Pollyanna: The First Glad Book. Pollyanna Grows Up: The Second Glad Book / Поллианна. Поллианна вырастает

“Why, I say, only think how bad it would be if you didn’t have �em-and you lying here like this!”

“As if that wasn’t the very thing that was at the bottom of the whole matter,” retorted the man, testily, “because I am lying here like this! And yet you expect me to say I’m glad because of a fool woman who disarranges the whole house and calls it �regulating,’ and a man who aids and abets her in it, and calls it �nursing,’ to say nothing of the doctor who eggs �em both on-and the whole bunch of them, meanwhile, expecting me to pay them for it, and pay them well, too!”

Pollyanna frowned sympathetically.

“Yes, I know. THAT part is too bad-about the money-when you’ve been saving it, too, all this time.”

“When-eh?”

“Saving it-buying beans and fish balls, you know. Say, DO you like beans? – or do you like turkey better, only on account of the sixty cents?”

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

Pollyanna smiled radiantly.

“About your money, you know-denying yourself, and saving it for the heathen. You see, I found out about it. Why, Mr. Pendleton, that’s one of the ways I knew you weren’t cross inside. Nancy told me.”

The man’s jaw dropped.

“Nancy told you I was saving money for the-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, you know,” faltered Pollyanna, in a low voice. “She was her sister. And after father-went to be with her and the rest of us in Heaven, there wasn’t any one left for me down here but the Ladies’ Aid; so she took me.”

The man did not answer. His face, as he lay back on the pillow now, was very white-so white that Pollyanna was frightened.

“I reckon maybe I’d better go now,” she proposed. “I–I hope you’ll like-the jelly.”

The man turned his head suddenly, and opened his eyes. There was a curious longing in their dark depths which even Pollyanna saw, and at which she marvelled.

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

“Yes, sir.