Do you mean me? she stammered. That you wished I hadnt noticed you?
No, no, kiddie! I meant some one quite different from you. Some one that hadnt ought to notice. I was glad to have you speak, only I thought at first it was some one from home.
Oh, then you dont live here, either, any more than I do I mean, for keeps[30].
Oh, yes, I live here now, sighed the girl; that is, if you can call it living what I do.
What do you do? asked Pollyanna interestedly.
Do? Ill tell you what I do, cried the other, with sudden bitterness. From morning till night I sell fluffy laces and perky bows to girls that laugh and talk and KNOW each other. Then I go home to a little back room up three flights just big enough to hold a lumpy cot-bed, a washstand with a nicked pitcher, one rickety chair, and me. Its like a furnace in the summer and an ice box in the winter; but its all the place Ive got, and Im supposed to stay in it when I aint workin. But Ive come out to-day. I aint goin to stay in that room, and I aint goin to go to any old library to read, neither. Its our last half-holiday this year and an extra one, at that; and Im going to have a good time for once. Im just as young, and I like to laugh and joke just as well as them girls I sell bows to all day. Well, to-day Im going to laugh and joke.
Pollyanna smiled and nodded her approval.
Im glad you feel that way. I do, too. Its a lot more fun to be happy, isnt it? Besides, the Bible tells us to; rejoice and be glad, I mean. It tells us to eight hundred times. Probably you know about em, though the rejoicing texts.
The pretty girl shook her head. A queer look came to her face.
Well, no, she said dryly. I cant say I WAS thinkin of the Bible.
Werent you? Well, maybe not; but, you see, MY father was a minister, and he
A MINISTER?
Yes. Why, was yours, too? cried Pollyanna, answering something she saw in the others face.
Y-yes. A faint color crept up to the girls forehead.
Oh, and has he gone like mine to be with God and the angels?
The girl turned away her head.
No. Hes still living back home, she answered, half under her breath.
Oh, how glad you must be, sighed Pollyanna, enviously. Sometimes I get to thinking, if only I could just SEE father once but you do see your father, dont you?
Not often. You see, Im down here.
But you CAN see him and I cant, mine. Hes gone to be with mother and the rest of us up in Heaven, and Have you got a mother, too an earth mother?
Y-yes. The girl stirred restlessly, and half-moved as if to go.
Oh, then you can see both of them, breathed Pollyanna, unutterable longing in her face. Oh, how glad you must be! For there just isnt anybody, is there, that really CARES and notices quite so much as fathers and mothers. You see I know, for I had a father until I was eleven years old; but, for a mother, I had Ladies Aiders for ever so long, till Aunt Polly took me. Ladies Aiders are lovely, but of course they arent like mothers, or even Aunt Pollys; and
On and on Pollyanna talked. Pollyanna was in her element now[31]. Pollyanna loved to talk. That there was anything strange or unwise or even unconventional in this intimate telling of her thoughts and her history to a total stranger on a Boston park bench did not once occur to Pollyanna. To Pollyanna all men, women, and children were friends, either known or unknown; and thus far she had found the unknown quite as delightful as the known, for with them there was always the excitement of mystery and adventure while they were changing from the unknown to the known.
To this young girl at her side, therefore, Pollyanna talked unreservedly of her father, her Aunt Polly, her Western home, and her journey East to Vermont. She told of new friends and old friends, and of course she told of the game. Pollyanna almost always told everybody of the game, either sooner or later. It was, indeed, so much a part of her very self that she could hardly have helped telling of it.
As for the girl she said little. She was not now sitting in her old listless attitude, however, and to her whole self had come a marked change. The flushed cheeks, frowning brow, troubled eyes, and nervously working fingers were plainly the signs of some inward struggle. From time to time she glanced apprehensively down the path beyond Pollyanna, and it was after such a glance that she clutched the little girls arm.
See here, kiddie, for just a minute dont you leave me. Do you hear? Stay right where you are? Theres a man I know comin; but no matter what he says, dont you pay no attention, and DONt YOU GO. Im goin to stay with YOU. See?
Before Pollyanna could more than gasp her wonderment and surprise, she found herself looking up into the face of a very handsome young gentleman, who had stopped before them.
Oh, here you are, he smiled pleasantly, lifting his hat to Pollyannas companion. Im afraid Ill have to begin with an apology Im a little late.
It dont matter, sir, said the young girl, speaking hurriedly. I Ive decided not to go.
Oh, here you are, he smiled pleasantly, lifting his hat to Pollyannas companion. Im afraid Ill have to begin with an apology Im a little late.
