Before the Ladies’ Aid

           Dinner,whichcameatnoonintheHarringtonhomestead,wasasilentmealonthedayoftheLadies’Aidmeeting. Pollyanna,itistrue,triedtotalk; butshedidnotmakeasuccessofit,chieflybecausefourtimesshewasobligedtobreakoffa"glad"inthemiddleofit,muchtoherblushingdiscomfort. Thefifthtimeithappened,MissPollymovedherheadwearily. 

           "There,there,child,sayit,ifyouwantto,"shesighed. "I’msureI’dratheryoudidthannotifit’sgoingtomakeallthisfuss." 

           Pollyanna’spuckeredlittlefacecleared. 

           "Oh,thankyou. I’mafraiditwouldbeprettyhard—nottosayit. YouseeI’veplayeditsolong." 

           "You’ve—what?"demandedAuntPolly. 

           "Playedit—thegame,youknow,thatfather—"Pollyannastoppedwithapainfulblushatfindingherselfsosoonagainonforbiddenground. 

           AuntPollyfrownedandsaidnothing. Therestofthemealwasasilentone. 

           PollyannawasnotsorrytohearAuntPollytelltheminister’swifeoverthetelephone,alittlelater,thatshewouldnotbeattheLadies’Aidmeetingthatafternoon,owingtoaheadache. WhenAuntPollywentup-stairstoherroomandclosedthedoor,Pollyannatriedtobesorryfortheheadache; butshecouldnothelpfeelinggladthatherauntwasnottobepresentthatafternoonwhenshelaidthecaseofJimmyBeanbeforetheLadies’Aid. ShecouldnotforgetthatAuntPollyhadcalledJimmyBeanalittlebeggar; andshedidnotwantAuntPollytocallhimthat—beforetheLadies’Aid.