Is he?
Yes. And I told him I should think his business would be the very gladdest one there was.
What! goin ter see sick folks-an folks what aint sick but thinks they is, which is worse? Nancys face showed open skepticism.
Pollyanna laughed gleefully.
Yes. Thats most what he said, too; but there is a way to be glad, even then. Guess!
Nancy frowned in meditation. Nancy was getting so she could play this game of being glad quite successfully, she thought. She rather enjoyed studying out Pollyannas posers, too, as she called some of the little girls questions.
Oh, I know, she chuckled. Its just the opposite from what you told Mis Snow.
Opposite? repeated Pollyanna, obviously puzzled.
Yes. You told her she could be glad because other folks wasnt like her-all sick, you know.
Yes, nodded Pollyanna.
Well, the doctor can be glad because he isnt like other folks-the sick ones, I mean, what he doctors, finished Nancy in triumph.
It was Pollyannas turn to frown.
Why, y-yes, she admitted. Of course that IS one way, but it isnt the way I said; and-someway, I dont seem to quite like the sound of it. It isnt exactly as if he said he was glad they WERE sick, but-You do play the game so funny, sometimes Nancy, she sighed, as she went into the house.
Pollyanna found her aunt in the sitting room.
Who was that man-the one who drove into the yard, Pollyanna? questioned the lady a little sharply.
Why, Aunt Polly, that was Dr. Chilton! Dont you know him?
Dr. Chilton! What was he doing-here?
He drove me home. Oh, and I gave the jelly to Mr. Pendleton, and-
Miss Polly lifted her head quickly.
Pollyanna, he did not think I sent it?
Oh, no, Aunt Polly. I told him you didnt.
Miss Polly grew a sudden vivid pink.
You TOLD him I didnt!
Pollyanna opened wide her eyes at the remonstrative dismay in her aunts voice.
Why, Aunt Polly, you SAID to!
Aunt Polly sighed.
I SAID, Pollyanna, that I did not send it, and for you to be very sure that he did not think I DID! which is a very different matter from TELLING him outright that I did not send it. And she turned vexedly away.
Dear me! Well, I dont see where the difference is, sighed Pollyanna, as she went to hang her hat on the one particular hook in the house upon which Aunt Polly had said that it must be hung.
Chapter XVI
A red rose and a lace shawl
It was on a rainy day about a week after Pollyannas visit to Mr. John Pendleton, that Miss Polly was driven by Timothy to an early afternoon committee meeting of the Ladies Aid Society. When she returned at three oclock, her cheeks were a bright, pretty pink, and her hair, blown by the damp wind, had fluffed into kinks and curls wherever the loosened pins had given leave.
Pollyanna had never before seen her aunt look like this.
Oh-oh-oh! Why, Aunt Polly, youve got em, too, she cried rapturously, dancing round and round her aunt, as that lady entered the sitting room.
Got what, you impossible child?
Pollyanna was still revolving round and round her aunt.
And I never knew you had em! Can folks have em when you dont know theyve got em? DO you suppose I could? fore I get to Heaven, I mean, she cried, pulling out with eager fingers the straight locks above her ears. But then, they wouldnt be black, if they did come. You cant hide the black part.
Pollyanna, what does all this mean? demanded Aunt Polly, hurriedly removing her hat, and trying to smooth back her disordered hair.
No, no-please, Aunt Polly! Pollyannas jubilant voice turned to one of distressed appeal. Dont smooth em out! Its those that Im talking about-those darling little black curls. Oh, Aunt Polly, theyre so pretty!
Nonsense! What do you mean, Pollyanna, by going to the Ladies Aid the other day in that absurd fashion about that beggar boy?
But it isnt nonsense, urged Pollyanna, answering only the first of her aunts remarks. You dont know how pretty you look with your hair like that! Oh, Aunt Polly, please, maynt I do your hair like I did Mrs. Snows, and put in a flower? Id so love to see you that way! Why, youd be ever so much prettier than she was!
Pollyanna! (Miss Polly spoke very sharply-all the more sharply because Pollyannas words had given her an odd throb of joy: when before had anybody cared how she, or her hair looked? When before had anybody loved to see her pretty?) Pollyanna, you did not answer my question. Why did you go to the Ladies Aid in that absurd fashion?
