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           FromsheeramazementPollyanna’sjawdropped. "Why,AuntPolly,"shebreathed,"Ishouldthinkyou’dbegladtohavemegl—Oh!"shebrokeoff,clappingherhandtoherlipsandhurryingblindlyfromtheroom. 

           Beforetheboyhadreachedtheendofthedriveway,Pollyannaovertookhim. 

           "Boy!Boy!JimmyBean,Iwantyoutoknowhow—howsorryIam,"shepanted,catchinghimwithadetaininghand. 

           "Sorrynothin’!Iain’tblamin’you,"retortedtheboy,sullenly. "ButIain’tnobeggar!"headded,withsuddenspirit. 

           "Ofcourseyouaren’t! Butyoumustn’tblameauntie,"appealedPollyanna. "ProbablyIdidn’tdotheintroducingright,anyhow; andIreckonIdidn’ttellhermuchwhoyouwere. Sheisgoodandkind,really—she’salwaysbeen; butIprobablydidn’texplainitright. IdowishIcouldfindsomeplaceforyou,though!" 

           Theboyshruggedhisshouldersandhalfturnedaway. 

           "Nevermind. IguessIcanfindonemyself. Iain’tnobeggar,youknow." 

           Pollyannawasfrowningthoughtfully. Ofasuddensheturned,herfaceillumined. 

           "Say,I’lltellyouwhatIWILLdo! TheLadies’Aidmeetsthisafternoon. IheardAuntPollysayso. I’lllayyourcasebeforethem. That’swhatfatheralwaysdid,whenhewantedanything—educatingtheheathenandnewcarpets,youknow." 

           Theboyturnedfiercely. 

           "Well,Iain’taheathenoranewcarpet. Besides—whatisaLadies’Aid?"