It dont matter, sir, said the young girl, speaking hurriedly. I Ive decided not to go.
The young man gave a light laugh.
Oh, come, my dear, dont be hard on a chap because hes a little late!
It isnt that, really, defended the girl, a swift red flaming into her cheeks. I mean Im not going.
Nonsense! The man stopped smiling. He spoke sharply. You said yesterday youd go.
I know; but Ive changed my mind. I told my little friend here Id stay with her.
Oh, but if youd rather go with this nice young gentleman, began Pollyanna, anxiously; but she fell back silenced at the look the girl gave her.
I tell you I had NOT rather go. Im not going.
And, pray, why this sudden right-about face[32]? demanded the young man with an expression that made him suddenly look, to Pollyanna, not quite so handsome. Yesterday you said
I know I did, interrupted the girl, feverishly. But I knew then that I hadnt ought to. Lets call it that I know it even better now. Thats all. And she turned away resolutely.
It was not all. The man spoke again, twice. He coaxed, then he sneered with a hateful look in his eyes. At last he said something very low and angry, which Pollyanna did not understand. The next moment he wheeled about and strode away.
The girl watched him tensely till he passed quite out of sight, then, relaxing, she laid a shaking hand on Pollyannas arm.
Thanks, kiddie. I reckon I owe you[33] more than you know. Good-by.
But you arent going away NOW! bemoaned Pollyanna.
The girl sighed wearily.
I got to. He might come back, and next time I might not be able to She clipped the words short and rose to her feet. For a moment she hesitated, then she choked bitterly: You see, hes the kind that notices too much, and that hadnt ought to notice ME at all! With that she was gone.
Why, what a funny lady, murmured Pollyanna, looking wistfully after the vanishing figure. She was nice, but she was sort of different, too, she commented, rising to her feet and moving idly down the path.
Chapter VI
Jerry to the Rescue[34]
It was not long before Pollyanna reached the edge of the Garden at a corner where two streets crossed. It was a wonderfully interesting corner, with its hurrying cars, automobiles, carriages and pedestrians. A huge red bottle in a drug-store window caught her eye, and from down the street came the sound of a hurdy-gurdy. Hesitating only a moment Pollyanna darted across the corner and skipped lightly down the street toward the entrancing music.
Pollyanna found much to interest her now. In the store windows were marvelous objects, and around the hurdy-gurdy, when she had reached it, she found a dozen dancing children, most fascinating to watch. So altogether delightful, indeed, did this pastime prove to be that Pollyanna followed the hurdy-gurdy for some distance, just to see those children dance. Presently she found herself at a corner so busy that a very big man in a belted blue coat helped the people across the street. For an absorbed minute she watched him in silence; then, a little timidly, she herself started to cross.
It was a wonderful experience. The big, blue-coated man saw her at once and promptly beckoned to her. He even walked to meet her. Then, through a wide lane with puffing motors and impatient horses on either hand, she walked unscathed to the further curb. It gave her a delightful sensation, so delightful that, after a minute, she walked back. Twice again, after short intervals, she trod the fascinating way so magically opened at the lifting of the big mans hand. But the last time her conductor left her at the curb, he gave a puzzled frown.
See here, little girl, aint you the same one what crossed a minute ago? he demanded. And again before that?
Yes, sir, beamed Pollyanna. Ive been across four times!
Well! the officer began to bluster; but Pollyanna was still talking.
And its been nicer every time!
Oh-h, it has has it? mumbled the big man, lamely. Then, with a little more spirit he sputtered: What do you think Im here for just to tote you back and forth?
Oh, no, sir, dimpled Pollyanna. Of course you arent just for me! There are all these others. I know what you are. Youre a policeman. Weve got one of you out where I live at Mrs. Carews, only hes the kind that just walks on the sidewalk, you know. I used to think you were soldiers, on account of your gold buttons and blue hats; but I know better now. Only I think you ARE a kind of a soldier, cause youre so brave standing here like this, right in the middle of all these teams and automobiles, helping folks across.
Ho-ho! Brrrr! spluttered the big man, coloring like a schoolboy and throwing back his head with a hearty laugh. Ho-ho! Just as if He broke off with a quick lifting of his hand. The next moment he was escorting a plainly very much frightened little old lady from curb to curb. If his step were a bit more pompous, and his chest a bit more full, it must have been only an unconscious tribute to the watching eyes of the little girl back at the starting-point. A moment later, with a haughtily permissive wave of his hand toward the chafing drivers and chauffeurs, he strolled back to Pollyanna.