WHICH TELLS OF THE MAN (Pollyanna)

01CHAPTER IX.

02WHICH TELLS OF THE MAN It rained the next time Pollyanna saw the man.

03She greeted him, however, with a bright smile.

04It isn't so nice today, is it?

05She called blithsomely.

06I'm glad it doesn't rain always, anyhow.

07The man did not even grunt this time, nor turn his head.

08Pollyanna decided that, of course, he did not hear her.

09The next time, therefore, which happened to be the following day, she spoke up louder.

10She thought it particularly necessary to do this, anyway, for the man was striding along, his hands behind his back and his eyes on the ground, which seemed to Pollyanna preposterous in the face of the glorious sunshine and the freshly washed morning air.

11Pollyanna, as a special treat, was on a morning errand today.

12How do you do?

13she chirped.

14I'm so glad it isn't yesterday, aren't you?

15The man stopped abruptly.

16There was an angry scowl on his face.

17See here, little girl, we might just as well settle this thing right now, once for all, he began testily.

18I've got something besides the weather to think of.

19I don't know whether the sun shines or not.

20Pollyanna beamed joyously.

21No, sir, I thought you didn't.

22That's why I told you.

23Yes, well, eh?

24What?

25He broke off sharply in sudden understanding of her words.

26I say, that's why I told you.

27So you would notice it, you know, that the sun shines and all that.

28I knew you'd be glad it did if you'd only stopped to think of it.

29And you didn't look a bit as if you were thinking of it.

30Well, all the— ejaculated the man with an oddly impotent gesture.

31He started forward again, but after the second step, he turned back, still frowning.

32See here, why don't you find someone your own age to talk to?

33I'd like to, sir, but there aren't any round here, Nancy says.

34Still, I don't mind so very much.

35I like old folks just as well.

36Maybe better sometimes, being used to the lady's aid, so.

37The lady's aid, indeed.

38Is that what you took me for?

39The man's lips were threatening to smile, but the scowl above them was still trying to hold them grimly stern.

40Pollyanna laughed gleefully.

41Oh, no, sir.

42You don't look a mite like a lady's aider.

43Not but that you're just as good, of course.

44Maybe better, she added in hurried politeness.

45You see, I'm sure you're much nicer than you look.

46The man made a queer noise in his throat.

47Well, of all the—he ejaculated again as he turned and strode on as before.

48The next time Pollyanna met the man, his eyes were gazing straight into hers with a quizzical directness that made his face look really pleasant, Pollyanna thought.

49Good afternoon.

50He greeted her a little stiffly.

51Perhaps I'd better say right away that I know the sun is shining today.

52But you don't have to tell me, nodded Pollyanna brightly.

53I knew you knew it just as soon as I saw you.

54Oh, you did, did you?

55Yes, sir.

56I saw it in your eyes, you know, and in your smile.

57Well, humph!

58grunted the man as he passed on.

59The man always spoke to Pollyanna after this, and frequently he spoke first, though usually he said little but good afternoon.

60Even that, however, was a great surprise to Nancy, who chanced to be with Pollyanna one day when the greeting was given.

61Sakes alive, Miss Pollyanna, she gasped.

62Did that man speak to you?

63Why, yes, he always does.

64Now, smiled Pollyanna.

65He always does?

66Goodness!

67Do you know who he is?

68demanded Nancy.

69Pollyanna frowned and shook her head.

70I reckon he forgot to tell me one day.

71You see, I did my part of the introducing, but he didn't.

72Nancy's eyes widened.

73But he never speaks to anybody, child.

74He ain't for years.

75I guess except when he just has to for business and all that.

76He's John Pendleton.

77He lives all by himself in the big house on Pendleton Hill.

78He won't even have anyone round to cook for him.

79Comes down to the hotel for his meals three times a day.

80I know Sally Minter who waits on him, and she says he hardly opens his head enough to tell her what he wants to eat.

81She has to guess it more than half the time.

82Only it'll be something cheap.

83She knows that without no telling.

84Pollyanna nodded sympathetically.

85I know.

86You have to look for cheap things when you're poor.

87Father and I took meals out a lot.

88We had beans and fish balls most generally.

89He used to say how glad we were we liked beans.

90That is, we said it specially when we were looking at the roast turkey place, you know, that was sixty cents.

91Does Mr.

92Pendleton like beans?

93Like em?

94What if he does or don't?

95Why, Miss Pollyanna, he ain't poor.

96He's got loads of money, John Pendleton has.

97From his father.

98There ain't nobody in town as rich as he is.

99He could eat dollar bills if he wanted to and not know it.

100Pollyanna giggled.

101As if anybody could eat dollar bills and not know it, Nancy, when they come to try to chew him.

102Oh, I mean he's rich enough to do it, shrugged Nancy.

103He ain't spending his money, that's all.

104He's a-saving it.

105Oh, for the heathen, surmised Pollyanna.

106How perfectly splendid.

107That's denying yourself and taking up your cross.

108I know.

109Father told me.

110Nancy's lips parted abruptly, as if there were angry words all ready to come, but her eyes resting on Pollyanna's jubilantly trustful face saw something that prevented the words being spoken.

111She vouchsafed.

112Then, showing her old-time interest, she went on.

113But say, it is queer his speaking to you honestly, Miss Pollyanna.

114He don't speak to no one.

115And he lives all alone in a great big lovely house, all full of just grand things, they say.

116Some says he's crazy, and some just cross, and some says he's got a skeleton in his closet.

117Oh, Nancy, shuddered Pollyanna.

118How can he keep such a dreadful thing?

119I should think he'd throw it away.

120Nancy chuckled.

121That Pollyanna had taken the skeleton literally instead of figuratively, she knew very well.

122But perversely she refrained from correcting the mistake.

123And everybody says he's mysterious, she went on.

124Some years he just travels, week in and week out.

125And it's always in heathen countries, Egypt and Asia and the Desert of Sarah, you know.

126Oh, a missionary, nodded Pollyanna.

127Nancy laughed oddly.

128Well, I didn't say that, Miss Pollyanna.

129When he comes back he writes books, queer, odd books, they say, about some gem crack he's found in them heathen countries.

130But he don't never seem to want to spend no money here, leastways not for just living.

131Of course not, if he's saving it for the heathen, declared Pollyanna.

132But he is a funny man, and he's different, too.

133Just like Mr.

134Snow, only he's different, different.

135Well, I guess he is, rather, chuckled Nancy.

136I'm gladder than ever now, anyhow, that he speaks to me, sighed Pollyanna contentedly.

137End of chapter 9 End of chapter 9 End of chapter 9 End of chapter 9 End of chapter 9 End of chapter 9 End of chapter 9