for this incoherent, illogical, unmeaning rush of words.
• 5:19:23
  When the pause came, she filled it with a quiet I don't think
• 5:19:27
  I quite understand, Milly. Just what is it that you want me to
• 5:19:32
  tell my niece? Yes, that's it, I want you to tell her,
• 5:19:36
  answered the girl, feverishly. Make her see what she's done for us.
• 5:19:41
  Of course she's seen some things because she's been there, and she knows
• 5:19:45
  Mother is different. But I want her to know how different she is,
• 5:19:48
  and me too, I'm different. I've been trying to play it the game
• 5:19:52
  a little. Miss Polly frowned. She would have asked what Milly meant by
• 5:19:59
  this game, but there was no opportunity. Millie was rushing on again with
• 5:20:03
  nervous volubility. You know, nothing was ever right before for mother. She
• 5:20:10
  was always wanting them different, And really I don't know as one could blame
• 5:20:14
  her much under the circumstances. But now she lets me keep the shades up,
• 5:20:18
  and she takes interest in things how she looks and her night dress and
• 5:20:22
  all that, And she's actually begun to knit little things, rains and baby
• 5:20:26
  blankets for fairs and hospitals. And she's so interested and so glad to think
• 5:20:33
  she can do it. And that was all Miss Pollyanna's doings, you know,
• 5:20:37
  because she told mother she could be glad she got her hands in arms
• 5:20:41
  anyhow, and that made Mother wonder ride away why she didn't do something with
• 5:20:45
  her hands and arms, and so she began to do something to knit,
• 5:20:49
  you know. And you can't think what a different room it is now,
• 5:20:53
  what with the red and blue and yellow worsteds and the prisms in the window
• 5:20:59
  that she gave her. Why it actually makes you feel better just to go
• 5:21:03
  in there now. And before I used to dread it awfully, it was
• 5:21:06
  so dark and gloomy, and Mother was so so unhappy, you know.
• 5:21:11
  And so we want you to please tell Miss Pollyanna that we understand it's all
• 5:21:17
  because of her, and please say we're so glad we know her, that
• 5:21:21
  we thought maybe if she knew it, it would make her a little glad
• 5:21:25
  that she knew us. And and that's all, sighed Milly, rising hurriedly
• 5:21:30
  to her feet. You'll tell her why, of course, murmured Miss polly
• 5:21:36
  wondering just how much of this remarkable discourse she could remember to tell. These
• 5:21:42
  visits of John Pendleton and Milly Snow were only the first of many. And
• 5:21:48
  always there were the messages, the messages which were in some ways so curious
• 5:21:55
  that they caused Miss Polly more and more to puzzle over them. One day
• 5:22:00
  there was the little widow Benton. Miss Polly knew her well, though they
• 5:22:04
  had never called upon each other by reputation. She knew her as the saddest
• 5:22:11
  little woman in town, one who was always in black. Today, however,
• 5:22:15
  Missus Benton wore a knot of pale blue with a throat. Though there
• 5:22:21
  were tears in her eyes. She spoke of her grief and horror at the
• 5:22:25
  accident. Then she asked diffidently if she might see Pollyanna. Miss Polly shook
• 5:22:32
  her head. I'm sorry, but she sees no one yet. A little
• 5:22:36
  later, perhaps Missus Benton wiped her eyes, rose and turned to go.
• 5:22:41
  But after she had almost reached the hall door, she came back hurriedly.
• 5:22:45
  Miss Harrington, perhaps you'd give her a message, she stammered. Certainly,
• 5:22:52
  Missus Benton, I shall be very glad to still the little woman hesitated,
• 5:22:56
  Then she spoke, will you tell her please that that I've put on this,
• 5:23:03
  she said, touching the blue bow at her throat. Then, at
• 5:23:07
  Miss Polly's ill conceived look of surprise, she added, the little girl has
• 5:23:11
  been trying for so long to make me wear some color that I thought she'd
• 5:23:17
  be glad to know. I'd begun. She said that Freddie would be so
• 5:23:21
  glad to see it, if I would, you know, Freddie's all I
• 5:23:23
  have now the others have all. Missus Benton shook her head and turned away.
• 5:23:30
  If you'll just tell Pollyanna, she'll understand, and the door closed after
• 5:23:34
  her. A little later that same day, there was another widow. At
• 5:23:40
  least she wore widows garments. Miss Polly did not know her at all,
• 5:23:44
  She wondered, vaguely how Pollyanna could have known her. The lady gave her
• 5:23:48
  name as missrus Tarbell. I'm a stranger to you, of course, she
• 5:23:53
  began at once. But I'm not a stranger to your little niece, Pollyanna.
• 5:23:59
  I've been at the hotel all summer, and every day I've had to
• 5:24:02
  take long walks for my health. It was on these walks that I've met
• 5:24:07
  your niece. She's such a dear little girl. I wish I could make
• 5:24:11
  you understand what she's been to me. I was very sad when I came
• 5:24:15
  up here, and her bright face and cheery ways reminded me of my own
• 5:24:22
  little girl that I lost years ago. I was so shocked to hear the
• 5:24:26
  accident, and then when I learned that the poor child would never walk again,
• 5:24:32
  and that she was so unhappy because she couldn't be glad any longer.
