Shes Miss Polly Harrington. I live with her.
The man made a sudden movement.
Miss Polly Harrington! he breathed. You live with HER!
Yes; Im her niece. Shes taken me to bring up on account of my mother, you know, faltered Pollyanna, in a low voice. She was her sister. And after father went to be with her and the rest of us in Heaven, there wasnt any one left for me down here but the Ladies Aid; so she took me.
The man did not answer. His face, as he lay back on the pillow now, was very white so white that Pollyanna was frightened. She rose uncertainly to her feet.
I reckon maybe Id better go now, she proposed. I I hope youll like the jelly.
The man turned his head suddenly, and opened his eyes. There was a curious longing in their dark depths which even Pollyanna saw, and at which she marvelled.
And so you are Miss Polly Harringtons niece, he said gently.
Yes, sir.
Still the mans dark eyes lingered on her face, until Pollyanna, feeling vaguely restless, murmured:
I I suppose you know her.
John Pendletons lips curved in an odd smile.
Oh, yes; I know her. He hesitated, then went on, still with that curious smile. But you dont mean you cant mean that it was Miss Polly Harrington who sent that jelly to me? he said slowly.
Pollyanna looked distressed.
N-no, sir: she didnt. She said I must be very sure not to let you think she did send it. But I
I thought as much[109], vouchsafed the man, shortly, turning away his head. And Pollyanna, still more distressed, tiptoed from the room.
Under the porte-cochère she found the doctor waiting in his gig. The nurse stood on the steps.
Well, Miss Pollyanna, may I have the pleasure of seeing you home? asked the doctor smilingly. I started to drive on a few minutes ago; then it occurred to me that Id wait for you.
Thank you, sir. Im glad you did. I just love to ride, beamed Pollyanna, as he reached out his hand to help her in.
Do you? smiled the doctor, nodding his head in farewell to the young man on the steps. Well, as near as I can judge, there are a good many things you love to do eh? he added, as they drove briskly away.
Pollyanna laughed.
Why, I dont know. I reckon perhaps there are, she admitted. I like to do most everything thats LIVING. Of course I dont like the other things very well sewing, and reading out loud, and all that. But THEY arent LIVING.
No? What are they, then?
Aunt Polly says theyre learning to live, sighed Pollyanna, with a rueful smile.
The doctor smiled now a little queerly.
Does she? Well, I should think she might say just that.
Yes, responded Pollyanna. But I dont see it that way at all. I dont think you have to LEARN how to live. I didnt, anyhow.
The doctor drew a long sigh.
After all, Im afraid some of us do have to, little girl, he said. Then, for a time he was silent. Pollyanna, stealing a glance at his face, felt vaguely sorry for him. He looked so sad. She wished, uneasily, that she could do something. It was this, perhaps, that caused her to say in a timid voice:
Dr. Chilton, I should think being a doctor would be the very gladdest kind of a business there was.
The doctor turned in surprise.
Gladdest! when I see so much suffering always, everywhere I go? he cried.
She nodded.
I know; but youre HELPING it dont you see? and of course youre glad to help it! And so that makes you the gladdest of any of us, all the time.
The doctors eyes filled with sudden hot tears. The doctors life was a singularly lonely one. He had no wife and no home save his two-room office in a boarding house. His profession was very dear to him. Looking now into Pollyannas shining eyes, he felt as if a loving hand had been suddenly laid on his head in blessing. He knew, too, that never again would a long days work or a long nights weariness be quite without that new-found exaltation that had come to him through Pollyannas eyes.
God bless you, little girl, he said unsteadily. Then, with the bright smile his patients knew and loved so well, he added: And Im thinking, after all, that it was the doctor, quite as much as his patients, that needed a draft of that tonic! All of which puzzled Pollyanna very much until a chipmunk, running across the road, drove the whole matter from her mind.
The doctor left Pollyanna at her own door, smiled at Nancy, who was sweeping off the front porch, then drove rapidly away.
Ive had a perfectly beautiful ride with the doctor, announced Pollyanna, bounding up the steps. Hes lovely, Nancy!
Is he?
Yes. And I told him I should think his business would be the very gladdest one there was.
What! goin ter see sick folks an folks what aint sick but thinks they is, which is worse[110]? Nancys face showed open skepticism.
Pollyanna laughed gleefully.
Yes. Thats most what he said, too; but there is a way to be glad, even then. Guess!
Nancy frowned in meditation. Nancy was getting so she could play this game of being glad quite successfully, she thought. She rather enjoyed studying out Pollyannas posers, too, as she called some of the little girls questions.
Oh, I know, she chuckled. Its just the opposite from what you told Mis Snow.
Opposite? repeated Pollyanna, obviously puzzled.
Yes. You told her she could be glad because other folks wasnt like her all sick, you know.
Yes, nodded Pollyanna.
Well, the doctor can be glad because he isnt like other folks the sick ones, I mean, what he doctors, finished Nancy in triumph.
It was Pollyannas turn to frown.
Why, y-yes, she admitted. Of course that IS one way, but it isnt the way I said; and someway, I dont seem to quite like the sound of it. It isnt exactly as if he said he was glad they WERE sick, but You do play the game so funny sometimes, Nancy, she sighed, as she went into the house.
Pollyanna found her aunt in the sitting room.
Who was that man the one who drove into the yard, Pollyanna? questioned the lady a little sharply.
Why, Aunt Polly, that was Dr. Chilton! Dont you know him?
Dr. Chilton! What was he doing here?
He drove me home. Oh, and I gave the jelly to Mr. Pendleton, and
Miss Polly lifted her head quickly.
Pollyanna, he did not think I sent it?
Oh, no, Aunt Polly. I told him you didnt.
Miss Polly grew a sudden vivid pink.
You TOLD him I didnt!
Pollyanna opened wide her eyes at the remonstrative dismay in her aunts voice.
Why, Aunt Polly, you SAID to!
Aunt Polly sighed.
I SAID, Pollyanna, that I did not send it, and for you to be very sure that he did not think I DID! which is a very different matter from TELLING him outright that I did not send it. And she turned vexedly away.
Dear me! Well, I dont see where the difference is[111], sighed Pollyanna, as she went to hang her hat on the one particular hook in the house upon which Aunt Polly had said that it must be hung.
Chapter XVI
A Red Rose and a Lace Shawl
It was on a rainy day about a week after Pollyannas visit to Mr. John Pendleton, that Miss Polly was driven by Timothy to an early afternoon committee meeting of the Ladies Aid Society. When she returned at three oclock, her cheeks were a bright, pretty pink, and her hair, blown by the damp wind, had fluffed into kinks and curls wherever the loosened pins had given leave.
Pollyanna had never before seen her aunt look like this.
Pollyanna had never before seen her aunt look like this.
Oh oh oh! Why, Aunt Polly, youve got em, too, she cried rapturously, dancing round and round her aunt, as that lady entered the sitting room.
Got what, you impossible child?
Pollyanna was still revolving round and round her aunt.
And I never knew you had em! Can folks have em when you dont know theyve got em? DO you suppose I could? fore I get to Heaven, I mean, she cried, pulling out with eager fingers the straight locks above her ears. But then, they wouldnt be black, if they did come. You cant hide the black part.
Pollyanna, what does all this mean? demanded Aunt Polly, hurriedly removing her hat, and trying to smooth back her disordered hair.
No, no please, Aunt Polly! Pollyannas jubilant voice turned to one of distressed appeal. Dont smooth em out! Its those that Im talking about those darling little black curls. Oh, Aunt Polly, theyre so pretty!
Nonsense! What do you mean, Pollyanna, by going to the Ladies Aid the other day in that absurd fashion about that beggar boy?
But it isnt nonsense, urged Pollyanna, answering only the first of her aunts remarks. You dont know how pretty you look with your hair like that! Oh, Aunt Polly, please, maynt I do your hair like I did Mrs. Snows, and put in a flower? Id so love to see you that way! Why, youd be ever so much prettier than she was!
Pollyanna! (Miss Polly spoke very sharply all the more sharply because Pollyannas words had given her an odd throb of joy: when before had anybody cared how she, or her hair looked? When before had anybody loved to see her pretty?) Pollyanna, you did not answer my question. Why did you go to the Ladies Aid in that absurd fashion?
Yesm, I know; but, please, I didnt know it was absurd until I went and found out theyd rather see their report grow than Jimmy. So then I wrote to MY Ladies Aiders cause Jimmy is far away from them, you know; and I thought maybe he could be their little India boy same as Aunt Polly, WAS I your little India girl? And, Aunt Polly, you WILL let me do your hair, wont you?
Aunt Polly put her hand to her throat the old, helpless feeling was upon her, she knew.
But, Pollyanna, when the ladies told me this afternoon how you came to them, I was so ashamed! I
Pollyanna began to dance up and down lightly on her toes.
You didnt! You didnt say I COULDNt do your hair, she crowed triumphantly; and so Im sure it means just the other way round, sort of like it did the other day about Mr. Pendletons jelly that you didnt send, but didnt want me to say you didnt send, you know. Now wait just where you are. Ill get a comb.
But Pollyanna, Pollyanna, remonstrated Aunt Polly, following the little girl from the room and panting upstairs after her.
Oh, did you come up here? Pollyanna greeted her at the door of Miss Pollys own room. Thatll be nicer yet! Ive got the comb. Now sit down, please, right here. Oh, Im so glad you let me do it!
But, Pollyanna, I I