Поллианна / Pollyanna

“Well, I don’t – just now. I’m hunting up a new place.”

“Oh! Where is it?”

The boy looked at her with scornful eyes.

“Silly! As if I’d be hunting for it – if I knew![62]”

“Where did you live – before?” she asked.

“All right then —! I’m Jimmy Bean, and I’m ten years old. I came last year to live at the Orphans’ Home; but I’ve left it. I’m going to live somewhere else. I’d LIKE to have a home. Since my parents died I’ve tried four houses,[63] but – they didn’t want me – though I said I wanted to work, of course. There! Is that all you want to know?”

“O dear! I know just how you feel, because after – after my father died, too, there wasn’t anybody but the Ladies’ Aid for me, until Aunt Polly said – ”

Pollyanna stopped abruptly.

“Oh, I know just the place for you,” she cried. “Aunt Polly will take you – I know she will! Didn’t she take me? And didn’t she take Fluffy and Buffy, when they didn’t have any one to love them, or any place to go? – and they’re only cats and dogs. Oh, come, I know Aunt Polly’ll take you! You don’t know how good and kind she is!”

Jimmy Bean’s thin little face brightened.

“I will work, and I’m really strong!” He bared a small, bony arm.

When they reached the house, Pollyanna piloted her companion straight to her amazed aunt.

“Oh, Aunt Polly, just look here! I’ve got something nicer, even, than Fluffy and Buffy for you to bring up. It’s a real live boy. And he says he’ll work.”

“Pollyanna, what does this mean? Who is this dirty little boy? Where did you find him?” she demanded sharply.

“This is Jimmy Bean, Aunt Polly.”

“Well, what is he doing here?”

“Why, Aunt Polly, I just told you!” Pollyanna’s eyes were wide with surprise. “He’s for you. I brought him home – so he could live here, you know. He wants a home and folks. I told him how good you were to me, and to Fluffy and Buffy, and that I knew you would be to him, because of course he’s even nicer than cats and dogs.”

Miss Polly dropped back in her chair.

“That will do,[64] Pollyanna. This is absurd. He is just a ragged little beggar from the street, who – ”

Jimmy’s eyes flashed. There was a sudden stir from the boy. His eyes flashed and he confronted Miss Polly fearlessly.

“I’m not a beggar, ma’am, and I don’t want anything from you. I just wanted some work and the place to live. I wouldn’t have come to your old house, but this girl told me you’re so good and kind that you’d be just dying to take me in. So, there!” And he went away with dignity.

“Oh, Aunt Polly,” choked Pollyanna. “Why, I thought you’d be GLAD to have him here!”

“Pollyanna,” she cried sharply, “WILL you stop using that everlasting word ‘glad’!”

Pollyanna’s jaw dropped.

Before the boy had reached the end of the driveway, she overtook him.

“Boy! Boy! Jimmy Bean, I want you to know how – how sorry I am,” she panted.

“I’m not blaming you,[65]” retorted the boy, sullenly. “But I’m not beggar!” he added.

“Of course, you aren’t! But you mustn’t blame auntie,” appealed Pollyanna. “Probably I didn’t do the introducing right, anyhow; and I reckon I didn’t tell her much who you were. She is good and kind, really —; but I probably didn’t explain it right.”

The boy shrugged his shoulders and half turned away.

“Never mind.[66] But I’m no beggar, you know.”

“I know what I will do! The Ladies’ Aid meets this afternoon.”

“Well, what is a Ladies’ Aid?”

“It’s just a lot of ladies that meet and sew and give suppers and raise money and – and talk; that’s what a Ladies’ Aid is. They’re awfully kind. I’m going to tell them about you this afternoon.”

The boy turned fiercely.

“Maybe you think I’m going to stand in front of them and hear how all these women call me a beggar, instead of just ONE? No!”

“Oh, but you wouldn’t be there,” argued Pollyanna. “I will go alone, of course, and tell them. And I’m sure someone would be glad to give you a home.[67]”

“Don’t forget to tell them I can work,” the boy said.

“Then I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

“Where?”

“By the road – where I found you today; near Mrs. Snow’s house.”

“All right. I’ll be there.”

“Goodbye!” she called brightly.

Miss Polly stood at the sitting-room window and watched them. In her ears still was the boy’s scornful “you’re so good and kind.” In her heart was a curious sense of desolation – as of something lost.

Chapter XII. Before The Ladies’ Aid

Next day Aunt Polly told the minister’s wife over the telephone, that she would not be at the Ladies’ Aid meeting that afternoon, owing to a headache.[68]

The Ladies’ Aid met at two o’clock in the chapel next the church.

Pollyanna ascended the chapel steps, pushed open the door and entered the vestibule.

“How do you do, Ladies’ Aiders?” she faltered politely. “I’m Pollyanna Whittier. I–I reckon some of you know me, maybe.”

Some of the ladies did know this rather extraordinary niece of their fellow-member, but nearly all had heard of her; but not one of them could think of anything to say, just then.

“I–I’ve come to – to lay the case before you,[69]” stammered Pollyanna, after a moment.

“Did – did your aunt send you, my dear?” asked Mrs. Ford, the minister’s wife.