• 5:24:36
  The dear child, I just had to come to you. You are very
• 5:24:41
  kind, murmured Miss Polly, But it is you who are to be kind,
• 5:24:45
  demrroor the other. I want you to give her a message from me,
• 5:24:49
  Will you, certainly? Will you just tell her then that missus Tarbell
• 5:24:56
  is glad. Now, yes, I know it sounds odd and you don't
• 5:25:00
  understand, but if you'll pardon me, I'd rather not explain. Sad lines
• 5:25:06
  came to the lady's mouth, and the smile left her eyes. Your niece
• 5:25:11
  will know just what I mean, and I felt that I must tell her
• 5:25:15
  thank you and pardon me please for any seeming rudeness in my call, she
• 5:25:18
  begged as she took her leave thoroughly mystified. Now, Miss Polly hurried upstairs
• 5:25:26
  to Pollyanna's room. Pollyanna, do you know a Missus Tarbell. Oh?
• 5:25:32
  Yes, I love Missus Tarbell. She's sick and awfully sad, and she's
• 5:25:36
  at the hotel and takes long walks. We go together, I mean we
• 5:25:41
  used to Pollyanna's voice broke and two big tears rolled down her cheeks. Miss
• 5:25:48
  Polly cleared her throat hurriedly. Well, she's just been here, dear.
• 5:25:53
  She left a message for you, but she wouldn't tell me what it meant.
• 5:25:59
  She said to tell you that Missus Tarbell is glad. Now Pollyanna clapped
• 5:26:04
  her hands softly. Did she say that? Really? Oh, I'm so
• 5:26:10
  glad? But Pollyanna, what did she mean? Why? It's the game?
• 5:26:15
  And Pollyanna stopped short, her fingers to her lips. What game?
• 5:26:21
  Nothing much, Aunt Polly? That is, I can't tell it unless I
• 5:26:26
  tell other things that I'm not to speak of. It was on Miss Polly's
• 5:26:30
  tongue to question her niece further, but the obvious distress on the little girl's
• 5:26:36
  face stayed the words before they were uttered. Not long after Missus Tarbell's visit.
• 5:26:41
  The climax came. It came in the shape of a call from a
• 5:26:45
  certain young woman with unnaturally pink cheeks and abnormally yellow hair, A young woman
• 5:26:52
  who wore high heels and cheap jewelry. A young woman whom Miss Polly knew
• 5:26:57
  very well by reputation, but whom she was angrily amazed to meet beneath the
• 5:27:03
  roof of the Harrington Homestead. Miss Polly did not offer her hand. She
• 5:27:10
  drew back. Indeed, as she entered the room, the woman rose at
• 5:27:14
  once. Her eyes were very red, as if she had been crying.
• 5:27:18
  Half defiantly, she asked if she might, for a moment see the little
• 5:27:21
  girl, Pollyanna. Miss Polly said no, She began to say it very
• 5:27:25
  sternly, but something in the woman's pleading eyes made her add the civil explanation
• 5:27:32
  that no one was allowed yet to see Pollyanna. The woman hesitated, Then
• 5:27:37
  a little brusquely, she spoke. Her chin was still at a slightly defiant
• 5:27:42
  tilt. My name is Missus Payson, Missus Tom Payson. I presume you've
• 5:27:48
  heard of me. Most of the good people in the town have, and
• 5:27:51
  maybe some of the things you've heard ain't true. But never mind that.
• 5:27:55
  It's about the little girl I came. I heard abot the accident, and
• 5:27:59
  and it me all up. Last week. I heard how she couldn't ever
• 5:28:03
  walk again, and I wish I could give up my two useless well legs
• 5:28:07
  for hers. She'd do more good trotting around on them one hour than I
• 5:28:12
  could do in a hundred years. But never mind that legs ain't always given
• 5:28:17
  to the one who can make the best use of them. I notice she
• 5:28:21
  paused and cleared her throat, but when she resumed, her voice was still
• 5:28:25
  husky. Maybe you don't know it, but I've seen a good deal of
• 5:28:30
  that little girl of yours. We live on the Pendleton Hill Road, and
• 5:28:33
  she used to go by often. Only she didn't always go by. She
• 5:28:37
  came in and played with the kids and talked to me and my man when
• 5:28:41
  he was home. She seemed to like it, and to like us.
• 5:28:45
  She didn't know. I suspect that her kind of folks don't generally call on
• 5:28:48
  my kind. Maybe if they did call more, missus Harrington, there wouldn't
• 5:28:52
  be so many of my kind, she added, with sudden bitterness. Be
• 5:28:59
  that as it may, And she didn't do herself no harm, and she
• 5:29:03
  did us good, a lot of good. How much she won't know,
• 5:29:07
  no, can't know, I hope, because if she did, she'd know
• 5:29:11
  other things that I don't want her to know. But it's just this.
• 5:29:15
  It's been hard times with us this year in more ways than one. We've
• 5:29:18
  been blue and discouraged, my man and me and ready for most anything.
