Полліанна
The Game and its players
Shepaused,andclearedherthroat; butwhensheresumedhervoicewasstillhusky.
"Maybeyoudon’tknowit,butI’veseenagooddealofthatlittlegirlofyours. WeliveonthePendletonHillroad,andsheusedtogobyoften—onlyshedidn’talwaysGOBY. Shecameinandplayedwiththekidsandtalkedtome—andmyman,whenhewashome. Sheseemedtolikeit,andtolikeus. Shedidn’tknow,Isuspect,thatherkindoffolksdon’tgenerallycallonmykind. MaybeiftheyDIDcallmore,MissHarrington,therewouldn’tbesomany—ofmykind,"sheadded,withsuddenbitterness.
"Bethatasitmay,shecame; andshedidn’tdoherselfnoharm,andshediddousgood—aloto’good. Howmuchshewon’tknow—norcan’tknow,Ihope; ‘causeifshedid,she’dknowotherthings—thatIdon’twanthertoknow.
"Butit’sjustthis. It’sbeenhardtimeswithusthisyear,inmorewaysthanone. We’vebeenblueanddiscouraged—mymanandme,andreadyfor—‘mostanything. Wewasreckoningongettingadivorceaboutnow,andlettingthekidswell,wedidn’tknowwhatwewoulddowiththekids. Thencametheaccident,andwhatweheardaboutthelittlegirl’sneverwalkingagain. Andwegottothinkinghowsheusedtocomeandsitonourdoorstepandtrainwiththekids,andlaugh,and—andjustbeglad. Shewasalwaysbeinggladaboutsomething; andthen,oneday,shetolduswhy,andaboutthegame,youknow; andtriedtocoaxustoplayit.
