A Surprise for Mrs. Snow
ThenexttimePollyannawenttoseeMrs.Snow,shefoundthatlady,asatfirst,inadarkenedroom.
"It’sthelittlegirlfromMissPolly’s,mother,"announcedMilly,inatiredmanner; thenPollyannafoundherselfalonewiththeinvalid.
"Oh,it’syou,isit?"askedafretfulvoicefromthebed. "Irememberyou. ANYbody’drememberyou,Iguess,iftheysawyouonce. Iwishyouhadcomeyesterday. IWANTEDyouyesterday."
"Didyou? Well,I’mglad‘tisn’tanyfartherawayfromyesterdaythanto-dayis,then,"laughedPollyanna,advancingcheerilyintotheroom,andsettingherbasketcarefullydownonachair. "My! butaren’tyoudarkhere,though? Ican’tseeyouabit,"shecried,unhesitatinglycrossingtothewindowandpullinguptheshade. "Iwanttoseeifyou’vefixedyourhairlikeIdid—oh,youhaven’t! But,nevermind; I’mgladyouhaven’t,afterall,‘causemaybeyou’llletmedoit—later. ButnowIwantyoutoseewhatI’vebroughtyou."
Thewomanstirredrestlessly.
"Justasifhowitlookswouldmakeanydifferenceinhowittastes,"shescoffed—butsheturnedhereyestowardthebasket. "Well,whatisit?"
"Guess! Whatdoyouwant?"Pollyannahadskippedbacktothebasket. Herfacewasalight. Thesickwomanfrowned.
"Why,Idon’tWANTanything,asIknowof,"shesighed. "Afterall,theyalltastealike!"
Pollyannachuckled.
"Thiswon’t. Guess! IfyouDIDwantsomething,whatwoulditbe?"