• 5:29:25
  We was reckon in on getting the divorce about now and letting the kids well,
• 5:29:29
  we didn't know what we'd do with the kids. Then came the accident
• 5:29:33
  and what we heard about the little girls never walking again, and we got
• 5:29:37
  to thinking how she used to come and sit on our doorstep and train with
• 5:29:41
  the kids and laugh and just be glad. She was always being glad about
• 5:29:48
  something, and then one day she told us why and about the game,
• 5:29:52
  you know, and tried to coax us to play it. Well, we've
• 5:29:56
  heard now that she's fretting her poor little life out of her because she can't
• 5:30:00
  play it no more. That there's nothing to be glad about. And that's
• 5:30:03
  what I came to tell her today, that maybe she can be a little
• 5:30:07
  glad for us because we've decided to stick to each other and play the game
• 5:30:12
  ourselves. I knew she would be glad because she used to feel kind of
• 5:30:17
  bad at things we said sometimes. Just how the game is going to help
• 5:30:22
  us? I can't say that I exactly see it, but maybe twill.
• 5:30:26
  Anyhow, We're going to try, because she wanted us to. Will you
• 5:30:30
  tell her? Yes, I will tell her, promised Miss Polly. A
• 5:30:34
  little faintly. Then with sudden impulse, she stepped forward and held out her
• 5:30:41
  hand, and thank you for coming, missrus Payson, she said, simply.
• 5:30:45
  The defiant chin fell, the lips above it trembled visibly with an incoherently
• 5:30:52
  mumbled something. Missrus Payson blindly clutched at the outstretched hand, turned and fled.
• 5:30:59
  The door or had scarcely closed behind her before Miss Polly was confronting Nancy
• 5:31:03
  in the kitchen. Nancy, Miss Polly spoke sharply. The series of puzzling,
• 5:31:10
  disconcerting visits of the last few days, culminating as they had in the
• 5:31:15
  extraordinary experience of the afternoon, had strained her nerves to the snapping point.
• 5:31:22
  Not since Miss Pollyanna's accident had Nancy heard her mistress speak so sternly, Nancy,
• 5:31:29
  will you tell me what this absurd game is that the whole town seems
• 5:31:33
  to be babbling about. And what please has my niece to do with it?
• 5:31:37
  Why does everybody, from Millie Snow to Missrs Tom Payson send word to
• 5:31:44
  her that they're playing it? As near as I can judge, half the
• 5:31:48
  town are putting on blue ribbons or stopping family quarrels, are learning to like
• 5:31:52
  something they never liked before, and all because of Pollyanna. I tried to
• 5:31:56
  ask the child herself about it, but I can't seemed to make much headway,
• 5:32:00
  And of course I don't like to worry her now. But from something
• 5:32:04
  I heard her say to you last night, I judge you were one of
• 5:32:08
  them too. Now will you tell me what it all means? To Miss
• 5:32:14
  Polly's surprise and dismay, Nancy burst into tears. It means that ever since
• 5:32:21
  last June, that blessed child has just been making the whole town glad,
• 5:32:26
  and now they're turning around and trying to make her a little glad too.
• 5:32:30
  Glad of what? Just glad? That's the game? Miss Polly actually stamped
• 5:32:36
  her foot. There you go, like all the rest, Nancy, what
• 5:32:40
  a game? Nancy lifted her chin. She faced her mistress and looked her
• 5:32:45
  squarely in the eye. I'll tell you, ma'am, it's a game Miss
• 5:32:49
  Pollyanna's father learned her to play. She got a pair of crutches once in
• 5:32:53
  a missionary barrel when she was wanting a doll, and she cried, of
• 5:32:57
  course, like any child would, it seems twas Then her father told her
• 5:33:02
  that there wasn't ever anything but what there was something about it that you could
• 5:33:06
  be glad about, and that she could be glad about them crutches. Glad
• 5:33:11
  for crutches. Miss Polly choked back a sob. She was thinking of the
• 5:33:15
  helpless little legs on the bed upstairs. Yes'm that's what I said, And
• 5:33:21
  Miss Pollyanda said that's what she said too. But he told her she could
• 5:33:26
  be glad because she didn't need him. Oh, cried Miss Polly. And
• 5:33:32
  after that she said he made a regular game of it, finding something and
• 5:33:36
  everything to be glad about. And she said you could do it too,
• 5:33:38
  and that you didn't seem to mind not having the doll so much because she
• 5:33:42
  was so glad you didn't need the crutches. And they called it the just
• 5:33:45
  being glad game. That's the game, ma'am. She's played it ever since.
• 5:33:51
  But how miss Polly came to a helpless pause, And you'd be surprised
• 5:33:56
  to find how cute it works, ma'am too, Nancy, with almost the
• 5:34:00
  eagerness of Pollyanna herself. I wish I could tell you what a lot she's
• 5:34:06
  done for mother and the folks out home. She's been to see him,
• 5:34:08
  you know, twice with me. She made me glad too on such a
• 5:34:12
  lot of things, little things and big things, and it made him so
• 5:34:17
  much easier. For instance, I don't mind Nancy for a name half as
• 5:34:21
  much since she told me I could be glad twasn't Hepsiba. And there's Monday
• 5:34:25
  mornings too that I used to hate, so she actually made me glad for
• 5:34:30
  Monday mornings. Glad for Monday mornings, Nancy laughed. I know it does
• 5:34:37
  sound nutty, ma'am, but let me tell you that blessed Lamb found out
• 5:34:41
  I hated Monday mornings something awful. And what does she up and tell me
• 5:34:45
  one day? But this, well, anyhow, Nancy, I should think
• 5:34:49
  you could be gladder on Monday morning than any other day of the week.
