An Accident

           AtMrs.Snow’srequest,PollyannawentonedaytoDr.Chilton’sofficetogetthenameofamedicinewhichMrs.Snowhadforgotten. Asitchanced,PollyannahadneverbeforeseentheinsideofDr.Chilton’soffice. 

           "I’veneverbeentoyourhomebefore! ThisISyourhome,isn’tit?"shesaid,lookinginterestedlyabouther. 

           Thedoctorsmiledalittlesadly. 

           "Yes—suchas‘tis,"heanswered,ashewrotesomethingonthepadofpaperinhishand; "butit’saprettypoorapologyforahome,Pollyanna. They’rejustrooms,that’sall—notahome." 

           Pollyannanoddedherheadwisely. Hereyesglowedwithsympatheticunderstanding. 

           "Iknow. Ittakesawoman’shandandheart,orachild’spresencetomakeahome,"shesaid. 

           "Eh?"Thedoctorwheeledaboutabruptly. 

           "Mr.Pendletontoldme,"noddedPollyanna,again; "aboutthewoman’shandandheart,orthechild’spresence,youknow. Whydon’tyougetawoman’shandandheart,Dr.Chilton? Ormaybeyou’dtakeJimmyBean—ifMr.Pendletondoesn’twanthim." 

           Dr.Chiltonlaughedalittleconstrainedly. 

           "SoMr.Pendletonsaysittakesawoman’shandandhearttomakeahome,doeshe?"heaskedevasively. 

           "Yes. Hesayshisisjustahouse,too. Whydon’tyou,Dr.Chilton?" 

           "Whydon’tI—what?"Thedoctorhadturnedbacktohisdesk.