Well, I cant say I do all of em, retorted Nancy, tersely.
Almost every pleasant afternoon found Pollyanna begging for an errand to run[55], so that she might be off for a walk in one direction or another; and it was on these walks that frequently she met the Man. To herself Pollyanna always called him the Man, no matter if she met a dozen other men the same day.
The Man often wore a long black coat and a high silk hat two things that the just men never wore. His face was clean-shaven and rather pale, and his hair, showing below his hat, was somewhat gray. He walked erect, and rather rapidly, and he was always alone, which made Pollyanna vaguely sorry for him. Perhaps it was because of this that she one day spoke to him.
How do you do, sir? Isnt this a nice day? she called cheerily, as she approached him.
The man threw a hurried glance about him, then stopped uncertainly.
Did you speak to me? he asked in a sharp voice.
Yes, sir, beamed Pollyanna. I say, its a nice day, isnt it?
Eh? Oh! Humph! he grunted; and strode on again.
Pollyanna laughed. He was such a funny man, she thought.
The next day she saw him again.
tisnt quite so nice as yesterday, but its pretty nice, she called out cheerfully.
Eh? Oh! Humph! grunted the man as before; and once again Pollyanna laughed happily.
When for the third time Pollyanna accosted him in much the same manner, the man stopped abruptly.
See here, child, who are you, and why are you speaking to me every day?
Im Pollyanna Whittier, and I thought you looked lonesome. Im so glad you stopped. Now were introduced only I dont know your name yet.
Well, of all the[56] The man did not finish his sentence, but strode on faster than ever.
Pollyanna looked after him with a disappointed droop to her usually smiling lips.
Maybe he didnt understand but that was only half an introduction. I dont know HIS name, yet, she murmured, as she proceeded on her way.
Pollyanna was carrying calfs-foot jelly to Mrs. Snow to-day. Miss Polly Harrington always sent something to Mrs. Snow once a week. She said she thought that it was her duty, inasmuch as Mrs. Snow was poor, sick, and a member of her church it was the duty of all the church members to look out for her, of course. Miss Polly did her duty by Mrs. Snow usually on Thursday afternoons not personally, but through Nancy. To-day Pollyanna had begged the privilege, and Nancy had promptly given it to her in accordance with Miss Pollys orders.
And its glad that I am ter get rid of it, Nancy had declared in private afterwards to Pollyanna; though its a shame ter be tuckin the job off on ter you, poor lamb, so it is, it is!
But Id love to do it, Nancy.
Well, you wont after youve done it once, predicted Nancy, sourly.
Why not?
Because nobody does. If folks want sorry for her there wouldnt a soul go near her from mornin till night, shes that cantankerous. All is, I pity her daughter what HAS ter take care of her.
But, why, Nancy?
Nancy shrugged her shoulders.
Well, in plain words, its just that nothin what ever has happened, has happened right in Mis Snows eyes. Even the days of the week aint run ter her mind.[57] If its Monday shes bound ter say she wished twas Sunday; and if you take her jelly youre pretty sure ter hear she wanted chicken but if you DID bring her chicken, shed be jest hankerin for lamb broth!
Why, what a funny woman, laughed Pollyanna. I think I shall like to go to see her. She must be so surprising and and different. I love DIFFERENT folks.
Humph! Well, Mis Snows different, all right I hope, for the sake of the rest of us! Nancy had finished grimly.
Pollyanna was thinking of these remarks to-day as she turned in at the gate of the shabby little cottage. Her eyes were quite sparkling, indeed, at the prospect of meeting this different Mrs. Snow.
A pale-faced, tired-looking young girl answered her knock at the door.
How do you do? began Pollyanna politely. Im from Miss Polly Harrington, and Id like to see Mrs. Snow, please.
Well, if you would, youre the first one that ever liked to see her, muttered the girl under her breath; but Pollyanna did not hear this. The girl had turned and was leading the way through the hall to a door at the end of it.
In the sick-room, after the girl had ushered her in and closed the door, Pollyanna blinked a little before she could accustom her eyes to the gloom. Then she saw, dimly outlined, a woman half-sitting up in the bed across the room.
Pollyanna advanced at once.
How do you do, Mrs. Snow? Aunt Polly says she hopes you are comfortable to-day, and shes sent you some calfs-foot jelly.
Dear me! Jelly? murmured a fretful voice. Of course Im very much obliged, but I was hoping twould be lamb broth to-day.
Pollyanna frowned a little.
Why, I thought it was CHICKEN you wanted when folks brought you jelly, she said.
What? The sick woman turned sharply.
Why, nothing much, apologized Pollyanna, hurriedly; and of course it doesnt really make any difference. Its only that Nancy said it was chicken you wanted when we brought jelly, and lamb broth when we brought chicken but maybe twas the other way, and Nancy forgot.
