Полліанна
Which is more surprising
"No; sheisn’tthere—now,"saidthedoctor. Hislipshadsuddenlylosttheirsmile.
PollyannafoundaverynervousJohnPendletonwaitingforherthatafternoon.
"Pollyanna,"hebeganatonce. "I’vebeentryingallnighttopuzzleoutwhatyoumeantbyallthat,yesterday—aboutmywantingyourAuntPolly’shandandhearthereallthoseyears. Whatdidyoumean?"
"Why,becauseyouwerelovers,youknowonce;andIwassogladyoustillfeltthatwaynow."
"Lovers! —yourAuntPollyandI?"
Attheobvioussurpriseintheman’svoice,Pollyannaopenedwidehereyes.
"Why,Mr.Pendleton,Nancysaidyouwere!"
Themangaveashortlittlelaugh.
"Indeed! Well,I’mafraidIshallhavetosaythatNancy—didn’tknow."
"Thenyou—weren’tlovers?" Pollyanna’svoicewastragicwithdismay.
"Never!"
"AnditISN’Tallcomingoutlikeabook?"
Therewasnoanswer. Theman’seyesweremoodilyfixedoutthewindow.
"Odear! Anditwasallgoingsosplendidly,"almostsobbedPollyanna. "I’dhavebeensogladtocome—withAuntPolly."
"Andyouwon’t—now?"Themanaskedthequestionwithoutturninghishead.
"Ofcoursenot! I’mAuntPolly’s."
Themanturnednow,almostfiercely.
"Beforeyouwerehers,Pollyanna,youwere—yourmother’s. And—itwasyourmother’shandandheartthatIwantedlongyearsago."
