Oh, that was splendid! she greeted him, with shining eyes. I love to see you do it and its just like the Children of Israel crossing the Red Sea, isnt it? with you holding back the waves for the people to cross. And how glad you must be all the time, that you can do it! I used to think being a doctor was the very gladdest business there was, but I reckon, after all, being a policeman is gladder yet to help frightened people like this, you know. And But with another Brrrr! and an embarrassed laugh, the big blue-coated man was back in the middle of the street, and Pollyanna was all alone on the curbstone.
For only a minute longer did Pollyanna watch her fascinating Red Sea, then, with a regretful backward glance, she turned away.
I reckon maybe Id better be going home now, she meditated. It must be most dinner time. And briskly she started to walk back by the way she had come.
Not until she had hesitated at several corners, and unwittingly made two false turns, did Pollyanna grasp the fact that going back home was not to be so easy as she had thought it to be. And not until she came to a building which she knew she had never seen before, did she fully realize that she had lost her way.
She was on a narrow street, dirty, and ill-paved. Dingy tenement blocks and a few unattractive stores were on either side. All about were jabbering men and chattering women though not one word of what they said could Pollyanna understand. Moreover, she could not help seeing that the people looked at her very curiously, as if they knew she did not belong there[35].
Several times, already, she had asked her way, but in vain. No one seemed to know where Mrs. Carew lived; and, the last two times, those addressed had answered with a gesture and a jumble of words which Pollyanna, after some thought, decided must be Dutch, the kind the Haggermans the only foreign family in Beldingsville used.
On and on, down one street and up another, Pollyanna trudged. She was thoroughly frightened now. She was hungry, too, and very tired. Her feet ached, and her eyes smarted with the tears she was trying so hard to hold back. Worse yet, it was unmistakably beginning to grow dark.
Well, anyhow, she choked to herself, Im going to be glad Im lost, cause itll be so nice when I get found. I CAN be glad for that!
It was at a noisy corner where two broader streets crossed that Pollyanna finally came to a dismayed stop. This time the tears quite overflowed, so that, lacking a handkerchief, she had to use the backs of both hands to wipe them away.
Hullo, kid, why the weeps[36]? queried a cheery voice. Whats up?
With a relieved little cry Pollyanna turned to confront a small boy carrying a bundle of newspapers under his arm.
Oh, Im so glad to see you! she exclaimed. Ive so wanted to see some one who didnt talk Dutch!
The small boy grinned.
Dutch nothin! he scoffed. You mean Dago[37], I bet ye.
Pollyanna gave a slight frown.
Well, anyway, it it wasnt English, she said doubtfully; and they couldnt answer my questions. But maybe you can. Do you know where Mrs. Carew lives?
Nix! You can search me.
Wha-at? queried Pollyanna, still more doubtfully.
The boy grinned again.
I say not in mine. I guess I aint acquainted with the lady.
But isnt there anybody anywhere that is? implored Pollyanna. You see, I just went out for a walk and I got lost. Ive been ever and ever so far, but I cant find the house at all; and its supper I mean dinner time and getting dark. I want to get back. I MUST get back.
Gee! Well, I should worry! sympathized the boy.
Yes, and Im afraid Mrs. Carewll worry, too, sighed Pollyanna.
Gorry! if you aint the limit[38], chuckled the youth, unexpectedly. But, say, listen! Dont ye know the name of the street ye want?
No only that its some kind of an avenue, desponded Pollyanna.
A avenOO, is it? Sure, now, some class to that! Were doin fine. Whats the number of the house? Can ye tell me that? Just scratch your head!
Scratch my head? Pollyanna frowned questioningly, and raised a tentative hand to her hair.
The boy eyed her with disdain.
Aw, come off yer perch[39]! Ye aint so dippy as all that. I say, dont ye know the number of the house ye want?
N-no, except theres a seven in it, returned Pollyanna, with a faintly hopeful air.
Wont ye listen ter that? gibed the scornful youth. Theres a seven in it an she expects me ter know it when I see it!
Oh, I should know the house, if I could only see it, declared Pollyanna, eagerly; and I think Id know the street, too, on account of the lovely long yard running right up and down through the middle of it.
This time it was the boy who gave a puzzled frown.
YARD? he queried, in the middle of a street?
Yes trees and grass, you know, with a walk in the middle of it, and seats, and But the boy interrupted her with a whoop of delight.
Gee whiz! Commonwealth Avenue, sure as yer livin! Wouldnt that get yer goat, now?
Oh, do you know do you, really? besought Pollyanna. That sounded like it only I dont know what you meant about the goat part. There arent any goats there. I dont think theyd allow
Goats nothin! scoffed the boy. You bet yer sweet life I know where tis! Dont I tote Sir James up there to the Garden most evry day? An Ill take YOU, too. Jest ye hang out here till I get on ter my job again, an sell out my stock. Then well make tracks for that ere Avenue fore ye can say Jack Robinson[40].
