THE COMING OF POLLYANNA (Pollyanna)

01CHAPTER III.

02THE COMING OF POLLYANNA In due time came the telegram, announcing that Pollyanna would arrive in Beldingsville the next day, the 25th of June, at four o'clock.

03Miss Polly read the telegram, frowned, then climbed the stairs to the attic room.

04She still frowned as she looked about her.

05The room contained a small bed, neatly made, two straight-backed chairs, a washstand, a bureau, without any mirror, and a small table.

06There were no drapery curtains at the dormer windows, no pictures on the wall.

07All day the sun had been pouring down upon the roof, and the little room was like an oven for heat.

08As there were no screens, the windows had not been raised.

09A big fly was buzzing angrily at one of them now, up and down, up and down, trying to get out.

10Miss Polly killed the fly, swept it through the window, raising the sash an inch for the purpose, straightened a chair, frowned again, and left the room.

11Nancy, she said a few minutes later at the kitchen door, I found a fly upstairs in Miss Pollyanna's room.

12The window must have been raised at some time.

13I have ordered screens, but until they come, I shall expect you to see that the windows remain closed.

14My niece will arrive tomorrow at four o'clock.

15I desire you to meet her at the station.

16Timothy will take the open buggy and drive you over.

17The telegram says light hair, red-checked gingham dress, and straw hat.

18That is all I know, but I think it is sufficient for your purpose.

19Yes, ma'am, but you—Miss Polly evidently read the pause aright, for she frowned and said crisply, No, I shall not go.

20It is not necessary that I should, I think.

21That is all.

22And she turned away.

23Miss Polly's arrangements for the comfort of her niece, Pollyanna, were complete.

24In the kitchen, Nancy sent her flat-iron with a vicious dig across the dish-towel she was ironing.

25Light hair, red-checked gingham dress and straw hat.

26Oh, she knows indeed.

27Well, I'd be ashamed to own it up.

28That I would.

29I would.

30And her, my onliest niece, what was a-coming from way across the continent?

31Promptly at twenty minutes to four the next afternoon, Timothy and Nancy drove off in the open buggy to meet the expected guest.

32Timothy was old Tom's son.

33It was sometimes said in the town that if old Tom was Miss Polly's right-hand man, Timothy was her left.

34Timothy was a good-natured youth, and a good-looking one as well.

35Short as had been Nancy's stay at the house, the two were already good friends.

36Today, however, Nancy was too full of her mission to be her usual talkative self, and almost in silence she took the drive to the station and alighted to wait for the train.

37Over and over in her mind she was saying it.

38Light hair, red-checked dress, straw hat.

39Over and over again she was wondering just what sort of child this Pollyanna was, anyway.

40I hope for her sake she's quiet and sensible and don't drop knives or bang doors, she sighed to Timothy, who had sauntered up to her.

41Well, if she ain't, nobody knows what'll become of the rest of us, grinned Timothy.

42Imagine Miss Polly and a noisy kid.

43Gory, there goes the whistle now.

44Oh, Timothy, I think you was mean to send me, chattered the suddenly frightened Nancy, as she turned and hurried to a point where she could best watch the passengers alight at the little station.

45It was not long before Nancy saw her, the slender little girl in the red-checked gingham with two fat braids of flaxen hair hanging down her back.

46Beneath the straw hat an eager, freckled little face turned to the right and to the left, plainly searching for someone.

47Nancy knew the child at once, but not for some time could she control her shaking knees sufficiently to go to her.

48The little girl was standing quite by herself when Nancy finally did approach her.

49Are you Miss Pollyanna?

50she faltered.

51The next moment she found herself half smothered in the clasp of two gingham-clad arms.

52Oh, I'm so glad, glad, glad to see you, cried an eager voice in her ear.

53Of course I'm Pollyanna, and I'm so glad you came to meet me.

54I hoped you would.

55You—you did?

56stammered Nancy, vaguely wondering how Pollyanna could possibly have known her and wanted her.

57You—you did?

58she repeated, trying to straighten her hat.

59Oh, yes, and I've been wondering all the way here what you look like, cried the little girl, dancing on her toes and sweeping the embarrassed Nancy from head to foot with her eyes.

