It was then that the same thought must have, in some way, come to Pollyannas friends. At all events, almost at once, the mistress of the Harrington homestead, greatly to her surprise, began to receive calls: calls from people she knew, and people she did not know; calls from men, women, and children many of whom Miss Polly had not supposed that her niece knew at all.
Some came in and sat down for a stiff five or ten minutes. Some stood awkwardly on the porch steps, fumbling with hats or hand-bags, according to their sex. Some brought a book, a bunch of flowers, or a dainty to tempt the palate. Some cried frankly. Some turned their backs and blew their noses furiously. But all inquired very anxiously for the little injured girl; and all sent to her some message and it was these messages which, after a time, stirred Miss Polly to action.
First came Mr. John Pendleton. He came without his crutches to-day.
I dont need to tell you how shocked I am, he began almost harshly. But can nothing be done?
Miss Polly gave a gesture of despair.
Oh, were doing, of course, all the time. Dr. Mead prescribed certain treatments and medicines that might help, and Dr. Warren is carrying them out to the letter[179], of course. But Dr. Mead held out almost no hope.
John Pendleton rose abruptly though he had but just come. His face was white, and his mouth was set into stern lines. Miss Polly, looking at him, knew very well why he felt that he could not stay longer in her presence. At the door he turned.
I have a message for Pollyanna, he said. Will you tell her, please, that I have seen Jimmy Bean and that hes going to be my boy hereafter. Tell her I thought she would be GLAD to know. I shall adopt him, probably.
For a brief moment Miss Polly lost her usual well-bred self-control.
You will adopt Jimmy Bean! she gasped.
The man lifted his chin a little.
Yes. I think Pollyanna will understand. You will tell her I thought she would be GLAD!
Why, of of course, faltered Miss Polly.
Thank you, bowed John Pendleton, as he turned to go.
In the middle of the floor Miss Polly stood, silent and amazed, still looking after the man who had just left her. Even yet she could scarcely believe what her ears had heard. John Pendleton ADOPT Jimmy Bean? John Pendleton, wealthy, independent, morose, reputed to be miserly and supremely selfish, to adopt a little boy and such a little boy?
With a somewhat dazed face Miss Polly went up-stairs to Pollyannas room.
Pollyanna, I have a message for you from Mr. John Pendleton. He has just been here. He says to tell you he has taken Jimmy Bean for his little boy. He said he thought youd be glad to know it.
Pollyannas wistful little face flamed into sudden joy.
Glad? GLAD? Well, I reckon I am glad! Oh, Aunt Polly, Ive so wanted to find a place for Jimmy and thats such a lovely place! Besides, Im so glad for Mr. Pendleton, too. You see, now hell have the childs presence.
The what?
Pollyanna colored painfully. She had forgotten that she had never told her aunt of Mr. Pendletons desire to adopt her and certainly she would not wish to tell her now that she had ever thought for a minute of leaving her this dear Aunt Polly!
The childs presence, stammered Pollyanna, hastily. Mr. Pendleton told me once, you see, that only a womans hand and heart or a childs presence could make a a home. And now hes got it the childs presence.
Oh, I see, said Miss Polly very gently; and she did see more than Pollyanna realized. She saw something of the pressure that was probably brought to bear on Pollyanna herself at the time John Pendleton was asking HER to be the childs presence, which was to transform his great pile of gray stone into a home. I see, she finished, her eyes stinging with sudden tears.
Pollyanna, fearful that her aunt might ask further embarrassing questions, hastened to lead the conversation away from the Pendleton house and its master.
Dr. Chilton says so, too that it takes a womans hand and heart, or a childs presence, to make a home, you know, she remarked.
Miss Polly turned with a start.
DR. CHILTON! How do you know that?
He told me so. twas when he said he lived in just rooms, you know not a home.
Miss Polly did not answer. Her eyes were out the window.
So I asked him why he didnt get em a womans hand and heart, and have a home.
Pollyanna! Miss Polly had turned sharply. Her cheeks showed a sudden color.
Well, I did. He looked so so sorrowful.
What did he say? Miss Polly asked the question as if in spite of some force within her that was urging her not to ask it.
He didnt say anything for a minute; then he said very low that you couldnt always get em for the asking.
There was a brief silence. Miss Pollys eyes had turned again to the window. Her cheeks were still unnaturally pink.
Pollyanna sighed.
He wants one, anyhow, I know, and I wish he could have one.
Why, Pollyanna, HOW do you know?