You mean youll take me home? appealed Pollyanna, still plainly not quite understanding.
Sure! Its a cinch[41] if you know the house.
Oh, yes, I know the house, replied the literal Pollyanna, anxiously, but I dont know whether its a a cinch, or not. If it isnt, cant you
But the boy only threw her another disdainful glance and darted off into the thick of the crowd. A moment later Pollyanna heard his strident call of Paper, paper! Herald, Globe, paper, sir?
With a sigh of relief Pollyanna stepped back into a doorway and waited. She was tired, but she was happy. In spite of sundry puzzling aspects of the case, she yet trusted the boy, and she had perfect confidence that he could take her home.
Hes nice, and I like him, she said to herself, following with her eyes the boys alert, darting figure. But he does talk funny. His words SOUND English, but some of them dont seem to make any sense with the rest of what he says. But then, Im glad he found me, anyway, she finished with a contented little sigh.
It was not long before the boy returned, his hands empty.
Come on, kid. All aboard, he called cheerily. Now well hit the trail for the Avenue. If I was the real thing, now, Id tote ye home in style in a buzz-wagon; but seein as how I haint got the dough, well have ter hoof it[42].
It was, for the most part, a silent walk. Pollyanna, for once in her life, was too tired to talk, even of the Ladies Aiders; and the boy was intent on picking out the shortest way to his goal. When the Public Garden was reached, Pollyanna did exclaim joyfully:
Oh, now Im most there! I remember this place. I had a perfectly lovely time here this afternoon. Its only a little bit of a ways home now.
Thats the stuff! Now were gettin there, crowed the boy. Whatd I tell ye? Well just cut through here to the Avenue, an then itll be up ter you ter find the house.
Oh, I can find the house, exulted Pollyanna, with all the confidence of one who has reached familiar ground.
It was quite dark when Pollyanna led the way up the broad Carew steps. The boys ring at the bell was very quickly answered, and Pollyanna found herself confronted by not only Mary, but by Mrs. Carew, Bridget, and Jennie as well. All four of the women were white-faced and anxious-eyed.
Child, child, where HAVE you been? demanded Mrs. Carew, hurrying forward.
Why, I I just went to walk, began Pollyanna, and I got lost, and this boy
Where did you find her? cut in Mrs. Carew, turning imperiously to Pollyannas escort, who was, at the moment, gazing in frank admiration at the wonders about him in the brilliantly-lighted hall.
Where did you find her, boy? she repeated sharply.
For a brief moment the boy met her gaze unflinchingly; then something very like a twinkle came into his eyes, though his voice, when he spoke, was gravity itself.
Well, I found her round Bowdoin Square, but I reckon shed been doin the North End, only she couldnt catch on ter the lingo of the Dagos, so I dont think she give em the glad hand, maam.
The North End that child alone! Pollyanna! shuddered Mrs. Carew.
Oh, I wasnt alone, Mrs. Carew, fended Pollyanna. There were ever and ever so many people there, werent there, boy?
But the boy, with an impish grin, was disappearing through the door.
But the boy, with an impish grin, was disappearing through the door.
Pollyanna learned many things during the next half-hour. She learned that nice little girls do not take long walks alone in unfamiliar cities, nor sit on park benches and talk to strangers. She learned, also, that it was only by a perfectly marvelous miracle that she had reached home at all that night, and that she had escaped many, many very disagreeable consequences of her foolishness. She learned that Boston was not Beldingsville, and that she must not think it was.
But, Mrs. Carew, she finally argued despairingly, I AM here, and I didnt get lost for keeps. Seems as if I ought to be glad for that instead of thinking all the time of the sorry things that might have happened.
Yes, yes, child, I suppose so, I suppose so, sighed Mrs. Carew; but you have given me such a fright, and I want you to be sure, SURE, SURE never to do it again. Now come, dear, you must be hungry.
It was just as she was dropping off to sleep that night that Pollyanna murmured drowsily to herself:
The thing Im the very sorriest for of anything is that I didnt ask that boy his name nor where he lived. Now I cant ever say thank you to him!
Chapter VII
A New Acquaintance
Pollyannas movements were most carefully watched over after her adventurous walk; and, except to go to school, she was not allowed out of the house unless Mary or Mrs. Carew herself accompanied her. This, to Pollyanna, however, was no cross, for she loved both Mrs. Carew and Mary, and delighted to be with them. They were, too, for a while, very generous with their time. Even Mrs. Carew, in her terror of what might have happened, and her relief that it had not happened, exerted herself to entertain the child.