• 5:34:53
  Cauz t would be a whole week before you'd have another one. And I'm
• 5:34:57
  blessed if I hate thought of it every Monday morning since. And it has
• 5:35:00
  helped, ma'am. It made me laugh anyhow, every time I thought of
• 5:35:03
  it and laugh and helps, you know, it does, it does.
• 5:35:07
  But why hasn't she told me the game faltered, Miss Polly? Why she
• 5:35:11
  made such a mystery of it? When I asked her, Nancy hesitated,
• 5:35:15
  begging your pardon, ma'am. You told her not to speak of her father,
• 5:35:21
  so she couldn't tell you twas her father's game. You see. Miss
• 5:35:25
  Polly bit her lip. She wanted to tell you first off, continued Nancy,
• 5:35:30
  a little unsteadily. She wanted somebody to play it with. You know.
• 5:35:34
  That's why I've begun it, so she could have someone. And and
• 5:35:38
  these others. Miss Polly's voice shook. Now, Oh, everybody most knows
• 5:35:44
  it now, I guess anyhow I was to think they did from the way
• 5:35:47
  I'm a hearing of it everywhere I go. Of course, she told a
• 5:35:51
  lot, and they told the rest them. Things go, you know,
• 5:35:53
  when they get started. And she was always so smiling and pleasant to everyone,
• 5:35:59
  and so so just glad herself all the time that they couldn't help knowing
• 5:36:03
  it anyhow. Now since she's hurt, everybody feels so bad, especially when
• 5:36:10
  they heard how bad she feels because she can't find anything to be glad about.
• 5:36:15
  And so they've been coming every day to tell her how glad she's made
• 5:36:19
  them, hoping that'll help some You see, she's always wanted everybody to play
• 5:36:25
  the game with her. Well, I know somebody who play it now,
• 5:36:30
  choked Miss Polly as she turned and sped through the kitchen doorway behind her,
• 5:36:34
  Nancy stood staring amazedly. Well I'll believe anything anything now, she muttered to
• 5:36:41
  herself. You can't stump me with anything. I wouldn't believe now, oh,
• 5:36:45
  miss Polly. A little later, in Pollyanna's room, the nurse left
• 5:36:52
  Miss Polly and Pollyanna alone together. And you've had still another caller today,
• 5:36:57
  my dear, announced Smith Polly in a voice she vainly tried to study.
• 5:37:03
  Do you remember missrus Payson, missus Payson, Why I reckon I do?
• 5:37:08
  She lives on the way to mister Pendleton's, and she's got the prettiest little
• 5:37:12
  baby girl three years old and a boy most five she's awfully nice, and
• 5:37:18
  so's her husband, only they don't seem to know how nice each other is.
• 5:37:22
  Sometimes they fight. I mean they don't quite agree. They're poor too,
• 5:37:26
  they say, And of course they don't ever have barrels, because he
• 5:37:30
  isn't a missionary minister, you know, like well, he isn't a faint
• 5:37:34
  color stole into Pollyanna's cheeks, which was duplicated suddenly, and those of her
• 5:37:41
  aunt. But she wears real pretty clothes sometimes, in spite of being so
• 5:37:45
  poor. Resumed Pollyanna in some haste, And she's got perfectly beautiful rings with
• 5:37:51
  diamonds and rubies and emeralds in them. But she says she's got one ring
• 5:37:55
  too many, and that she's going to throw it away and get a divorce
• 5:37:59
  instead. What is a divorce, Aunt Polly? I'm afraid it isn't very
• 5:38:02
  nice, because she didn't look happy when she talked about it, and she
• 5:38:06
  said if they did get it, they wouldn't live there anymore, and that
• 5:38:08
  mister Payson would go way off, and maybe the children too. But I
• 5:38:12
  should think they'd rather keep the ring, even if they did have so many
• 5:38:15
  more, shouldn't you, Aunt Polly? What is a divorce. Well,
• 5:38:21
  they aren't going way off, dear, evaded Aunt Polly hurriedly. They're going
• 5:38:25
  to stay right there together. Oh, I'm so glad. Then they'll be
• 5:38:30
  there when I go up to see Oh, dear broke off, the little
• 5:38:33
  girl miserably, Aunt Polly, Why can't I remember that my legs don't go
• 5:38:38
  anymore and that I won't ever ever go up to see mister Pendleton again.
• 5:38:44
  They're there, don't choke her, Aunt. Perhaps you'll drive up sometime.
• 5:38:48
  But listen, I haven't told you yet all that, missus Payson said.
• 5:38:52
  She wanted me to tell you that they they were going to stay together and
• 5:38:57
  to play the game, just as you wanted them to. Pollyanna smiled through
• 5:39:03
  tear wet eyes. Did they Did they really? Oh? I am glad
• 5:39:07
  of that. Yes, she says, she hoped you'd be. That's why
• 5:39:12
  she told you to make you glad, Pollyanna. Pollyanna looked up quickly.