“Oh, no. I came all by myself.”

“Yes, dear. What is it?”

“Well, it – it’s Jimmy Bean,” sighed Pollyanna. “He hasn’t any home except the Orphan one, and he wants one of the common kind.[70] He’s ten years old. I think some of you might like him – to live with you, you know.”

“Well —!” murmured a voice.

“Oh, I forgot to say; he will work,” she said.

One or two women began to question her. After a time they all had the story and began to talk among themselves.

Pollyanna listened with growing anxiety. Some of what was said she could not understand. After a time, however, she understood that there was no woman who had a home to give him.

It seemed that their society was famous for its offering to Hindu missions. Most of what was said Pollyanna could not understand, but the most important thing was clear to her. Ladies’ Aid had decided that they would rather send all their money to bring up the little Indian boys than to save out enough to bring up one little boy in their own town.[71]

Chapter XIII. In Pendleton Woods

After the meeting Pollyanna didn’t go home but turned instead toward Pendleton Hill. It was a “vacation day” (the day when there was no sewing or cooking lesson), and Pollyanna was sure that nothing would do her quite so much good as a walk through the green quiet of Pendleton Woods.

It was very beautiful in the Pendleton Woods, as Pollyanna knew by experience.

Suddenly Pollyanna lifted her head and listened. A dog had barked some distance ahead. A moment later she saw the dog.

“Hullo, doggie!” Pollyanna recognized Mr. Pendleton’s dog.

The dog, as Pollyanna could see, was acting strangely. He was still barking and running back and forth.[72] Pollyanna followed the dog.

“Ho! That isn’t the way home,” laughed Pollyanna.

The little dog seemed frantic now. Back and forth, back and forth, and then it ran to the side path. Polyanna followed it again. And soon Pollyanna saw a man lying motionless at the rock a few yards from the side path.

A twig cracked sharply under Pollyanna’s foot, and the man turned his head. Pollyanna ran to his side.

“Mr. Pendleton! Oh, are you hurt?”

“Hurt? Oh, no! I’m just taking a siesta in the sunshine,” snapped the man irritably. “See here, how much do you know? What can you do? Have you got any sense?”

Pollyanna answered the questions literally, one by one.

“Why, Mr. Pendleton, I–I don’t know so very much, and I can’t do a great many things; but most of the Ladies’ Aiders said I had real good sense.[73]

The man smiled grimly.

“There, there, child, I beg your pardon. Now listen.” He paused, and with some difficulty reached his hand into his trousers pocket and brought out a key. “About five minutes’ walk, is my house. This key will admit you to the side door. When you get into the house, go straight through the vestibule and hall to the door at the end. On the big desk in the middle of the room you’ll find a telephone. Do you know how to use a telephone?”

“Oh, yes, sir!”

“Find Dr. Thomas Chilton’s number on the card you’ll find somewhere around there. Call Dr. Chilton and tell him that John Pendleton is at the foot of Little Eagle Ledge in Pendleton Woods with a broken leg, and to come at once with a stretcher and two men. He’ll know what to do.”

Pollyanna did not stop until she reached the house. When she opened the door she caught her breath.[74] This was John Pendleton’s house; the house of mystery.

The room was large, and there was a big desk in the middle of the room. It was toward this desk that Pollyanna hurriedly tiptoed.

Pollyanna found the telephone card and called Dr. Chilton. She delivered her message and answered the doctor’s pertinent questions. After that she hung up the receiver and drew a long breath of relief.

In what seemed, even to the injured man, an incredibly short time, Pollyanna was back in the woods.

“Well, what is the trouble? Couldn’t you get in?[75]” he demanded.

Pollyanna opened wide her eyes.

“Why, of course I could! I’m HERE,” she answered, “and the doctor will be here as soon as possible[76] with the men and things. He said he knew just where you were, so I didn’t stay to show him the way. I wanted to be with you.”

The man smiled grimly. “Well, I can’t say I admire your taste. I think you could find pleasanter companions.”

“Do you mean – because you’re so – cross?”

“Thanks for your frankness. Yes.”

Pollyanna laughed softly.

“But you’re only cross OUTSIDE – you aren’t cross inside!”

“How do you know that?” asked the man.

“Oh, lots of ways; there – like that – the way you act with the dog,” she added, pointing to his hand that rested on the dog’s head near him. “It’s funny how dogs and cats know the insides of folks better than other folks do, isn’t it? Now I’m going to hold your head,” she finished abruptly.

He did not speak again for some time. Pollyanna, watching his face, wondered if he were asleep.[77] She did not think he was. He looked as if his lips were tight shut to keep back moans of pain.

Minute by minute the time passed.

At last the dog gave a short, sharp bark. The next moment Pollyanna heard voices, and very soon their owners appeared three men carrying a stretcher and various other articles.

Dr. Chilton advanced cheerily.

“Well, my little lady, playing nurse?[78]”

“Oh, no, sir,” smiled Pollyanna. “I just held his head. But I’m glad I was here.”

“So am I,” nodded the doctor and turned his attention to the injured man.

Chapter XIV. Just A Matter of Jelly

Pollyanna was a little late for supper on the night of the accident to John Pendleton.

Nancy met her at the door.