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Page 87
It was then that the same thought must have, in some way, come to
Pollyanna's friends. At all events, almost at once, the mistress
of the Harrington homestead, greatly to her surprise, began to
receive calls: calls from people she knew, and people she did
not know; calls from men, women, and children--many of whom Miss
Polly had not supposed that her niece knew at all.
Some came in and sat down for a stiff five or ten minutes. Some
stood awkwardly on the porch steps, fumbling with hats or
hand-bags, according to their sex. Some brought a book, a bunch
of flowers, or a dainty to tempt the palate. Some cried frankly.
Some turned their backs and blew their noses furiously. But all
inquired very anxiously for the little injured girl; and all sent
to her some message--and it was these messages which, after a
time, stirred Miss Polly to action.
First came Mr. John Pendleton. He came without his crutches
to-day.
"I don't need to tell you how shocked I am," he began almost
harshly. "But can--nothing be done?"
Miss Polly gave a gesture of despair.
"Oh, we're 'doing,' of course, all the time. Dr. Mead prescribed
certain treatments and medicines that might help, and Dr. Warren
is carrying them out to the letter, of course. But--Dr. Mead held
out almost no hope."
John Pendleton rose abruptly--though he had but just come. His
face was white, and his mouth was set into stern lines. Miss
Polly, looking at him, knew very well why he felt that he could
not stay longer in her presence. At the door he turned.
"I have a message for Pollyanna," he said. "Will you tell her,
please, that I have seen Jimmy Bean and--that he's going to be my
boy hereafter. Tell her I thought she would be--GLAD to know. I
shall adopt him, probably."
For a brief moment Miss Polly lost her usual well-bred
self-control.
"You will adopt Jimmy Bean!" she gasped.
The man lifted his chin a little.
"Yes. I think Pollyanna will understand. You will tell her I
thought she would be--GLAD!"
"Why, of--of course," faltered Miss Polly.
"Thank you," bowed John Pendleton, as he turned to go.
In the middle of the floor Miss Polly stood, silent and amazed,
still looking after the man who had just left her. Even yet she
could scarcely believe what her ears had heard. John Pendleton
ADOPT Jimmy Bean? John Pendleton, wealthy, independent, morose,
reputed to be miserly and supremely selfish, to adopt a little
boy--and such a little boy?
With a somewhat dazed face Miss Polly went up-stairs to
Pollyanna's room.
"Pollyanna, I have a message for you from Mr. John Pendleton. He
has just been here. He says to tell you he has taken Jimmy Bean
for his little boy. He said he thought you'd be glad to know it."
Pollyanna's wistful little face flamed into sudden joy.
"Glad? GLAD? Well, I reckon I am glad! Oh, Aunt Polly, I've so
wanted to find a place for Jimmy--and that's such a lovely place!
Besides, I'm so glad for Mr. Pendleton, too. You see, now he'll
have the child's presence."
"The--what?"
Pollyanna colored painfully. She had forgotten that she had never
told her aunt of Mr. Pendleton's desire to adopt her--and
certainly she would not wish to tell her now that she had ever
thought for a minute of leaving her--this dear Aunt Polly!
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