Поллианна

           "Dr.Warrenhimselfseems—atsea. HeisincorrespondencenowwithaNewYorkspecialist. Theyhavearrangedforaconsultationatonce." 

           "But—butwhatWEREherinjuriesthatyoudoknow?" 

           "Aslightcutonthehead,oneortwobruises,and—andaninjurytothespinewhichhasseemedtocause—paralysisfromthehipsdown." 

           Alowcrycamefromtheman. Therewasabriefsilence; then,huskily,heasked: 

           "AndPollyanna—howdoesshe—takeit?" 

           "Shedoesn’tunderstand—atall—howthingsreallyare. AndICAN’Ttellher." 

           "Butshemustknow—something!" 

           MissPollyliftedherhandtothecollaratherthroatinthegesturethathadbecomesocommontoheroflate. 

           "Oh,yes. Sheknowsshecan’t—move; butshethinksherlegsare—broken. Shesaysshe’sgladit’sbrokenlegslikeyoursratherthan‘lifelong-invalids’likeMrs.Snow’s; becausebrokenlegsgetwell,andtheother—doesn’t. Shetalkslikethatallthetime,untilit—itseemsasifIshould—die!" 

           Throughthebluroftearsinhisowneyes,themansawthedrawnfaceopposite,twistedwithemotion. InvoluntarilyhisthoughtswentbacktowhatPollyannahadsaidwhenhehadmadehisfinalpleaforherpresence:"Oh,Icouldn’tleaveAuntPolly—now!" 

           Itwasthisthoughtthatmadehimaskverygently,assoonashecouldcontrolhisvoice: 

           "Iwonderifyouknow,MissHarrington,howhardItriedtogetPollyannatocomeandlivewithme." 

           "WithYOU!—Pollyanna!"