A door ajar

           JustaweekfromthetimeDr.Mead,thespecialist,wasfirstexpected,hecame. Hewasatall,broad-shoulderedmanwithkindgrayeyes,andacheerfulsmile. Pollyannalikedhimatonce,andtoldhimso. 

           "YoulookquitealotlikeMYdoctor,yousee,"sheaddedengagingly. 

           "YOURdoctor?" Dr.MeadglancedinevidentsurpriseatDr.Warren,talkingwiththenurseafewfeetaway. Dr.Warrenwasasmall,brown-eyedmanwithapointedbrownbeard. 

           "Oh,THATisn’tmydoctor,"smiledPollyanna,divininghisthought. "Dr.WarrenisAuntPolly’sdoctor. MydoctorisDr.Chilton." 

           "Oh-h!"saidDr.Mead,alittleoddly,hiseyesrestingonMissPolly,who,withavividblush,hadturnedhastilyaway. 

           "Yes." Pollyannahesitated,thencontinuedwithherusualtruthfulness. "Yousee,IwantedDr.Chiltonallthetime,butAuntPollywantedyou. ShesaidyouknewmorethanDr.Chilton,anywayabout—aboutbrokenlegslikemine. Andofcourseifyoudo,Icanbegladforthat. Doyou?" 

           Aswiftsomethingcrossedthedoctor’sfacethatPollyannacouldnotquitetranslate. 

           "Onlytimecantellthat,littlegirl,"hesaidgently; thenheturnedagravefacetowardDr.Warren,whohadjustcometothebedside. 

           Everyonesaidafterwardthatitwasthecatthatdidit. Certainly,ifFluffyhadnotpokedaninsistentpawandnoseagainstPollyanna’sunlatcheddoor,thedoorwouldnothaveswungnoiselesslyopenonitshingesuntilitstoodperhapsafootajar; andifthedoorhadnotbeenopen,Pollyannawouldnothaveheardheraunt’swords. Inthehallthetwodoctors,thenurse,andMissPollystoodtalking. InPollyanna’sroomFluffyhadjustjumpedtothebedwithalittlepurring"meow"ofjoywhenthroughtheopendoorsoundedclearlyandsharplyAuntPolly’sagonizedexclamation.