Yesm, I know; but, please, I didnt know it was absurd until I went and found out theyd rather see their report grow than Jimmy. So then I wrote to MY Ladies Aiders-cause Jimmy is far away from them, you know; and I thought maybe he could be their little India boy same as-Aunt Polly, WAS I your little India girl? And, Aunt Polly, you WILL let me do your hair, wont you?
Aunt Polly put her hand to her throat-the old, helpless feeling was upon her, she knew.
But, Pollyanna, when the ladies told me this afternoon how you came to them, I was so ashamed! I-
Pollyanna began to dance up and down lightly on her toes.
You didnt! You didnt say I COULDNT do your hair, she crowed triumphantly; and so Im sure it means just the other way round, sort of-like it did the other day about Mr. Pendletons jelly that you didnt send, but didnt want me to say you didnt send, you know. Now wait just where you are. Ill get a comb.
But Pollyanna, Pollyanna, remonstrated Aunt Polly, following the little girl from the room and panting upstairs after her.
Oh, did you come up here? Pollyanna greeted her at the door of Miss Pollys own room. Thatll be nicer yet! Ive got the comb. Now sit down, please, right here. Oh, Im so glad you let me do it!
But, Pollyanna, II-
Miss Polly did not finish her sentence. To her helpless amazement she found herself in the low chair before the dressing table, with her hair already tumbling about her ears under ten eager, but very gentle fingers.
Oh, my! what pretty hair youve got, prattled Pollyanna; and theres so much more of it than Mrs. Snow has, too! But, of course, you need more, anyhow, because youre well and can go to places where folks can see it. My! I reckon folksll be glad when they do see it-and surprised, too, cause youve hid it so long. Why, Aunt Polly, Ill make you so pretty everybodyll just love to look at you!
Pollyanna! gasped a stifled but shocked voice from a veil of hair. IIm sure I dont know why Im letting you do this silly thing.
Why, Aunt Polly, I should think youd be glad to have folks like to look at you! Dont you like to look at pretty things? Im ever so much happier when I look at pretty folks, cause when I look at the other kind Im so sorry for them.
But-but-
And I just love to do folks hair, purred Pollyanna, contentedly. I did quite a lot of the Ladies Aiders-but there wasnt any of them so nice as yours. Mrs. Whites was pretty nice, though, and she looked just lovely one day when I dressed her up in-Oh, Aunt Polly, Ive just happened to think of something! But its a secret, and I shant tell. Now your hair is almost done, and pretty quick Im going to leave you just a minute; and you must promise-promise-PROMISE not to stir nor peek, even, till I come back. Now remember! she finished, as she ran from the room.
Aloud Miss Polly said nothing. To herself she said that of course she should at once undo the absurd work of her nieces fingers, and put her hair up properly again. As for peeking just as if she cared how-
At that moment-unaccountably-Miss Polly caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror of the dressing table. And what she saw sent such a flush of rosy color to her cheeks that-she only flushed the more at the sight.
She saw a face-not young, it is true-but just now alight with excitement and surprise. The cheeks were a pretty pink. The eyes sparkled. The hair, dark, and still damp from the outdoor air, lay in loose waves about the forehead and curved back over the ears in wonderfully becoming lines, with softening little curls here and there.
So amazed and so absorbed was Miss Polly with what she saw in the glass that she quite forgot her determination to do over her hair, until she heard Pollyanna enter the room again. Before she could move, then, she felt a folded something slipped across her eyes and tied in the back.
Pollyanna, Pollyanna! What are you doing? she cried.
Pollyanna chuckled.
Thats just what I dont want you to know, Aunt Polly, and I was afraid you WOULD peek, so I tied on the handkerchief. Now sit still. It wont take but just a minute, then Ill let you see.
But, Pollyanna, began Miss Polly, struggling blindly to her feet, you must take this off! You-child, child! what ARE you doing? she gasped, as she felt a soft something slipped about her shoulders.
