Полліанна

           Themanwincedalittleatthetoneofhervoice; buthisownvoicewasstillimpersonallycoolwhenhespokeagain. "Yes. Iwantedtoadopther—legally,youunderstand; makinghermyheir,ofcourse." 

           Thewomanintheoppositechairrelaxedalittle. Itcametoher,suddenly,whatabrilliantfutureitwouldhavemeantforPollyanna—thisadoption; andshewonderedifPollyannawereoldenoughandmercenaryenough—tobetemptedbythisman’smoneyandposition. 

           "IamveryfondofPollyanna,"themanwascontinuing. "Iamfondofherbothforherownsake,andfor—hermother’s. IstoodreadytogivePollyannathelovethathadbeentwenty-fiveyearsinstorage." 

           "LOVE." MissPollyrememberedsuddenlywhySHEhadtakenthischildinthefirstplace—andwiththerecollectioncametheremembranceofPollyanna’sownwordsutteredthatverymorning:"Ilovetobecalled‘dear’byfolksthatbelongtoyou!" Anditwasthislove-hungrylittlegirlthathadbeenofferedthestored-upaffectionoftwenty-fiveyears:—andshewasoldenoughtobetemptedbylove! WithasinkingheartMissPollyrealizedthat. Withasinkingheart,too,sherealizedsomethingelse:thedrearinessofherownfuturenowwithoutPollyanna. 

           "Well?"shesaid. Andtheman,recognizingtheself-controlthatvibratedthroughtheharshnessofthetone,smiledsadly. 

           "Shewouldnotcome,"heanswered. 

           "Why?" 

           "Shewouldnotleaveyou. Shesaidyouhadbeensogoodtoher. Shewantedtostaywithyou—andshesaidsheTHOUGHTyouwantedhertostay,"hefinished,ashepulledhimselftohisfeet.