LOVE. Miss Polly remembered suddenly why SHE had taken this child in the first place and with the recollection came the remembrance of Pollyannas own words uttered that very morning: I love to be called dear by folks that belong to you! And it was this love-hungry little girl that had been offered the stored-up affection of twenty-five years: and she was old enough to be tempted by love! With a sinking heart Miss Polly realized that. With a sinking heart, too, she realized something else: the dreariness of her own future now without Pollyanna.
Well? she said. And the man, recognizing the self-control that vibrated through the harshness of the tone, smiled sadly.
She would not come, he answered.
Why?
She would not leave you. She said you had been so good to her. She wanted to stay with you and she said she THOUGHT you wanted her to stay, he finished, as he pulled himself to his feet.
He did not look toward Miss Polly. He turned his face resolutely toward the door. But instantly he heard a swift step at his side, and found a shaking hand thrust toward him.
When the specialist comes, and I know anything definite about Pollyanna, I will let you hear from me[168], said a trembling voice. Good-by and thank you for coming. Pollyanna will be pleased.
Chapter XXV
A Waiting Game
On the day after John Pendletons call at the Harrington homestead, Miss Polly set herself to the task of preparing Pollyanna for the visit of the specialist.
Pollyanna, my dear, she began gently, we have decided that we want another doctor besides Dr. Warren to see you. Another one might tell us something new to do to help you get well faster, you know.
A joyous light came to Pollyannas face.
Dr. Chilton! Oh, Aunt Polly, Id so love to have Dr. Chilton! Ive wanted him all the time, but I was afraid you didnt, on account of his seeing you in the sun parlor that day, you know; so I didnt like to say anything. But Im so glad you do want him!
Aunt Pollys face had turned white, then red, then back to white again. But when she answered, she showed very plainly that she was trying to speak lightly and cheerfully.
Oh, no, dear! It wasnt Dr. Chilton at all that I meant.
It is a new doctor a very famous doctor from New York, who who knows a great deal about about hurts like yours.
Pollyannas face fell.
I dont believe he knows half so much as Dr. Chilton.
Oh, yes, he does, Im sure, dear.
But it was Dr. Chilton who doctored Mr. Pendletons broken leg, Aunt Polly. If if you dont mind VERY much, I WOULD LIKE to have Dr. Chilton truly I would!
A distressed color suffused Miss Pollys face. For a moment she did not speak at all; then she said gently though yet with a touch of her old stern decisiveness:
But I do mind[169], Pollyanna. I mind very much. I would do anything almost anything for you, my dear; but I for reasons which I do not care to speak of now, I dont wish Dr. Chilton called in on on this case. And believe me, he can NOT know so much about about your trouble, as this great doctor does, who will come from New York to-morrow.
Pollyanna still looked unconvinced.
But, Aunt Polly, if you LOVED Dr. Chilton
WHAT, Pollyanna? Aunt Pollys voice was very sharp now. Her cheeks were very red, too.
I say, if you loved Dr. Chilton, and didnt love the other one, sighed Pollyanna, seems to me that would make some difference in the good he would do; and I love Dr. Chilton.
The nurse entered the room at that moment, and Aunt Polly rose to her feet abruptly, a look of relief on her face.
I am very sorry, Pollyanna, she said, a little stiffly; but Im afraid youll have to let me be the judge, this time. Besides, its already arranged. The New York doctor is coming to-morrow.
As it happened, however, the New York doctor did not come to-morrow. At the last moment a telegram told of an unavoidable delay owing to the sudden illness of the specialist himself. This led Pollyanna into a renewed pleading for the substitution of Dr. Chilton which would be so easy now, you know.
But as before, Aunt Polly shook her head and said no, dear, very decisively, yet with a still more anxious assurance that she would do anything anything but that to please her dear Pollyanna.
As the days of waiting passed, one by one, it did indeed seem that Aunt Polly was doing everything (but that) that she could do to please her niece.
I wouldnt a believed it you couldnt a made me believe it, Nancy said to Old Tom one morning. There dont seem ter be a minute in the day that Miss Polly aint jest hangin round waitin ter do somethin for that blessed lamb if taint more than ter let in the cat an her what wouldnt let Fluff nor Buff up-stairs for love nor money[170] a week ago; an now she lets em tumble all over the bed jest cause it pleases Miss Pollyanna!
An when she aint doin nothin else, shes movin them little glass danglers round ter diffrent winders in the room so the sunll make the rainbows dance, as that blessed child calls it. Shes sent Timothy down ter Cobbs greenhouse three times for fresh flowers an that besides all the posies fetched in ter her, too. An the other day, if I didnt find her sittin fore the bed with the nurse actually doin her hair, an Miss Pollyanna lookin on an bossin from the bed, her eyes all shinin an happy. An I declare ter goodness, if Miss Polly haint wore her hair like that every day now jest ter please that blessed child!
