Shes eleven years old.
Yes, she might be, nodded the old man.
And shes goin ter sleep in the attic more shame ter HER! scolded Nancy, with another glance over her shoulder toward the house behind her.
Old Tom frowned. The next moment a curious smile curved his lips.
Im a-wonderin what Miss Polly will do with a child in the house, he said.
Humph! Well, Im a-wonderin what a child will do with Miss Polly in the house! snapped Nancy.
The old man laughed.
Im afraid you aint fond of Miss Polly, he grinned. As if ever anybody could be fond of her![10] scorned Nancy.
Old Tom smiled oddly. He stooped and began to work again.
I guess maybe you didnt know about Miss Pollys love affair, he said slowly.
Love affair HER! No! and I guess nobody else didnt, neither.
Oh, yes they did, nodded the old man. And the fellers livin ter-day right in this town, too.
Who is he?
I aint a-tellin that.[11] It aint fit that I should. The old man drew himself erect. In his dim blue eyes, as he faced the house, there was the loyal servants honest pride in the family he has served and loved for long years.
But it dont seem possible her and a lover, still maintained Nancy.
Old Tom shook his head.
You didnt know Miss Polly as I did, he argued. She used ter be real handsome and she would be now, if shed let herself be.
Handsome! Miss Polly!
Yes. If shed just let that tight hair of hern all out loose and careless-like, as it used ter be, and wear the sort of bunnits with posies in em, and the kind o dresses all lace and white things youd see shed be handsome! Miss Polly aint old, Nancy.
Aint she, though? Well, then shes got an awfully good imitation of it[12] she has, she has! sniffed Nancy.
Yes, I know. It begun then at the time of the trouble with her lover, nodded Old Tom; and it seems as if shed been feedin on wormwood an thistles ever since shes that bitter an prickly ter deal with.
I should say she was, declared Nancy, indignantly. Theres no pleasin her, nohow, no matter how you try! I wouldnt stay if twant for the wages and the folks at home whats needin em. But some day some day I shall jest bile over; and when I do, of course itll be good-by Nancy for me. It will, it will.
Old Tom shook his head.
I know. Ive felt it. Its nartral but taint best, child; taint best. Take my word for it, taint best. And again he bent his old head to the work before him.
Nancy! called a sharp voice.
Y-yes, maam, stammered Nancy; and hurried toward the house.
Chapter III
The Coming of Pollyanna
In due time came the telegram announcing that Pollyanna would arrive in Beldingsville the next day, the twenty-fifth of June, at four oclock. Miss Polly read the telegram, frowned, then climbed the stairs to the attic room. She still frowned as she looked about her.
The room contained a small bed, neatly made, two straight-backed chairs, a washstand, a bureau without any mirror and a small table. There were no drapery curtains at the dormer windows, no pictures on the wall. All day the sun had been pouring down upon the roof, and the little room was like an oven for heat. As there were no screens, the windows had not been raised. A big fly was buzzing angrily at one of them now, up and down, up and down, trying to get out.
Miss Polly killed the fly, swept it through the window (raising the sash an inch for the purpose), straightened a chair, frowned again, and left the room.
Miss Polly killed the fly, swept it through the window (raising the sash an inch for the purpose), straightened a chair, frowned again, and left the room.
Nancy, she said a few minutes later, at the kitchen door, I found a fly up-stairs in Miss Pollyannas room. The window must have been raised at some time.[13] I have ordered screens, but until they come I shall expect you to see that the windows remain closed. My niece will arrive to-morrow at four oclock. I desire you to meet her at the station. Timothy will take the open buggy and drive you over. The telegram says Light hair, red-checked gingham dress, and straw hat. That is all I know, but I think it is sufficient for your purpose.
Yes, maam; but you
Miss Polly evidently read the pause aright, for she frowned and said crisply:
No, I shall not go. It is not necessary that I should, I think. That is all. And she turned away Miss Pollys arrangements for the comfort of her niece, Pollyanna, were complete.
In the kitchen, Nancy sent her flat-iron with a vicious dig across the dish-towel she was ironing.
Light hair, red-checked gingham dress, and straw hat all she knows, indeed! Well, Id be ashamed ter own it up[14], that I would, I would and her my onliest niece what was a-comin from way across the continent!
Promptly at twenty minutes to four the next afternoon Timothy and Nancy drove off in the open buggy to meet the expected guest. Timothy was Old Toms son. It was sometimes said in the town that if Old Tom was Miss Pollys right-hand man, Timothy was her left.
Timothy was a good-natured youth, and a good-looking one, as well. Short as had been Nancys stay at the house, the two were already good friends. To-day, however, Nancy was too full of her mission to be her usual talkative self; and almost in silence she took the drive to the station and alighted to wait for the train.