The sick woman pulled herself up till she sat erect in the bed a most unusual thing for her to do, though Pollyanna did not know this.
Well, Miss Impertinence, who are you? she demanded.
Pollyanna laughed gleefully.
Oh, THAT isnt my name, Mrs. Snow and Im so glad tisnt, too! That would be worse than Hephzibah, wouldnt it? Im Pollyanna Whittier, Miss Polly Harringtons niece, and Ive come to live with her. Thats why Im here with the jelly this morning.
The sick woman pulled herself up till she sat erect in the bed a most unusual thing for her to do, though Pollyanna did not know this.
Well, Miss Impertinence, who are you? she demanded.
Pollyanna laughed gleefully.
Oh, THAT isnt my name, Mrs. Snow and Im so glad tisnt, too! That would be worse than Hephzibah, wouldnt it? Im Pollyanna Whittier, Miss Polly Harringtons niece, and Ive come to live with her. Thats why Im here with the jelly this morning.
All through the first part of this sentence, the sick woman had sat interestedly erect; but at the reference to the jelly she fell back on her pillow listlessly.
Very well; thank you. Your aunt is very kind, of course, but my appetite isnt very good this morning, and I was wanting lamb She stopped suddenly, then went on with an abrupt change of subject. I never slept a wink last night[58] not a wink!
O dear, I wish I didnt, sighed Pollyanna, placing the jelly on the little stand and seating herself comfortably in the nearest chair. You lose such a lot of time just sleeping! Dont you think so?
Lose time sleeping! exclaimed the sick woman.
Yes, when you might be just living, you know. It seems such a pity we cant live nights, too.
Once again the woman pulled herself erect in her bed.
Well, if you aint the amazing young one! she cried. Here! do you go to that window and pull up the curtain, she directed. I should like to know what you look like!
Pollyanna rose to her feet, but she laughed a little ruefully.
O dear! then youll see my freckles, wont you? she sighed, as she went to the window; and just when I was being so glad it was dark and you couldnt see em. There! Now you can oh! she broke off excitedly, as she turned back to the bed; Im so glad you wanted to see me, because now I can see you! They didnt tell me you were so pretty!
Me! pretty! scoffed the woman, bitterly.
Why, yes. Didnt you know it? cried Pollyanna.
Well, no, I didnt, retorted Mrs. Snow, dryly. Mrs. Snow had lived forty years, and for fifteen of those years she had been too busy wishing things were different to find much time to enjoy things as they were.
Oh, but your eyes are so big and dark, and your hairs all dark, too, and curly, cooed Pollyanna. I love black curls. (Thats one of the things Im going to have when I get to Heaven.) And youve got two little red spots in your cheeks. Why, Mrs. Snow, you ARE pretty! I should think youd know it when you looked at yourself in the glass.
The glass! snapped the sick woman, falling back on her pillow. Yes, well, I haint done much prinkin before the mirror these days and you wouldnt, if you was flat on your back[59] as I am!
Why, no, of course not, agreed Pollyanna, sympathetically. But wait just let me show you, she exclaimed, skipping over to the bureau and picking up a small hand-glass.
On the way back to the bed she stopped, eyeing the sick woman with a critical gaze.
I reckon maybe, if you dont mind, Id like to fix your hair just a little before I let you see it, she proposed. May I fix your hair, please?
Why, I suppose so, if you want to, permitted Mrs. Snow, grudgingly; but twont stay[60], you know.
Oh, thank you. I love to fix peoples hair, exulted Pollyanna, carefully laying down the hand-glass and reaching for a comb. I shant do much to-day, of course Im in such a hurry for you to see how pretty you are; but some day Im going to take it all down and have a perfectly lovely time with it, she cried, touching with soft fingers the waving hair above the sick womans forehead.
For five minutes Pollyanna worked swiftly, deftly, combing a refractory curl into fluffiness, perking up a drooping ruffle at the neck, or shaking a pillow into plumpness so that the head might have a better pose. Meanwhile the sick woman, frowning prodigiously, and openly scoffing at the whole procedure, was, in spite of herself, beginning to tingle with a feeling perilously near to excitement.
There! panted Pollyanna, hastily plucking a pink from a vase near by and tucking it into the dark hair where it would give the best effect. Now I reckon were ready to be looked at! And she held out the mirror in triumph.
Humph! grunted the sick woman, eyeing her reflection severely. I like red pinks better than pink ones; but then, itll fade, anyhow, before night, so whats the difference!
But I should think youd be glad they did fade, laughed Pollyanna, cause then you can have the fun of getting some more. I just love your hair fluffed out like that, she finished with a satisfied gaze. Dont you?
Hm-m; maybe. Still twont last, with me tossing back and forth on the pillow as I do.