For a moment after she had gone Pollyanna stood quite still, looking after her. Then she turned her wide eyes to the bare wall, the bare floor, the bare windows. She turned them last to the little trunk that had stood not so long before in her own little room in the far-away Western home. The next moment she stumbled blindly toward it and fell on her knees at its side, covering her face with her hands.
Nancy found her there when she came up a few minutes later.
There, there, you poor lamb, she crooned, dropping to the floor and drawing the little girl into her arms. I was just a-fearin Id find you like this, like this.
Pollyanna shook her head.
But Im bad and wicked, Nancy awful wicked, she sobbed. I just cant make myself understand that God and the angels needed my father more than I did.
No more they did, neither,[26] declared Nancy, stoutly.
Oh-h! NANCY! The burning horror in Pollyannas eyes dried the tears.
Nancy gave a shamefaced smile and rubbed her own eyes vigorously.
There, there, child, I didnt mean it, of course, she cried briskly. Come, lets have your key and well get inside this trunk and take out your dresses in no time, no time.
Somewhat tearfully Pollyanna produced the key.
There arent very many there, anyway, she faltered.
Then theyre all the sooner unpacked, declared Nancy.
Pollyanna gave a sudden radiant smile.
Thats so! I can be glad of that, cant I? she cried.
Nancy stared.
Why, of course, she answered a little uncertainly.
Nancys capable hands made short work of unpacking the books[27], the patched undergarments, and the few pitifully unattractive dresses. Pollyanna, smiling bravely now, flew about, hanging the dresses in the closet, stacking the books on the table, and putting away the undergarments in the bureau drawers.
Im sure it its going to be a very nice room. Dont you think so? she stammered, after a while.
There was no answer. Nancy was very busy, apparently, with her head in the trunk. Pollyanna, standing at the bureau, gazed a little wistfully at the bare wall above.
And I can be glad there isnt any looking-glass here, too, cause where there ISNt any glass[28] I cant see my freckles.
Nancy made a sudden queer little sound with her mouth but when Pollyanna turned, her head was in the trunk again. At one of the windows, a few minutes later, Pollyanna gave a glad cry and clapped her hands joyously.
Oh, Nancy, I hadnt seen this before, she breathed. Look way off there, with those trees and the houses and that lovely church spire, and the river shining just like silver. Why, Nancy, there doesnt anybody need any pictures with that to look at. Oh, Im so glad now she let me have this room!
To Pollyannas surprise and dismay, Nancy burst into tears. Pollyanna hurriedly crossed to her side.
Why, Nancy, Nancy what is it? she cried; then, fearfully: This wasnt YOUR room, was it?
My room! stormed Nancy, hotly, choking back the tears. If you aint a little angel straight from Heaven, and if some folks dont eat dirt before Oh, land! theres her bell! After which amazing speech, Nancy sprang to her feet, dashed out of the room, and went clattering down the stairs.
Left alone, Pollyanna went back to her picture, as she mentally designated the beautiful view from the window. After a time she touched the sash tentatively. It seemed as if no longer could she endure the stifling heat. To her joy the sash moved under her fingers. The next moment the window was wide open, and Pollyanna was leaning far out, drinking in the fresh, sweet air.
She ran then to the other window. That, too, soon flew up under her eager hands. A big fly swept past her nose, and buzzed noisily about the room. Then another came, and another; but Pollyanna paid no heed[29]. Pollyanna had made a wonderful discovery against this window a huge tree flung great branches. To Pollyanna they looked like arms outstretched, inviting her. Suddenly she laughed aloud.
I believe I can do it, she chuckled. The next moment she had climbed nimbly to the window ledge. From there it was an easy matter to step to the nearest tree-branch. Then, clinging like a monkey, she swung herself from limb to limb until the lowest branch was reached. The drop to the ground was even for Pollyanna, who was used to climbing trees a little fearsome. She took it, however, with bated breath[30], swinging from her strong little arms, and landing on all fours[31] in the soft grass. Then she picked herself up and looked eagerly about her.
She was at the back of the house. Before her lay a garden in which a bent old man was working. Beyond the garden a little path through an open field led up a steep hill, at the top of which a lone pine tree stood on guard beside the huge rock. To Pollyanna, at the moment, there seemed to be just one place in the world worth being in the top of that big rock.
With a run and a skilful turn, Pollyanna skipped by the bent old man, threaded her way between the orderly rows of green growing things, and a little out of breath[32] reached the path that ran through the open field. Then, determinedly, she began to climb. Already, however, she was thinking what a long, long way off that rock must be, when back at the window it had looked so near!
Fifteen minutes later the great clock in the hallway of the Harrington homestead struck six. At precisely the last stroke Nancy sounded the bell for supper.