60And now I know, and I'm glad you look just like you do look.

61Nancy was relieved just then to have Timothy come up.

62Pollyanna's words had been most confusing.

63This is Timothy.

64Maybe you have a trunk?

65she stammered.

66Yes, I have, nodded Pollyanna, importantly.

67I've got a brand new one.

68The ladies' aide bought it for me, and wasn't it lovely of them when they wanted the carpet so?

69Of course I don't know how much red carpet a trunk could buy, but it ought to buy some, anyhow.

70Much as half an aisle, don't you think?

71I've got a little thing here in my bag that Mr.

72Gray said was a check, and that I must give it to you before I could get my trunk.

73Mr.

74Gray is Mrs.

75Gray's husband.

76They're cousins to Deacon Carr's wife.

77I came east with them, and they're lovely.

78And—and there, here it is.

79She finished, producing the check after much fumbling in the bag she carried.

80Nancy drew a long breath.

81Instinctively she felt that someone had to draw one after that speech.

82Then she stole a glance at Timothy.

83Timothy's eyes were studiously turned away.

84The three were off at last, with Pollyanna's trunk in behind, and Pollyanna herself snugly ensconced between Nancy and Timothy.

85During the whole process of getting started, the little girl had kept up an uninterrupted stream of comments and questions, until the somewhat dazed Nancy found herself quite out of breath trying to keep up with her.

86There!

87Isn't this lovely?

88Is it far?

89I hope tis.

90I love to ride, sighed Pollyanna, as the wheels began to turn.

91Of course, if tisn't far, I shan't mind, though, cause I'll be glad to get there all the sooner, you know.

92What a pretty street!

93I knew t'was going to be pretty.

94Father told me.

95She stopped with a little choking breath.

96Nancy looked at her apprehensively, saw that the little chin was quivering, and that her eyes were full of tears.

97In a moment, however, she hurried on, with a brave lifting of her head.

98Father told me all about it.

99He remembered, and I ought to have explained before.

100Mrs.

101Gray told me to at once about this red gingham dress, you know, and why I'm not in black.

102She said you'd think t'was queer.

103But there weren't any black things in the last missionary barrel.

104Only a lady's velvet bosque, which Deacon Carr's wife said wasn't suitable for me at all.

105Besides, it had white spots worn, you know, on both elbows and some other places.

106Part of the lady's aide wanted to buy me a black dress and hat, but the other part thought the money ought to go toward the red carpet they're trying to get—for the church, you know.

107Mrs.

108White said maybe it was just as well, anyway, for she didn't like children in black.

109That is, I mean, she liked the children, of course, but not the black part.

110Pollyanna paused for breath, and Nancy managed to stammer.

111Well, I'm sure it'll be all right.

112I'm glad you feel that way.

113I do, too, nodded Pollyanna again, with that choking little breath.

114Of course, it wouldn't have been a good deal harder to be glad in black.

115Glad?

116gasped Nancy, surprised into an interruption.

117Yes, that father's going to happen to be with mother and the rest of us, you know.

118He said I must be glad.

119But it's been pretty hard to—to do it, even in Red Gingham, because I wanted him so.

120And I couldn't help feeling I ought to have him, especially as mother and the rest have gotten all the angels.

121Well, I didn't have anybody but the lady's aide.

122But now I'm sure it'll be easier, because I've got you, Aunt Polly, and I'm so glad I've got you.

123Nancy's aching sympathy for the poor little forlornness behind her turned suddenly into shocked terror.

124Oh, but—but you've made an awful mistake, dear, she faltered.

125I'm only Nancy.

126I ain't your Aunt Polly at all.

127You—you aren't?

128stammered the little girl in plain dismay.

129No, I'm only Nancy.

130I never thought of you taking me for her.

131We—we ain't a bit alike, we ain't.

132We ain't.

133Timothy chuckled softly.

134But Nancy was too disturbed to answer the merry flash from his eyes.

135But who are you?

136questioned Pollyanna.

137You don't look a bit like a lady's aider.

138Timothy laughed outright this time.

