A Question answered

           TheskywasdarkeningfastwithwhatappearedtobeanapproachingthundershowerwhenPollyannahurrieddownthehillfromJohnPendleton’shouse. Half-wayhomeshemetNancywithanumbrella. Bythattime,however,thecloudshadshiftedtheirpositionandtheshowerwasnotsoimminent. 

           "Guessit’sgoin’‘roundterthenorth,"announcedNancy,eyeingtheskycritically. "Ithought‘twas,allthetime,butMissPollywantedmetercomewiththis. ShewasWORRIEDaboutye!" 

           "Wasshe?"murmuredPollyannaabstractedly,eyeingthecloudsinherturn. 

           Nancysniffedalittle. 

           "Youdon’tseemternoticewhatIsaid,"sheobservedaggrievedly. "IsaidyerauntwasWORRIEDaboutye!" 

           "Oh,"sighedPollyanna,rememberingsuddenlythequestionshewassosoontoaskheraunt. "I’msorry. Ididn’tmeantoscareher." 

           "Well,I’mglad,"retortedNancy,unexpectedly. "Iam,Iam." 

           Pollyannastared. 

           "GLADthatAuntPollywasscaredaboutme! Why,Nancy,THATisn’tthewaytoplaythegame—tobegladforthingslikethat!"sheobjected. 

           "Therewa’n’tnogameinit,"retortedNancy. "Neverthoughtofit. YOUdon’tseemtersensewhatitmeansterhaveMissPollyWORRIEDaboutye,child!" 

           "Why,itmeansworried—andworriedishorrid—tofeel,"maintainedPollyanna. "Whatelsecanitmean?" 

           Nancytossedherhead. 

           "Well,I’lltellyewhatitmeans. Itmeansshe’satlastgettin’downsomewheresnearhuman—likefolks; an’thatsheain’tjestdoin’herdutybyyeallthetime." "Why,Nancy,"demurredthescandalizedPollyanna,"AuntPollyalwaysdoesherduty. She—she’saverydutifulwoman!" UnconsciouslyPollyannarepeatedJohnPendleton’swordsofhalfanhourbefore.