Oh, Im awfully strong, declared Pollyanna, cheerfully, as she sprang to her feet. In a minute she had returned with the box.
It was a wonderful half-hour that Pollyanna spent then. The box was full of treasures curios that John Pendleton had picked up in years of travel and concerning each there was some entertaining story, whether it were a set of exquisitely carved chessmen from China, or a little jade idol from India.
It was after she had heard the story about the idol that Pollyanna murmured wistfully:
Well, I suppose it WOULD be better to take a little boy in India to bring up one that didnt know any more than to think that God was in that doll-thing than it would be to take Jimmy Bean, a little boy who knows God is up in the sky. Still, I cant help wishing they had wanted Jimmy Bean, too, besides the India boys.
John Pendleton did not seem to hear. Again his eyes were staring straight before him, looking at nothing. But soon he had roused himself, and had picked up another curio to talk about.
John Pendleton did not seem to hear. Again his eyes were staring straight before him, looking at nothing. But soon he had roused himself, and had picked up another curio to talk about.
The visit, certainly, was a delightful one, but before it was over, Pollyanna was realizing that they were talking about something besides the wonderful things in the beautiful carved box. They were talking of herself, of Nancy, of Aunt Polly, and of her daily life. They were talking, too, even of the life and home long ago in the far Western town.
Not until it was nearly time for her to go, did the man say, in a voice Pollyanna had never before heard from stern John Pendleton:
Little girl, I want you to come to see me often. Will you? Im lonesome, and I need you. Theres another reason and Im going to tell you that, too. I thought, at first, after I found out who you were, the other day, that I didnt want you to come any more. You reminded me of of something I have tried for long years to forget. So I said to myself that I never wanted to see you again; and every day, when the doctor asked if I wouldnt let him bring you to me, I said no.
But after a time I found I was wanting to see you so much that that the fact that I WASNt seeing you was making me remember all the more vividly the thing I was so wanting to forget. So now I want you to come. Will you little girl?
Why, yes, Mr. Pendleton, breathed Pollyanna, her eyes luminous with sympathy for the sad-faced man lying back on the pillow before her. Id love to come!
Thank you, said John Pendleton, gently.
After supper that evening, Pollyanna, sitting on the back porch, told Nancy all about Mr. John Pendletons wonderful carved box, and the still more wonderful things it contained.
And ter think, sighed Nancy, that he SHOWED ye all them things, and told ye about em like that him thats so cross he never talks ter no one no one!
Oh, but he isnt cross, Nancy, only outside, demurred Pollyanna, with quick loyalty. I dont see why everybody thinks hes so bad, either. They wouldnt, if they knew him. But even Aunt Polly doesnt like him very well. She wouldnt send the jelly to him, you know, and she was so afraid hed think she did send it!
Probably she didnt call him no duty, shrugged Nancy. But what beats me is how he happened ter take ter you so[119], Miss Pollyanna meanin no offence ter you, of course but he aint the sort o man what genrally takes ter kids; he aint, he aint.
Pollyanna smiled happily.
But he did, Nancy, she nodded, only I reckon even he didnt want to ALL the time. Why, only to-day he owned up that one time he just felt he never wanted to see me again, because I reminded him of something he wanted to forget. But afterwards
Whats that? interrupted Nancy, excitedly. He said you reminded him of something he wanted to forget?
Yes. But afterwards
What was it? Nancy was eagerly insistent.
He didnt tell me. He just said it was something.
THE MYSTERY! breathed Nancy, in an awestruck voice. Thats why he took to you in the first place. Oh, Miss Pollyanna! Why, thats just like a book Ive read lots of em; Lady Mauds Secret, and The Lost Heir, and Hidden for Years all of em had mysteries and things just like this. My stars and stockings! Just think of havin a book lived right under yer nose like this an me not knowin it all this time! Now tell me everythin every-thin he said, Miss Pollyanna, theres a dear[120]! No wonder he took ter you; no wonder no wonder!
But he didnt, cried Pollyanna, not till I talked to HIM, first. And he didnt even know who I was till I took the calfs-foot jelly, and had to make him understand that Aunt Polly didnt send it, and
Nancy sprang to her feet and clasped her hands together suddenly.
Oh, Miss Pollyanna, I know, I know I KNOW I know! she exulted rapturously. The next minute she was down at Pollyannas side again. Tell me now think, and answer straight and true, she urged excitedly. It was after he found out you was Miss Pollys niece that he said he didnt ever want ter see ye again, want it?
Oh, yes. I told him that the last time I saw him, and he told me this to-day.
I thought as much, triumphed Nancy. And Miss Polly wouldnt send the jelly herself, would she?
No.
And you told him she didnt send it?