Pollyanna only chuckled the more gleefully. With trembling fingers she was draping about her aunts shoulders the fleecy folds of a beautiful lace shawl, yellowed from long years of packing away, and fragrant with lavender. Pollyanna had found the shawl the week before when Nancy had been regulating the attic; and it had occurred to her to-day that there was no reason why her aunt, as well as Mrs. White of her Western home, should not be dressed up.
Her task completed, Pollyanna surveyed her work with eyes that approved, but that saw yet one touch wanting. Promptly, therefore, she pulled her aunt toward the sun parlor where she could see a belated red rose blooming on the trellis within reach of her hand.
Pollyanna, what are you doing? Where are you taking me to? recoiled Aunt Polly, vainly trying to hold herself back. Pollyanna, I shall not-
Its just to the sun parlor-only a minute! Ill have you ready now quickern no time, panted Pollyanna, reaching for the rose and thrusting it into the soft hair above Miss Pollys left ear. There! she exulted, untying the knot of the handkerchief and flinging the bit of linen far from her. Oh, Aunt Polly, now I reckon youll be glad I dressed you up!
For one dazed moment Miss Polly looked at her bedecked self, and at her surroundings; then she gave a low cry and fled to her room. Pollyanna, following the direction of her aunts last dismayed gaze, saw, through the open windows of the sun parlor, the horse and gig turning into the driveway. She recognized at once the man who held the reins. Delightedly she leaned forward.
Dr. Chilton, Dr. Chilton! Did you want to see me? Im up here.
Yes, smiled the doctor, a little gravely. Will you come down, please?
In the bedroom Pollyanna found a flushed-faced, angry-eyed woman plucking at the pins that held a lace shawl in place.
Pollyanna, how could you? moaned the woman. To think of your rigging me up like this, and then letting me-BE SEEN!
Pollyanna stopped in dismay.
But you looked lovely-perfectly lovely, Aunt Polly; and-
Lovely! scorned the woman, flinging the shawl to one side and attacking her hair with shaking fingers.
Oh, Aunt Polly, please, please let the hair stay!
Stay? Like this? As if I would! And Miss Polly pulled the locks so tightly back that the last curl lay stretched dead at the ends of her fingers.
O dear! And you did look so pretty, almost sobbed Pollyanna, as she stumbled through the door.
Downstairs Pollyanna found the doctor waiting in his gig.
Ive prescribed you for a patient, and hes sent me to get the prescription filled, announced the doctor. Will you go?
You mean-an errand-to the drugstore? asked Pollyanna, a little uncertainly. I used to go some-for the Ladies Aiders.
The doctor shook his head with a smile.
Not exactly. Its Mr. John Pendleton. He would like to see you today, if youll be so good as to come. Its stopped raining, so I drove down after you. Will you come? Ill call for you and bring you back before six oclock.
Id love to! exclaimed Pollyanna. Let me ask Aunt Polly.
In a few moments she returned, hat in hand, but with rather a sober face.
Didnt-your aunt want you to go? asked the doctor, a little diffidently, as they drove away.
Y-yes, sighed Pollyanna. She-she wanted me to go TOO much, Im afraid.
Wanted you to go TOO MUCH!
Pollyanna sighed again.
Yes. I reckon she meant she didnt want me there. You see, she said: Yes, yes, run along, run along-do! I wish youd gone before.
The doctor smiled-but with his lips only. His eyes were very grave. For some time he said nothing; then, a little hesitatingly, he asked:
Wasnt it-your aunt I saw with you a few minutes ago-in the window of the sun parlor?
Pollyanna drew a long breath.
Yes; thats whats the whole trouble, I suppose. You see Id dressed her up in a perfectly lovely lace shawl I found upstairs, and Id fixed her hair and put on a rose, and she looked so pretty. Didnt YOU think she looked just lovely?
For a moment the doctor did not answer. When he did speak his voice was so low Pollyanna could but just hear the words.
Yes, Pollyanna, II thought she did look-just lovely.
Did you? Im so glad! Ill tell her, nodded the little girl, contentedly.
To her surprise the doctor gave a sudden exclamation.
Never! Pollyanna, IIm afraid I shall have to ask you not to tell her-that.
Why, Dr. Chilton! Why not? I should think youd be glad-
But she might not be, cut in the doctor.