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Page 82
Old Tom chuckled.
"Well, it strikes me Miss Polly herself ain't lookin' none the
worse--for wearin' them 'ere curls 'round her forehead," he
observed dryly.
" 'Course she ain't," retorted Nancy, indignantly. "She looks
like FOLKS, now. She's actually almost--"
"Keerful, now, Nancy!" interrupted the old man, with a slow grin.
"You know what you said when I told ye she was handsome once."
Nancy shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh, she ain't handsome, of course; but I will own up she don't
look like the same woman, what with the ribbons an' lace jiggers
Miss Pollyanna makes her wear 'round her neck."
"I told ye so," nodded the man. "I told ye she wa'n't--old."
Nancy laughed.
"Well, I'll own up she HAIN'T got quite so good an imitation of
it--as she did have, 'fore Miss Pollyanna come. Say, Mr. Tom, who
WAS her A lover? I hain't found that out, yet; I hain't, I
hain't!"
"Hain't ye?" asked the old man, with an odd look on his face.
"Well, I guess ye won't then from me."
"Oh, Mr. Tom, come on, now," wheedled the girl. "Ye see, there
ain't many folks here that I CAN ask."
"Maybe not. But there's one, anyhow, that ain't answerin',"
grinned Old Tom. Then, abruptly, the light died from his eyes.
"How is she, ter-day--the little gal?"
Nancy shook her head. Her face, too, had sobered.
"Just the same, Mr. Tom. There ain't no special diff'rence, as I
can see--or anybody, I guess. She jest lays there an' sleeps an'
talks some, an' tries ter smile an' be 'glad' 'cause the sun sets
or the moon rises, or some other such thing, till it's enough ter
make yer heart break with achin'."
"I know; it's the 'game'--bless her sweet heart!" nodded Old Tom,
blinking a little.
"She told YOU, then, too, about that 'ere--game?"
"Oh, yes. She told me long ago." The old man hesitated, then
went on, his lips twitching a little. "I was growlin' one day
'cause I was so bent up and crooked; an' what do ye s'pose the
little thing said?"
"I couldn't guess. I wouldn't think she could find ANYTHIN' about
THAT ter be glad about!"
"She did. She said I could be glad, anyhow, that I didn't have
ter STOOP SO FAR TER DO MY WEEDIN' 'cause I was already bent part
way over."
Nancy gave a wistful laugh.
"Well, I ain't surprised, after all. You might know she'd find
somethin'. We've been playin' it--that game--since almost the
first, 'cause there wa'n't no one else she could play it
with--though she did speak of--her aunt."
"MISS POLLY!"
Nancy chuckled.
"I guess you hain't got such an awful diff'rent opinion o' the
mistress than I have," she bridled.
Old Tom stiffened.
"I was only thinkin' 'twould be--some of a surprise--to her," he
explained with dignity.
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