Полліанна

           "Getawoman’shandandheart. Oh—andIforgot." Pollyanna’sfaceshowedsuddenlyapainfulcolor. "IsupposeIoughttotellyou. Itwasn’tAuntPollythatMr.Pendletonlovedlongago; andsowe—wearen’tgoingtheretolive. Yousee,Itoldyouitwas—butImadeamistake. IhopeYOUdidn’ttellanyone,"shefinishedanxiously. 

           "No—Ididn’ttellanyone,Pollyanna,"repliedthedoctor,alittlequeerly. 

           "Oh,that’sallright,then,"sighedPollyannainrelief. "Youseeyou’retheonlyoneItold,andIthoughtMr.PendletonlookedsortoffunnywhenIsaidI’dtoldYOU." 

           "Didhe?"Thedoctor’slipstwitched. 

           "Yes. Andofcoursehewouldn’twantmanypeopletoknowit—when‘twasn’ttrue. Butwhydon’tyougetawoman’shandandheart,Dr.Chilton?" 

           Therewasamoment’ssilence; thenverygravelythedoctorsaid: 

           "They’renotalwaystobehad—fortheasking,littlegirl." 

           Pollyannafrownedthoughtfully. 

           "ButIshouldthinkyoucouldget‘em,"sheargued. Theflatteringemphasiswasunmistakable. 

           "Thankyou,"laughedthedoctor,withupliftedeyebrows. Then,gravelyagain:"I’mafraidsomeofyouroldersisterswouldnotbequiteso—confident. Atleast,they—theyhaven’tshownthemselvestobeso—obliging,"heobserved. 

           Pollyannafrownedagain. Thenhereyeswidenedinsurprise. 

           "Why,Dr.Chilton,youdon’tmean—youdidn’ttrytogetsomebody’shandandheartonce,likeMr.Pendleton,and—andcouldn’t,didyou?" 

           Thedoctorgottohisfeetalittleabruptly. 

           "There,there,Pollyanna,nevermindaboutthatnow. Don’tletotherpeople’stroublesworryyourlittlehead. SupposeyourunbacknowtoMrs.Snow. I’vewrittendownthenameofthemedicine,andthedirectionshowsheistotakeit. Wasthereanythingelse?"