One, two, three minutes passed. Miss Polly frowned and tapped the floor with her slipper. A little jerkily she rose to her feet, went into the hall, and looked up-stairs, plainly impatient. For a minute she listened intently; then she turned and swept into the dining room.
Nancy, she said with decision, as soon as the little serving-maid appeared; my niece is late. No, you need not call her, she added severely, as Nancy made a move toward the hall door. I told her what time supper was, and now she will have to suffer the consequences. She may as well begin at once to learn to be punctual. When she comes down she may have bread and milk in the kitchen.
Yes, maam. It was well, perhaps, that Miss Polly did not happen to be looking at Nancys face just then.
At the earliest possible moment after supper, Nancy crept up the back stairs and thence to the attic room.
Bread and milk, indeed! and when the poor lamb haint only just cried herself to sleep, she was muttering fiercely, as she softly pushed open the door. The next moment she gave a frightened cry. Where are you? Whereve you gone? Where HAVE you gone? she panted, looking in the closet, under the bed, and even in the trunk and down the water pitcher. Then she flew down-stairs and out to Old Tom in the garden.
Mr. Tom, Mr. Tom, that blessed childs gone, she wailed. Shes vanished right up into Heaven where she come from, poor lamb and me told ter give her bread and milk in the kitchen her whats eatin angel food this minute, Ill warrant, Ill warrant!
The old man straightened up.
Gone? Heaven? he repeated stupidly, unconsciously sweeping the brilliant sunset sky with his gaze. He stopped, stared a moment intently, then turned with a slow grin. Well, Nancy, it do look like as if shed tried ter get as nigh Heaven as she could, and thats a fact, he agreed, pointing with a crooked finger to where, sharply outlined against the reddening sky, a slender, wind-blown figure was poised on top of a huge rock.
Well, she aint goin ter Heaven that way ter-night not if I has my say, declared Nancy, doggedly. If the mistress asks, tell her I aint furgettin the dishes[33], but I gone on a stroll, she flung back over her shoulder, as she sped toward the path that led through the open field.
Chapter V
The Game
For the lands sake, Miss Pollyanna, what a scare you did give me[34], panted Nancy, hurrying up to the big rock, down which Pollyanna had just regretfully slid.
Scare? Oh, Im so sorry; but you mustnt, really, ever get scared about me, Nancy. Father and the Ladies Aid used to do it, too, till they found I always came back all right.
But I didnt even know youd went, cried Nancy, tucking the little girls hand under her arm and hurrying her down the hill. I didnt see you go, and nobody didnt. I guess you flew right up through the roof; I do, I do.
Pollyanna skipped gleefully.
I did, most only I flew down instead of up. I came down the tree.
Nancy stopped short.
You did what?
Came down the tree, outside my window.
My stars and stockings! gasped Nancy, hurrying on again. Id like ter know what yer aunt would say ter that!
Would you? Well, Ill tell her, then, so you can find out, promised the little girl, cheerfully.
Mercy! gasped Nancy. No no!
Why, you dont mean shed CARE! cried Pollyanna, plainly disturbed.
No er yes well, never mind. I I aint so very particular about knowin what shed say, truly, stammered Nancy, determined to keep one scolding from Pollyanna, if nothing more. But, say, we better hurry. Ive got ter get them dishes done, ye know.
Ill help, promised Pollyanna, promptly.
Oh, Miss Pollyanna! demurred Nancy.
For a moment there was silence. The sky was darkening fast. Pollyanna took a firmer hold of her friends arm.
I reckon Im glad, after all, that you DID get scared a little, cause then you came after me, she shivered.
Poor little lamb! And you must be hungry, too. I Im afraid youll have ter have bread and milk in the kitchen with me. Yer aunt didnt like it because you didnt come down ter supper, ye know.
But I couldnt. I was up here.
Yes; but she didnt know that, you see! observed Nancy, dryly, stifling a chuckle. Im sorry about the bread and milk; I am, I am.
Oh, Im not. Im glad.
Glad! Why?
Why, I like bread and milk, and Id like to eat with you. I dont see any trouble about being glad about that.
You dont seem ter see any trouble bein glad about everythin, retorted Nancy, choking a little over her remembrance of Pollyannas brave attempts to like the bare little attic room.
Pollyanna laughed softly.
Well, thats the game, you know, anyway.
The GAME?
Yes; the just being glad game.
Whatever in the world are you talkin about?
Why, its a game. Father told it to me, and its lovely, rejoined Pollyanna. Weve played it always, ever since I was a little, little girl. I told the Ladies Aid, and they played it some of them.
What is it? I aint much on games[35], though.