• 5:39:18
  Why Aunt Polly, you you spoke just as if you knew. Do you
• 5:39:23
  know about the game, Aunt Polly? Yes, Dear Miss Polly sternly forced
• 5:39:27
  her voice to be cheerfully matter of fact. Nancy told me, I think
• 5:39:32
  it's a beautiful game. I'm going to play it now with you, Oh,
• 5:39:37
  Aunt Polly. You, I'm so glad. You see, I've really
• 5:39:41
  wanted you most of anybody all the time. Aunt Polly caught her breath a
• 5:39:47
  little sharply. It was even harder this time to keep her voice steady,
• 5:39:52
  but she did it, Yes, dear, And there are all those others
• 5:39:56
  too. Why, Pollyanna, I think all the town is playing that game
• 5:40:02
  now with you, even to the minister. I haven't had a chance to
• 5:40:04
  tell you yet, but this morning I met mister Ford when I was down
• 5:40:10
  to the village, and he told me to say to you that just as
• 5:40:14
  soon as you could see him, he was coming to tell you that he
• 5:40:17
  hadn't stopped being glad over those eight hundred rejoicing texts that you told him about.
• 5:40:23
  So you see, dear, it's just you that have done it.
• 5:40:26
  The whole town is playing the game, and the whole town is wonderfully happier,
• 5:40:33
  and all because of one little girl who taught the people a new game
• 5:40:37
  and how to play it. Pollyanna clapped her hands. Oh I'm so glad,
• 5:40:42
  she cried. Then suddenly a wonderful light illumined her face. Why Aunt
• 5:40:49
  Polly, there is something I can be glad about? After all, I
• 5:40:53
  can be glad I've had my legs anyway, else I couldn't have done that.
• 5:41:00
  End of Chapter twenty eight, Chapter twenty nine, Through an open window.
• 5:41:07
  One by one, the short winter days came and went, but they
• 5:41:11
  were not short to Pollyanna. They were long and sometimes full of pain.
• 5:41:15
  Very resolutely these days, however, Pollyanna was turning a cheerful face toward whatever
• 5:41:22
  came. Was she not specially bound to play the game now that Aunt Polly
• 5:41:26
  was playing it too, And Aunt Polly found so many things to be glad
• 5:41:32
  about. It was Aunt Polly too, who discovered the story one day about
• 5:41:37
  the two poor little waifs in a snowstorm who found a blown down door to
• 5:41:41
  crawl under, and who wondered what poor folks did that didn't have any door.
• 5:41:48
  And it was Aunt Polly who brought home the other story that she had
• 5:41:51
  heard about the poor old lady who had only two teeth, But who was
• 5:41:56
  so glad that those two teeth hit Pollyanna now like mister Snow was knitting wonderful
• 5:42:03
  things out of bright colored worsteds that trailed their cheery lengths across the white spread,
• 5:42:08
  and made Pollyanna again, like missus Snow, so glad she had her
• 5:42:14
  hands and arms. Anyway, Pollyanna saw people now occasionally, and always there
• 5:42:19
  were the loving messages from those she could not see, and always they brought
• 5:42:25
  her something new to think about, and Pollyanna needed new things to think about.
• 5:42:30
  Once she had seen John Pendleton, and twice she had seen Jimmy Bean.
• 5:42:34
  John Pendleton had told her what a fine boy Jimmy was getting to be,
• 5:42:38
  and how well he was doing. Jimmy had told her what a first
• 5:42:44
  rate home he had, and what bang up folks mister Pendleton made, and
• 5:42:48
  both had said that it was all owing to her, which makes me all
• 5:42:52
  the gladder. You know that I have had my legs, Pollyanna confided to
• 5:42:56
  her aunt afterwards. The winter pass in spring came, the anxious watchers over
• 5:43:03
  Pollyanna's condition could see little change wrought by the prescribed treatment. There seemed every
• 5:43:08
  reason to believe, indeed, that doctor Meade's worst fears would be realized,
• 5:43:14
  that Pollyanna would never walk again. Beldingsville, of course, kept itself informed
• 5:43:21
  concerning Pollyanna and of Beldingsville. One man in particular fumed and fretted himself into
• 5:43:30
  a fever of anxiety over the daily bulletins, which he managed in some way
• 5:43:34
  to procure from the better suffering. As the days passed, however, and
• 5:43:40
  the news came to be no better, but rather worse, something besides anxiety
• 5:43:45
  began to show in the man's face despair and a very dogged determination, each
• 5:43:52
  fighting for the mastery. In the end, the dogged determination won, and
• 5:43:56
  it was then that mister John Pendleton, someone to his surprise, received one
• 5:44:02
  Saturday morning a call from doctor Thomas Chilton. Pendleton began the doctor abruptly,
• 5:44:08
  I've come to you because you, better than anyone else in town, know
• 5:44:12
  something of my relations with miss Polly Harrington. John Pendleton was conscious that he
• 5:44:18
  must have started visibly. He did know something of the affair between Polly Harrington
• 5:44:23
  and Thomas Chilton, but the matter had not been mentioned between them for fifteen
• 5:44:29
  years or more. Yes, he said, trying to make his voice sound
• 5:44:33
  concerned enough for sympathy, but not eager enough for curiosity. In a moment,
• 5:44:37
  he saw that he need not have worried. However, the doctor was
• 5:44:41
  quite too intent on his errand to notice how that errand was received. Pendleton.
• 5:44:48
  I want to see that child. I want to make an examination.