Old Tom chuckled.
Well, it strikes me Miss Polly herself aint lookin none the worse for wearin them ere curls round her forehead, he observed dryly.
course she aint, retorted Nancy, indignantly. She looks like FOLKS, now[171]. Shes actually almost
Keerful, now, Nancy! interrupted the old man, with a slow grin. You know what you said when I told ye she was handsome once.
Nancy shrugged her shoulders.
Oh, she aint handsome, of course; but I will own up she dont look like the same woman, what with the ribbons an lace jiggers Miss Pollyanna makes her wear round her neck.
I told ye so, nodded the man. I told ye she want old.
Nancy laughed.
Well, Ill own up she HAINt got quite so good an imitation of it as she did have, fore Miss Pollyanna come. Say, Mr. Tom, who WAS her lover? I haint found that out, yet; I haint, I haint!
Haint ye? asked the old man, with an odd look on his face. Well, I guess ye wont then from me.
Oh, Mr. Tom, come on, now, wheedled the girl. Ye see, there aint many folks here that I CAN ask.
Maybe not. But theres one, anyhow, that aint an-swerin, grinned Old Tom. Then, abruptly, the light died from his eyes. How is she, ter-day the little gal?
Maybe not. But theres one, anyhow, that aint an-swerin, grinned Old Tom. Then, abruptly, the light died from his eyes. How is she, ter-day the little gal?
Nancy shook her head. Her face, too, had sobered.
Just the same, Mr. Tom. There aint no special diffrence, as I can see or anybody, I guess. She jest lays there an sleeps an talks some, an tries ter smile an be glad cause the sun sets or the moon rises, or some other such thing, till its enough ter make yer heart break with achin.
I know; its the game bless her sweet heart! nodded Old Tom, blinking a little.
She told YOU, then, too, about that ere game?
Oh, yes. She told me long ago. The old man hesitated, then went on, his lips twitching a little. I was grow-lin one day cause I was so bent up and crooked; an what do ye spose the little thing said?
I couldnt guess.[172] I wouldnt think she could find ANYTHIN about THAT ter be glad about!
She did. She said I could be glad, anyhow, that I didnt have ter STOOP SO FAR TER DO MY WEEDIN cause I was already bent part way over.
Nancy gave a wistful laugh.
Well, I aint surprised, after all. You might know shed find somethin. Weve been playin it that game since almost the first, cause there want no one else she could play it with though she did speak of her aunt.
MISS POLLY!
Nancy chuckled.
I guess you haint got such an awful diffrent opinion o the mistress than I have, she bridled.
Old Tom stiffened.
I was only thinkin twould be some of a surprise to her, he explained with dignity.
Well, yes, I guess twould be THEN, retorted Nancy. I aint sayin what twould be NOW. Id believe anythin o the mistress now even that shed take ter playin it herself!
But haint the little gal told her ever?[173] Shes told evry one else, I guess. Im hearin of it evrywhere, now, since she was hurted, said Tom.
Well, she didnt tell Miss Polly, rejoined Nancy. Miss Pollyanna told me long ago that she couldnt tell her, cause her aunt didnt like ter have her talk about her father; an twas her fathers game, an shed have ter talk about him if she did tell it. So she never told her.
Oh, I see, I see. The old man nodded his head slowly. They was always bitter against the minister chap all of em, cause he took Miss Jennie away from em. An Miss Polly young as she was couldnt never forgive him; she was that fond of Miss Jennie in them days. I see, I see. twas a bad mess, he sighed, as he turned away.
Yes, twas all round, all round, sighed Nancy in her turn, as she went back to her kitchen.
For no one were those days of waiting easy. The nurse tried to look cheerful, but her eyes were troubled. The doctor was openly nervous and impatient. Miss Polly said little; but even the softening waves of hair about her face, and the becoming laces at her throat, could not hide the fact that she was growing thin and pale. As to Pollyanna Pollyanna petted the dog, smoothed the cats sleek head, admired the flowers and ate the fruits and jellies that were sent in to her; and returned innumerable cheery answers to the many messages of love and inquiry that were brought to her bedside. But she, too, grew pale and thin; and the nervous activity of the poor little hands and arms only emphasized the pitiful motionlessness of the once active little feet and legs now lying so woefully quiet under the blankets.
As to the game Pollyanna told Nancy these days how glad she was going to be when she could go to school again, go to see Mrs. Snow, go to call on Mr. Pendleton, and go to ride with Dr. Chilton nor did she seem to realize that all this gladness was in the future, not the present. Nancy, however, did realize it and cry about it, when she was alone.
Chapter XXVI
A Door Ajar
Just a week from the time Dr. Mead, the specialist, was first expected, he came. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with kind gray eyes, and a cheerful smile. Pollyanna liked him at once, and told him so.