Because, afterwards, on another day, he said something else. He said that low, too, but I heard him. He said that hed give all the world[180] if he did have one womans hand and heart. Why, Aunt Polly, whats the matter? Aunt Polly had risen hurriedly and gone to the window.
Nothing, dear. I was changing the position of this prism, said Aunt Polly, whose whole face now was aflame.
Chapter XXVIII
The Game and Its Players
It was not long after John Pendletons second visit that Milly Snow called one afternoon. Milly Snow had never before been to the Harrington homestead. She blushed and looked very embarrassed when Miss Polly entered the room.
I I came to inquire for the little girl, she stammered.
You are very kind. She is about the same. How is your mother? rejoined Miss Polly, wearily.
That is what I came to tell you that is, to ask you to tell Miss Pollyanna, hurried on the girl, breathlessly and incoherently. We think its so awful so perfectly awful that the little thing cant ever walk again; and after all shes done for us, too for mother, you know, teaching her to play the game, and all that. And when we heard how now she couldnt play it herself poor little dear! Im sure I dont see how she CAN, either, in her condition! but when we remembered all the things shed said to us, we thought if she could only know what she HAD done for us, that it would HELP, you know, in her own case, about the game, because she could be glad that is, a little glad Milly stopped helplessly, and seemed to be waiting for Miss Polly to speak.
Miss Polly had sat politely listening, but with a puzzled questioning in her eyes. Only about half of what had been said, had she understood. She was thinking now that she always had known that Milly Snow was queer, but she had not supposed she was crazy. In no other way, however, could she account for this incoherent, illogical, unmeaning rush of words. When the pause came she filled it with a quiet:
Miss Polly had sat politely listening, but with a puzzled questioning in her eyes. Only about half of what had been said, had she understood. She was thinking now that she always had known that Milly Snow was queer, but she had not supposed she was crazy. In no other way, however, could she account for this incoherent, illogical, unmeaning rush of words. When the pause came she filled it with a quiet:
I dont think I quite understand, Milly. Just what is it that you want me to tell my niece?
Yes, thats it; I want you to tell her, answered the girl, feverishly. Make her see what shes done for us. Of course shes SEEN some things, because shes been there, and shes known mother is different; but I want her to know HOW different she is and me, too. Im different. Ive been trying to play it the game a little.
Miss Polly frowned. She would have asked what Milly meant by this game, but there was no opportunity. Milly was rushing on again with nervous volubility.
You know nothing was ever right before for mother. She was always wanting em different. And, really, I dont know as one could blame her much[181] under the circumstances. But now she lets me keep the shades up, and she takes interest in things how she looks, and her nightdress, and all that. And shes actually begun to knit little things reins and baby blankets for fairs and hospitals. And shes so interested, and so GLAD to think she can do it! and that was all Miss Pollyannas doings, you know, cause she told mother she could be glad shed got her hands and arms, anyway; and that made mother wonder right away why she didnt DO something with her hands and arms. And so she began to do something to knit, you know. And you cant think what a different room it is now, what with the red and blue and yellow worsteds, and the prisms in the window that SHE gave her why, it actually makes you feel BETTER just to go in there now; and before I used to dread it awfully, it was so dark and gloomy, and mother was so so unhappy, you know.
And so we want you to please tell Miss Pollyanna that we understand its all because of her. And please say were so glad we know her, that we thought, maybe if she knew it, it would make her a little glad that she knew us. And and thats all, sighed Milly, rising hurriedly to her feet. Youll tell her?
Why, of course, murmured Miss Polly, wondering just how much of this remarkable discourse she could remember to tell.
These visits of John Pendleton and Milly Snow were only the first of many; and always there were the messages the messages which were in some ways so curious that they caused Miss Polly more and more to puzzle over them.
One day there was the little Widow Benton. Miss Polly knew her well, though they had never called upon each other. By reputation she knew her as the saddest little woman in town one who was always in black. To-day, however, Mrs. Benton wore a knot of pale blue at the throat, though there were tears in her eyes. She spoke of her grief and horror at the accident; then she asked diffidently if she might see Pollyanna.
Miss Polly shook her head.
I am sorry, but she sees no one yet. A little later perhaps.
Mrs. Benton wiped her eyes, rose, and turned to go. But after she had almost reached the hall door she came back hurriedly.
Miss Harrington, perhaps, youd give her a message, she stammered.
Certainly, Mrs. Benton; I shall be very glad to.