• 5:44:52
  I must make an examination. Well, can't you can't I, Pendleton?
• 5:44:57
  You know very well I haven't been inside that door for more than fifteen years.
• 5:45:03
  You don't know. But I will tell you that the mistress of that
• 5:45:07
  house told me that the next time she asked me to enter it, I
• 5:45:11
  might take it that she was begging my pardon and that all would be as
• 5:45:17
  before, which meant that she'd marry me. Perhaps you see her summoning me
• 5:45:21
  now, but I don't. But couldn't you go without a summons? The
• 5:45:26
  doctor frowned, Well hardly. I have some pride, you know. But
• 5:45:30
  if you're so anxious, couldn't you swallow your pride and forget the quarrel?
• 5:45:34
  Forget the quarrel? Interrupted the doctor savagely. I'm not talking of that kind
• 5:45:41
  of pride, so far as that is concerned. I go from here to
• 5:45:45
  there on my knees or on my head, if that would do any good.
• 5:45:49
  It's professional pride I'm talking about. It's a case of sickness, and
• 5:45:55
  I'm a doctor. I can't butt in and say here, take me,
• 5:45:59
  can I Chilton? What was the quarrel? Demanded Pendleton. The doctor made
• 5:46:04
  an impatient gesture and got to his feet. What was it? What's any
• 5:46:08
  lover's quarrel? After it's over, he snarled, pacing the room angrily.
• 5:46:14
  Hey, silly wrangle over the side of the moon or the depth of a
• 5:46:18
  river. Maybe it might as well be, so far as it's having any
• 5:46:21
  real significance compared to the years of misery that follow them. Never mind the
• 5:46:26
  quarrel, So far as I am concerned, I am willing to say there
• 5:46:30
  was no quarrel, Pendleton. I must see that child. It may mean
• 5:46:36
  life or death. It will mean I honestly believe nine chances out of ten
• 5:46:41
  that Pollyanna Whittier will walk again. The words were spoken clearly, impressively,
• 5:46:49
  and they were spoken just as the one who uttered them had almost reached the
• 5:46:55
  open window near John Pendleton's chair. Thus it happened that, very distinctly they
• 5:47:00
  reached the ears of a small boy kneeling beneath the window on the ground outside.
• 5:47:07
  Jimmy Bean, at his Saturday morning task of pulling up the first little
• 5:47:11
  green weeds of the flower beds, sat up with ears and eyes wide open,
• 5:47:17
  walk Pollyanna. John Pendleton was saying, what do you mean? I
• 5:47:22
  mean that, from what I can hear and learn a mile from her bedside,
• 5:47:26
  that her case is very much like one that a college friend of mine
• 5:47:30
  has just helped. For years, he's been making this sort of thing a
• 5:47:34
  special study. I've kept in touch with him and studied too, in a
• 5:47:38
  way, and from what I hear, but I want to see the girl.
• 5:47:44
  John Pendleton came erect in his chair. You must see her, man,
• 5:47:48
  couldn't you say? Through doctor Warren? The other shook his head.
• 5:47:52
  I'm afraid not. Warren has been very decent, though he told me himself
• 5:47:56
  that he suggested consultation with me at the first, but Miss Harrington said no,
• 5:48:03
  so decisively that he didn't dare venture it again, even though he knew
• 5:48:07
  of my desire to see the child. Lately some of his best patients have
• 5:48:11
  come over to me, so of course that ties my hands still more effectually.
• 5:48:17
  But Pendleton, I've got to see that child. Think of what it
• 5:48:22
  may mean to her if I do yes, and think of what it will
• 5:48:26
  mean if you don't, retorted Pendleton. But how can I without a direct
• 5:48:33
  request from her aunt, which I'll never get. She must be made to
• 5:48:38
  ask you how I don't know. No, I guess you don't, nor
• 5:48:44
  anybody else. She's too proud and too angry to ask me after what she
• 5:48:48
  said years ago. It would mean if she did ask me. But when
• 5:48:52
  I think of that child doomed to life long misery, and when I think
• 5:48:59
  that maybe in my hands lies a chance of escape, But for that confounded
• 5:49:03
  nonsense we call pride and professional etiquette. I He did not finish his sentence,
• 5:49:11
  but with his hands thrust deep into his pockets, he turned and began
• 5:49:15
  to trap up and down the room again angrily. But if she could be
• 5:49:21
  made to see to understand, urged John Pendleton. Yes, and who's going
• 5:49:26
  to do it, demanded the doctor with a savage turn. I don't know,
• 5:49:30
  I don't know, groaned the other miserably. Outside the window, Jimmy
• 5:49:34
  Bean stirred suddenly up till now he had scarcely breathed so intently had he listened
• 5:49:41
  to every word? Well, by Jenkes, I know, he whispered exultantly,
• 5:49:48
  I'm a going to do it, and forthwith he rose to his feet,
• 5:49:52
  crept stealthily around the corner of the house and ran with all his might
• 5:49:57
  down Pendleton Hill. End of chapter twenty nine, Chapter thirty. Jimmy takes
• 5:50:03
  the helm. It's Jimmy Bean. He wants to see, ma'am, announced
• 5:50:08
  Nancy in the doorway. Me rejoined Miss Polly plainly surprised. Are you sure
• 5:50:15
  he did not mean Miss Pollyanna. He may see her a few minutes today
• 5:50:18
  if he likes yes'm, I told him, but he said it was you
• 5:50:22
  he wanted. Very well, I'll come down, and Miss Polly arose from
• 5:50:26
  her chair a little wearily. In the sitting room, she found waiting for
• 5:50:32
  her a round eyed, flushed faced boy who began to speak at once.
