|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 88
"The child's presence," stammered Pollyanna, hastily. "Mr.
Pendleton told me once, you see, that only a woman's hand and
heart or a child's presence could make a--a home. And now he's
got it--the child's presence."
"Oh, I--see," said Miss Polly very gently; and she did see--more
than Pollyanna realized. She saw something of the pressure that
was probably brought to bear on Pollyanna herself at the time
John Pendleton was asking HER to be the "child's presence," which
was to transform his great pile of gray stone into a home. "I
see," she finished, her eyes stinging with sudden tears.
Pollyanna, fearful that her aunt might ask further embarrassing
questions, hastened to lead the conversation away from the
Pendleton house and its master.
"Dr. Chilton says so, too--that it takes a woman's hand and
heart, or a child's presence, to make a home, you know," she
remarked.
Miss Polly turned with a start.
"DR. CHILTON! How do you know--that?"
"He told me so. 'Twas when he said he lived in just rooms, you
know--not a home."
Miss Polly did not answer. Her eyes were out the window.
"So I asked him why he didn't get 'em.--a woman's hand and heart,
and have a home."
"Pollyanna!" Miss Polly had turned sharply. Her cheeks showed a
sudden color.
"Well, I did. He looked so--so sorrowful."
"What did he--say?" Miss Polly asked the question as if in spite
of some force within her that was urging her not to ask it.
"He didn't say anything for a minute; then he said very low that
you couldn't always get 'em for the asking."
There was a brief silence. Miss Polly's eyes had turned again to
the window. Her cheeks were still unnaturally pink.
Pollyanna sighed.
"He wants one, anyhow, I know, and I wish he could have one."
"Why, Pollyanna, HOW do you know?"
"Because, afterwards, on another day, he said something else. He
said that low, too, but I heard him. He said that he'd give all
the world if he did have one woman's hand and heart. Why, Aunt
Polly, what's the matter?" Aunt Polly had risen hurriedly and
gone to the window.
"Nothing, dear. I was changing the position of this prism," said
Aunt Polly, whose whole face now was aflame.
CHAPTER XXVIII. THE GAME AND ITS PLAYERS
It was not long after John Pendleton's second visit that Milly
Snow called one afternoon. Milly Snow had never before been to
the Harrington homestead. She blushed and looked very embarrassed
when Miss Polly entered the room.
"I--I came to inquire for the little girl," she stammered.
"You are very kind. She is about the same. How is your mother?"
rejoined Miss Polly, wearily.
"That is what I came to tell you--that is, to ask you to tell
Miss Pollyanna," hurried on the girl, breathlessly and
incoherently. "We think it's--so awful--so perfectly awful that
the little thing can't ever walk again; and after all she's done
for us, too--for mother, you know, teaching her to play the game,
and all that. And when we heard how now she couldn't play it
herself--poor little dear! I'm sure I don't see how she CAN,
either, in her condition!--but when we remembered all the things
she'd said to us, we thought if she could only know what she HAD
done for us, that it would HELP, you know, in her own case, about
the game, because she could be glad--that is, a little glad--"
Milly stopped helplessly, and seemed to be waiting for Miss Polly
to speak.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|