139I'm Nancy, the hard girl.

140I do all the work except washing and hard ironing.

141Miss Sturgeon does that.

142But there is an Aunt Polly, demanded the child anxiously.

143You bet your life there is, cut in Timothy.

144Pollyanna relaxed visibly.

145Oh, that's all right, then.

146There was a moment's silence, and then she went on brightly.

147And do you know I'm glad after all that she didn't come to meet me, because now I've got her still coming and I've got you besides.

148Nancy flushed.

149Timothy turned to her with a quizzical smile.

150I call that a pretty slick compliment, he said.

151Why don't you thank the little lady?

152I—I was thinking about Miss Polly, faltered Nancy.

153Pollyanna sighed contentedly.

154I was too.

155I'm so interested in her.

156You know, she's all the aunt I've got, and I didn't know I had her for ever so long.

157Then father told me.

158He said she lived in a lovely great big house way on top of a hill.

159She does.

160You can see it now, said Nancy.

161It's that big white one with the green blinds, way ahead.

162Oh, how pretty!

163And what a lot of trees and grass all around it!

164I never saw such a lot of green grass.

165Seems so all at once.

166Is my Aunt Polly rich, Nancy?

167Yes, Miss.

168I'm so glad.

169It must be perfectly lovely to have lots of money.

170I never knew anyone that did have.

171Only the whites.

172They're some rich.

173They have carpets in every room and ice cream sundaes.

174Does Aunt Polly have ice cream sundaes?

175Nancy shook her head.

176Her lips twitched.

177She threw a merry look into Timothy's eyes.

178No, Miss.

179Your Aunt don't like ice cream, I guess.

180At least, wise, I never saw it on her table.

181Pollyanna's face fell.

182Oh, doesn't she?

183I'm so sorry.

184I don't see how she can help liking ice cream.

185But, anyhow, I can be kinder glad about that, cause the ice cream you don't eat can't make your stomach ache like Mrs.

186White's did.

187That is, I ate hers, you know, lots of it.

188Maybe Aunt Polly has got the carpets, though.

189Yes, she's got the carpets.

190In every room?

191Well, in almost every room, answered Nancy, frowning suddenly, at the thought of that bare little attic room where there was no carpet.

192Oh, I'm so glad, exulted Pollyanna.

193I love carpets.

194We didn't have any, only two little rugs that came in a missionary barrel, and one of those had ink spots on it.

195Mrs.

196White had pictures, too, perfectly beautiful ones, of roses, and little girls, and kneeling, and a kitty, and some lambs, and a lion.

197Not together, you know.

198The lambs and the lion.

199Oh, of course the Bible says they will sometimes.

200But they haven't yet.

201That is, I mean, Mrs.

202White's haven't.

203Don't you just love pictures?

204I don't know, answered Nancy in a half-stifled voice.

205I do.

206We didn't have any pictures.

207They don't come in the barrels much, you know.

208There did two come once, though.

209But one was so good, Father sold it to get money to buy me some shoes with.

210And the other was so bad, it fell to pieces just as soon as we hung it up.

211Glass, it broke, you know.

212And I cried.

213But I'm glad now we didn't have any of those nice things, cause I shall like Aunt Polly's all the better, not being used to them, you see.

214Just as it is when the pretty hair ribbons come in the barrels after a lot of faded out brown ones.

215My, but isn't this a perfectly beautiful house?

216She broke off fervently as they turned into the wide driveway.

217It was when Timothy was unloading the trunk that Nancy found an opportunity to mutter low in his ear.

218Don't you never say nothing to me again about leaving, Timothy Durgin.

219You couldn't hire me to leave.

220Leave, I should say not, grinned the youth.

221You couldn't drag me away.

222It'll be more fun here now with that kid round than moving picture shows every day.

223Fun, fun, repeated Nancy indignantly.

224I guess it'll be something more than fun for that blessed child.

225When them two tries to live together.

226And I guess she'll be needing some rock to fly to for refuge.

227Well, I'm a-going to be that rock, Timothy.

228I am, I am.

229She vowed as she turned and led Pollyanna up the broad steps.

230End of chapter 3