• 5:50:37
  Ma'am. I suppose it's dreadful what I'm doing and what I'm saying, but
• 5:50:41
  I can't help it. It's for Pollyanna, and I'd walk over hot coals
• 5:50:45
  for her, or face you or anything like that anytime. And I think
• 5:50:49
  you would too if you thought there was a chance for her to walk again.
• 5:50:53
  And so that's why I come to tell you that, as long as
• 5:50:56
  it's only pride, and it it something that's keeping Pollyanna from walking, why
• 5:51:02
  I knew you would ask doctor Chiltern, here, if you understood what interrupted
• 5:51:07
  miss Polly, the look of stupefaction on her face changing to one of angry
• 5:51:11
  indignation. Jimmy sighed despairingly. There, I didn't mean to make you mad.
• 5:51:18
  That's why I begun by telling you about her walking Again, I thought
• 5:51:21
  you'd listen to that, Jimmy, what are you talking about? Jimmy sighed
• 5:51:26
  again, That's what I'm trying to tell you. Well, then tell me,
• 5:51:32
  but begin at the beginning and be sure I understand each thing as you
• 5:51:37
  go on. Don't plunge into the middle of it as you did before and
• 5:51:40
  mix everything all up. Jimmy wet his lips determinedly. Well, to begin
• 5:51:47
  with, Doctor Chilton came to see mister Pendleton and they talked in the library.
• 5:51:52
  Do you understand that, Yes, Jimmy, Miss Polly's voice was rather
• 5:51:56
  faint. Well, it was open and I was weeding the flower bed under
• 5:52:02
  it, and I heard him talk. Oh, Jimmy listening. Itwa wasn't
• 5:52:07
  about me? And twasn't a sneak listening, bridled Jimmy. And I'm glad
• 5:52:11
  I listened. You will be when I tell you why. It may make
• 5:52:15
  Pollyanna walk. Jimmy, what do you mean? Miss Polly was leaning forward
• 5:52:19
  eagerly. There, I told you, so, nodded Jimmy, contentedly.
• 5:52:25
  Well, doctor Chilton knows some doctor somewhere that can cure Pollyanna. He thinks
• 5:52:30
  make her walk, you know, but he can't tell sure till he sees
• 5:52:33
  her. And he wants to see something awful. But he told mister Pendleton
• 5:52:37
  that you wouldn't let him. Miss Polly's face turned very red. But Jimmy,
• 5:52:44
  I I can't. I couldn't. That is I didn't know. Miss
• 5:52:48
  Polly was twisting her fingers together helplessly. Yes, and that's what I come
• 5:52:55
  to tell you, so you would know, asserted Jimmy eagerly. They said
• 5:52:59
  that for some reason I didn't rightly catch what. You wouldn't let doctor Chilton
• 5:53:03
  come. And you told doctor warren so, and doctor Chiltern couldn't come himself
• 5:53:08
  without you asked him on account of pride, a profession it well as something
• 5:53:12
  anyway, And they was wishing somebody could make you understand, only they didn't
• 5:53:18
  know who could. And I was outside the winder, and I says to
• 5:53:22
  myself right away by Jinks, I'll do it, and I come and have
• 5:53:26
  I made you understand? Yes? But Jimmy, about that, doctor implored
• 5:53:33
  Miss Polly feverishly. Who was he? What did he do? Are they
• 5:53:37
  sure he could make Pollyanna walk? I don't know who he was, he
• 5:53:41
  didn't say. Doctor Chilton knows him and says he's cured somebody just like her.
• 5:53:45
  Doctor Chilton thinks, anyhow, they didn't seem to be doing no worrying
• 5:53:49
  about him. Twas you they was worrying about because you wouldn't let doctor Chilton
• 5:53:55
  see her and say you will let him come, won't you? Now you
• 5:53:59
  understand? And Miss Polly turned her head from side to side. Her breath
• 5:54:04
  was coming in little, uneven rapid gasps. Jimmy, watching her with anxious
• 5:54:10
  eyes, thought she was going to cry, but she did not cry.
• 5:54:14
  After a minute, she said brokenly, yes, I'll let doctor Chilton see
• 5:54:21
  her. Now, run home, Jimmy quick, I've got to speak to
• 5:54:23
  doctor Warren. He's upstairs now. I saw him drive in a few minutes
• 5:54:27
  ago. A little later, Doctor Warren was surprised to meet and agitated,
• 5:54:33
  flush faced Miss Polly in the hall. He was still more surprised to hear
• 5:54:37
  the lady say a little breathlessly, Doctor Warren. You asked me once to
• 5:54:41
  allow doctor Chilton to be called in consultation, and I refused. Since then
• 5:54:47
  I have reconsidered, I very much desire that you should call in doctor Chiltern.