Over and over in her mind she was saying it, light hair, red-checked dress, straw hat. Over and over again she was wondering just what sort of child this Pollyanna was, anyway.
I hope for her sake shes quiet and sensible, and dont drop knives nor bang doors, she sighed to Timothy, who had sauntered up to her.
Well, if she aint, nobody knows whatll become of the rest of us, grinned Timothy. Imagine Miss Polly and a NOISY kid! Gorry! there goes the whistle now!
Oh, Timothy, I I think it was mean ter send me, chattered the suddenly frightened Nancy, as she turned and hurried to a point where she could best watch[15] the passengers alight at the little station.
It was not long before Nancy saw her the slender little girl in the red-checked gingham with two fat braids of flaxen hair hanging down her back. Beneath the straw hat, an eager, freckled little face turned to the right and to the left, plainly searching for some one.
Nancy knew the child at once, but not for some time could she control her shaking knees sufficiently to go to her. The little girl was standing quite by herself when Nancy finally did approach her.
Are you Miss Pollyanna? she faltered. The next moment she found herself half smothered in the clasp of two gingham-clad arms.
Oh, Im so glad, GLAD, GLAD to see you, cried an eager voice in her ear. Of course Im Pollyanna, and Im so glad you came to meet me! I hoped you would.
You you did? stammered Nancy, vaguely wondering how Pollyanna could possibly have known her and wanted her. You you did? she repeated, trying to straighten her hat.
Oh, yes; and Ive been wondering all the way here what you looked like, cried the little girl, dancing on her toes, and sweeping the embarrassed Nancy from head to foot, with her eyes. And now I know, and Im glad you look just like you do look.
Nancy was relieved just then to have Timothy come up. Pollyannas words had been most confusing.
This is Timothy. Maybe you have a trunk, she stammered.
Yes, I have, nodded Pollyanna, importantly. Ive got a brand-new one. The Ladies Aid[16] bought it for me and wasnt it lovely of them, when they wanted the carpet so? Of course I dont know how much red carpet a trunk could buy, but it ought to buy some, anyhow much as half an aisle, dont you think? Ive got a little thing here in my bag that Mr. Gray said was a check, and that I must give it to you before I could get my trunk. Mr. Gray is Mrs. Grays husband. Theyre cousins of Deacon Carrs wife. I came East with them, and theyre lovely! And there, here tis, she finished, producing the check after much fumbling in the bag she carried.
Nancy drew a long breath. Instinctively she felt that some one had to draw one after that speech. Then she stole a glance at Timothy. Timothys eyes were studiously turned away.
The three were off at last, with Pollyannas trunk in behind, and Pollyanna herself snugly ensconced between Nancy and Timothy. During the whole process of getting started, the little girl had kept up an uninterrupted stream of comments and questions, until the somewhat dazed Nancy found herself quite out of breath trying to keep up with her[17].
There! Isnt this lovely? Is it far? I hope tis I love to ride, sighed Pollyanna, as the wheels began to turn. Of course, if tisnt far, I shant mind, though, cause Ill be glad to get there all the sooner, you know. What a pretty street! I knew twas going to be pretty; father told me
She stopped with a little choking breath. Nancy, looking at her apprehensively, saw that her small chin was quivering, and that her eyes were full of tears. In a moment, however, she hurried on, with a brave lifting of her head.
Father told me all about it. He remembered. And and I ought to have explained before. Mrs. Gray told me to, at once about this red gingham dress, you know, and why Im not in black. She said youd think twas queer. But there werent any black things in the last missionary barrel, only a ladys velvet basque which Deacon Carrs wife said wasnt suitable for me at all; besides, it had white spots worn, you know on both elbows, and some other places. Part of the Ladies Aid wanted to buy me a black dress and hat, but the other part thought the money ought to go toward the red carpet theyre trying to get for the church, you know. Mrs. White said maybe it was just as well, anyway, for she didnt like children in black that is, I mean, she liked the children, of course, but not the black part.
Pollyanna paused for breath, and Nancy managed to stammer:
Well, Im sure it itll be all right.
Im glad you feel that way. I do, too, nodded Pollyanna, again with that choking little breath. Of course, twould have been a good deal harder to be glad in black
Glad! gasped Nancy, surprised into an interruption.
Yes that fathers gone to Heaven to be with mother and the rest of us, you know. He said I must be glad. But its been pretty hard to to do it, even in red gingham, because I I wanted him, so; and I couldnt help feeling I OUGHT to have him, specially as mother and the rest have God and all the angels, while I didnt have anybody but the Ladies Aid. But now Im sure itll be easier because Ive got you, Aunt Polly. Im so glad Ive got you!