Why, yes; I
And he began ter act queer and cry out sudden after he found out you was her niece. He did that, didnt he?
Why, y-yes; he did act a little queer over that jelly[121], admitted Pollyanna, with a thoughtful frown.
Nancy drew a long sigh.
Then Ive got it, sure! Now listen. MR. JOHN PENDLETON WAS MISS POLLY HARRINGTONs LOVER! she announced impressively, but with a furtive glance over her shoulder.
Why, Nancy, he couldnt be! She doesnt like him, objected Pollyanna.
Nancy gave her a scornful glance.
Of course she dont! THATs the quarrel![122]
Pollyanna still looked incredulous, and with another long breath Nancy happily settled herself to tell the story.
Its like this. Just before you come, Mr. Tom told me Miss Polly had had a lover once. I didnt believe it. I couldnt her and a lover! But Mr. Tom said she had, and that he was livin now right in this town. And NOW I know, of course. Its John Pendleton. Haint he got a mystery in his life? Dont he shut himself up in that grand house alone, and never speak ter no one? Didnt he act queer when he found out you was Miss Pollys niece? And now haint he owned up that you remind him of somethin he wants ter forget? Just as if ANYBODY couldnt see twas Miss Polly! an her sayin she wouldnt send him no jelly, too. Why, Miss Pollyanna, its as plain as the nose on yer face[123]; it is, it is!
Oh-h! breathed Pollyanna, in wide-eyed amazement. But, Nancy, I should think if they loved each other theyd make up some time. Both of em all alone, so, all these years. I should think theyd be glad to make up!
Nancy sniffed disdainfully.
I guess maybe you dont know much about lovers, Miss Pollyanna. You aint big enough yet, anyhow. But if there IS a set o folks in the world that wouldnt have no use for that ere glad game o yourn, itd be a pair o quarrellin lovers; and thats what they be. Aint he cross as sticks, most genrally[124]? and aint she
Nancy stopped abruptly, remembering just in time to whom, and about whom, she was speaking. Suddenly, however, she chuckled.
I aint sayin, though, Miss Pollyanna, but what it would be a pretty slick piece of business if you could GET em ter playin it so they WOULD be glad ter make up. But, my land! wouldnt folks stare some Miss Polly and him! I guess, though, there aint much chance, much chance!
Pollyanna said nothing; but when she went into the house a little later, her face was very thoughtful.
Chapter XVIII
Prisms
As the warm August days passed, Pollyanna went very frequently to the great house on Pendleton Hill. She did not feel, however, that her visits were really a success. Not but that the man seemed to want her there he sent for her, indeed, frequently; but that when she was there, he seemed scarcely any the happier for her presence at least, so Pollyanna thought.
Chapter XVIII
Prisms
As the warm August days passed, Pollyanna went very frequently to the great house on Pendleton Hill. She did not feel, however, that her visits were really a success. Not but that the man seemed to want her there he sent for her, indeed, frequently; but that when she was there, he seemed scarcely any the happier for her presence at least, so Pollyanna thought.
He talked to her, it was true, and he showed her many strange and beautiful things books, pictures, and curios. But he still fretted audibly over his own helplessness, and he chafed visibly under the rules and regulatings of the unwelcome members of his household. He did, indeed, seem to like to hear Pollyanna talk, however, and Pollyanna talked, Pollyanna liked to talk but she was never sure that she would not look up and find him lying back on his pillow with that white, hurt look that always pained her; and she was never sure which if any of her words had brought it there. As for telling him the glad game, and trying to get him to play it Pollyanna had never seen the time yet when she thought he would care to hear about it. She had twice tried to tell him; but neither time had she got beyond the beginning of what her father had said John Pendleton had on each occasion turned the conversation abruptly to another subject.
Pollyanna never doubted now that John Pendleton was her Aunt Pollys one-time lover; and with all the strength of her loving, loyal heart, she wished she could in some way bring happiness into their to her mind miserably lonely lives.
Just how she was to do this, however, she could not see. She talked to Mr. Pendleton about her aunt; and he listened, sometimes politely, sometimes irritably, frequently with a quizzical smile on his usually stern lips. She talked to her aunt about Mr. Pendleton or rather, she tried to talk to her about him. As a general thing, however, Miss Polly would not listen long. She always found something else to talk about. She frequently did that, however, when Pollyanna was talking of others of Dr. Chilton, for instance. Pollyanna laid this, though, to the fact that it had been Dr. Chilton who had seen her in the sun parlor with the rose in her hair and the lace shawl draped about her shoulders. Aunt Polly, indeed, seemed particularly bitter against Dr. Chilton, as Pollyanna found out one day when a hard cold shut her up in the house.