• 5:54:53
  Will you not ask him at once? Please? Thank you? End
• 5:54:59
  of Chapter thirty Chapter thirty one, A new uncle. The next time,
• 5:55:06
  Doctor Warren entered the chamber where Pollyanna lay watching the dancing shimmer of color on
• 5:55:11
  the ceiling. A tall, broad, childred man followed close behind him,
• 5:55:17
  Doctor Chiltern. Oh, Doctor Chiltern, how glad I am to see you,
• 5:55:21
  cried Pollyanna, And at the joyous rapture of the voice, more than
• 5:55:26
  one pair of eyes in the room brimmed hot with sudden tears. But of
• 5:55:30
  course, if Aunt Polly doesn't want, it's all right, my dear,
• 5:55:33
  don't worry, soothed Miss Polly, agitatedly, hurrying forward. I have told
• 5:55:40
  doctor Chiltern that I want him to look you over with doctor Warren this morning.
• 5:55:45
  Oh, then you asked him to come, murmured Pollyanna contentedly, Yes,
• 5:55:51
  dear, I asked him that is, But it was too late.
• 5:55:53
  The adoring happiness that had leaped to doctor Chilton's eyes was unmistakable, and Miss
• 5:56:00
  Polly had seen it with very pink cheeks. She turned and left the room
• 5:56:06
  hurriedly. Over in the window, the nurse and doctor Warren were talking earnestly.
• 5:56:11
  Doctor Chilton held out both his hands to Pollyanna, little girl. I'm
• 5:56:17
  thinking that one of the very gladdest jobs you ever did has been done today,
• 5:56:22
  he said, in a voice shaken with the emotion. At twilight,
• 5:56:26
  a wonderfully tremulous, wonderfully different Aunt Polly crept to Pollyanna's bedside. The nurse
• 5:56:33
  was at supper. They had the room to themselves. Pollyanna, dear,
• 5:56:38
  I'm going to tell you the very first one of all. Someday, I'm
• 5:56:42
  going to give doctor Chilton to you for your uncle. And it's you that
• 5:56:48
  have done it all. Oh Pollyanna, I'm so happy and so glad,
• 5:56:55
  Darling. Pollyanna began to clap her hands, but even though she brought her
• 5:56:59
  small palms together the first time, she stopped and held them suspended. Aunt
• 5:57:06
  Polly, Aunt Polly, were you the woman's hand and heart he wanted so
• 5:57:11
  long ago? You were? I know you were, And that's what he
• 5:57:15
  meant by saying, I'd done the gladdest job of all today. I'm so
• 5:57:21
  glad Why Aunt Polly, I don't know, but I'm so glad that I
• 5:57:25
  don't mind even my legs. Now. Aunt Polly swallowed a sob Perhaps someday,
• 5:57:30
  dear, But Aunt Polly did not finish. Aunt Polly did not dare
• 5:57:34
  to tell yet the great hope that doctor Chilton had put into her heart.
• 5:57:40
  But she did say this, and surely this was quite wonderful enough to Pollyanna's
• 5:57:45
  mind. Pollyanna, next week you're going to take a journey on a nice,
• 5:57:49
  comfortable little bed. You're going to be carried in cars and carriages to
• 5:57:55
  a great doctor who has a big house many miles from here, made on
• 5:57:59
  purpose for just such people as you are. He's a dear friend of doctor
• 5:58:03
  Chilton's, and we're going to see what he can do for you. End
• 5:58:08
  of chapter thirty one. Chapter thirty two, the last chapter which is a
• 5:58:14
  letter from Pollyanna, Dear Aunt Polly and Uncle Tom. Oh I can I
• 5:58:22
  can, I can't walk? I did today all the way from my bed
• 5:58:26
  to the window. It was six steps. My how good it is to
• 5:58:30
  be on legs again. All the doctors stood round and smiled, and all
• 5:58:36
  the nurses stood beside them and cried. A lady in the next ward who
• 5:58:40
  walked last week first peeked into the door, and another one, who hoped
• 5:58:45
  she can walk next month, was invited into the party, and she laid
• 5:58:48
  on my nurse's bed and clapped her hands. Even Black Tilly, who washes
• 5:58:52
  the floor, looked through the piazza window and called me, honey child,
• 5:58:57
  when she wasn't crying to my to call me anything. I don't see why
• 5:59:03
  they cried. I wanted to sing and shout and yell. Oh, oh,
• 5:59:07
  just think I can walk, walk walk now. I don't mind being
• 5:59:14
  here almost ten months, and I didn't miss the wedding anyhow. Wasn't that
• 5:59:18
  just like you, Aunt Polly, to come on here and get married right
• 5:59:23
  beside my bed so I could see you. You always do the gladdest things.
• 5:59:30
  Pretty soon they say I shall go home. I wish I could walk
• 5:59:33
  all the way there. I do. I don't think I shall ever want
• 5:59:37
  to ride anywhere anymore. It will be so good just to walk. Oh,
• 5:59:42
  I'm so glad. I'm glad for everything. Why I'm glad now I
• 5:59:47
  lost my legs for a while, for you never never know how perfectly lovely
• 5:59:52
  legs are till you haven't got them. That go, I mean, I'm
• 5:59:56
  gonna walk eight steps tomorrow with heaps of love to everybody, Pollyanna. End
• 6:00:03
  of chapter thirty two. End of Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter