Поллианна / Pollyanna

“Well, I’m glad you’re home,” she sighed in obvious relief. “It’s half-past six!”

“I know it,” said Pollyanna; “but I’m not to blame. And I don’t think even Aunt Polly will say I am, either.”

“She won’t have the chance,” retorted Nancy. “She’s gone. She will be back in three days.”

And Pollyanna began to tell of the accident; and Nancy, open-mouthed, was listening.

At the appointed place the next afternoon, Pollyanna met Jimmy. As was to be expected,[79] of course, Jimmy showed disappointment about the Ladies’ Aid decision.

About a week after the accident in Pendleton Woods that Pollyanna said to her aunt one morning:

“Aunt Polly, please would you mind very much if I took Mrs. Snow’s calf’s-foot jelly this week to someone else?”

“Dear me, Pollyanna, what ARE you up to now?” sighed her aunt.

“Please let me take jelly to HIM. He has broken leg.”

“‘Him’? ‘Broken leg’? What are you talking about, Pollyanna?”

“Oh, I forgot. I reckon you didn’t know. You see, it happened while you were gone. I found him in the woods, you know; and I had to unlock his house and telephone for the men and the doctor, and everything. Aunt Polly, may I take jelly to him?”

“Yes, I suppose so,” said Miss Polly. “Who was he?”

“The Man. I mean, Mr. John Pendleton.”

Miss Polly almost sprang from her chair.[80]

“JOHN PENDLETON!”

“Yes. Nancy told me his name. Maybe you know him.”

Miss Polly did not answer this. Instead she asked:

“Do YOU know him?”

Pollyanna nodded.

“Oh, yes. He always speaks and smiles. He’s only cross OUTSIDE, you know. I’ll go and get the jelly.” finished Pollyanna, already halfway across the room.

“Pollyanna, wait! I’ve changed my mind.[81] Take the jelly to Mrs. Snow as usual. That is all. You may go now.”

“I know, he is cross – outside,” said Pollyanna, sadly, “so I suppose you don’t like him. But I like him. I’d be glad to send him jelly.”

Miss Polly began to shake her head. Then, suddenly, she stopped, and asked in a curiously quiet voice:

“Does he know who you are, Pollyanna?”

The little girl sighed.

“I reckon not. I told him my name, once, but he never calls me it.”

“Does he know where you live?”

“Oh, no. I never told him that.”

“Then he doesn’t know you’re my niece?”

“I don’t think so.”

For a moment there was silence. Miss Polly was looking at Pollyanna with eyes that did not seem to see her at all. Then Miss Polly roused herself with a start.[82]

“Very well, Pollyanna,” she said at last, “you may take the jelly to Mr. Pendleton as your own gift. But understand: I do not send it. Be very sure that he does not think I do![83]”

“Thank you, Aunt Polly,” exulted Pollyanna.

Chapter XV. Dr. Chilton

When Pollyanna made her second visit to the house of Mr. John Pendleton windows were open. She rang the bell. Soon an elderly woman opened the door.

“If you please, I’ve brought some calf’s-foot jelly for Mr. Pendleton,” smiled Pollyanna.

“Thank you,” said the woman. “Who shall I say sent it?[84]”

Suddenly Doctor Chilton stepped quickly forward.

“Ah! Some calf’s-foot jelly?” he asked. “That will be fine! Maybe you want to see our patient?”

“Oh, yes, sir,” beamed Pollyanna.

“But, Doctor, didn’t Mr. Pendleton give orders not to admit – anyone?” the woman asked.

“Oh, yes,” nodded the doctor. “But now I give orders.” Then he added: “You don’t know, of course; but that little girl is better than a bottle of tonic any day.”

“Who is she?”

“She’s the niece of one of our best known residents. Her name is Pollyanna Whittier. I don’t know the little lady well; but lots of my patients do![85]”

The nurse smiled.

“And what is special about her?”

“I don’t know. As near as I can find out it is an overwhelming gladness for everything that has happened or is going to happen.”

Pollyanna, meanwhile, entered John Pendleton’s room. The next moment Pollyanna found herself alone with a very cross-looking man lying on his back in bed.[86]

“Oh, it’s you!” he exclaimed as Pollyanna advanced toward the bed.

“Yes, sir,” smiled Pollyanna. “And I’ve brought you some calf’s-foot jelly,” resumed Pollyanna; “I hope you like it?”

“Never ate it.”

“Didn’t you? Well, if you didn’t, then you can’t know you DON’T like it, anyhow, can you?”

“Well, there’s one thing I know all right, and that is that I’m flat on my back right here this minute.”

“Yes, but broken legs don’t last long, you know – and you’re not a lifelong invalid as Mrs. Snow. I should think you could be glad of that.[87]”

“Oh, of course,” interrupted the man, sharply; “I can be glad, too, for all the rest, I suppose – the nurse, and the doctor, and that woman in the kitchen!”

“Why, yes, sir, only think how bad it would be if you didn’t have them – and you lying here like this!”

“And you expect me to say I’m glad because I have to pay them, and pay them well, too!”

Pollyanna frowned sympathetically.

“Yes, I know. You’ve been saving money buying beans and fish balls,[88] you know.

“Look here, child, what are you talking about?”

Pollyanna smiled.

“About your money, you know. Nancy told me.”

The man’s jaw dropped.

“Nancy told you I was saving money – Well, may I inquire who Nancy is?”

“Our Nancy. She works for Aunt Polly.”

“Aunt Polly! Well, who is Aunt Polly?”

“She’s Miss Polly Harrington. I live with her.”

The man made a sudden movement.

“Miss – Polly – Harrington!” he breathed. “You live with – HER!”

“Yes; I’m her niece. She’s taken me to bring up – on account of my mother, she was her sister.[89] My mother died, and my father too.”

“And so you are – Miss Polly Harrington’s niece,” he said gently.

“Yes, sir. “I–I suppose you know – her.”

“Oh, yes; I know her. But you can’t mean that it was Miss Polly Harrington who sent that jelly – to me?” he said slowly.

Pollyanna looked distressed.

“No, sir: she didn’t. She said I must be very sure not to let you think she did send it. But I – ”

“I thought as much,[90]” vouchsafed the man, shortly, turning away his head. And Pollyanna, still more distressed, tiptoed from the room.

Then she saw Dr. Chilton.

“Well, Miss Pollyanna, may I have the pleasure of seeing you home?” asked the doctor smilingly.

“Thank you, sir. I love to ride,” beamed Pollyanna. “Dr. Chilton, I should think being a doctor would be the very gladdest kind of a business there was.[91]”

The doctor turned in surprise.

“‘Gladdest’! – when I see so much suffering always, everywhere I go?” he cried.

She nodded.

“I know; but you’re HELPING it – don’t you see? – and of course you’re glad to help!”

The doctor’s eyes filled with sudden hot tears. The doctor’s life was lonely one. He had no wife and no home. His profession was very dear to him.

“God bless you, little girl,” he said unsteadily.

The doctor left Pollyanna at her own door, smiled at Nancy, then drove rapidly away.

“I’ve had a perfectly beautiful ride with the doctor,” announced Pollyanna, “He’s lovely, Nancy!”

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.

“Aunt Polly, that was Dr. Chilton! Don’t 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 didn’t.”

Miss Polly grew a sudden vivid pink.

“You TOLD him I didn’t!”