Полліанна
Miss Polly
"Yes,ma’am." Nancystifledasigh. Shewaswonderingifeverinanywayshecouldpleasethiswoman. Nancyhadnever"workedout"before; butasickmothersuddenlywidowedandleftwiththreeyoungerchildrenbesidesNancyherself,hadforcedthegirlintodoingsomethingtowardtheirsupport,andshehadbeensopleasedwhenshefoundaplaceinthekitchenofthegreathouseonthehill—Nancyhadcomefrom"TheCorners,"sixmilesaway,andsheknewMissPollyHarringtononlyasthemistressoftheoldHarringtonhomestead,andoneofthewealthiestresidentsofthetown. Thatwastwomonthsbefore. SheknewMissPollynowasastern,severe-facedwomanwhofrownedifaknifeclatteredtothefloor,orifadoorbanged—butwhoneverthoughttosmileevenwhenknivesanddoorswerestill.
"Whenyou’vefinishedyourmorningwork,Nancy,"MissPollywassayingnow,"youmayclearthelittleroomattheheadofthestairsintheattic,andmakeupthecotbed. Sweeptheroomandcleanit,ofcourse,afteryouclearoutthetrunksandboxes."
"Yes,ma’am. AndwhereshallIputthethings,please,thatItakeout?"
"Inthefrontattic."MissPollyhesitated,thenwenton:"IsupposeImayaswelltellyounow,Nancy. Myniece,MissPollyannaWhittier,iscomingtolivewithme. Sheiselevenyearsold,andwillsleepinthatroom."
"Alittlegirl—cominghere,MissHarrington? Oh,won’tthatbenice!"criedNancy,thinkingofthesunshineherownlittlesistersmadeinthehomeat"TheCorners."
"Nice? Well,thatisn’texactlythewordIshoulduse,"rejoinedMissPolly,stiffly. "However,Iintendtomakethebestofit,ofcourse. Iamagoodwoman,Ihope; andIknowmyduty." Nancycoloredhotly.
