Полліанна
The Game and its players
Pollyannasmiledthroughtear-weteyes.
"Didthey? Didthey,really? Oh,Iamgladofthat!"
"Yes,shesaidshehopedyou’dbe. That’swhyshetoldyou,tomakeyou—GLAD,Pollyanna."
Pollyannalookedupquickly.
"Why,AuntPolly,you—youspokejustasifyouknew—DOyouknowaboutthegame,AuntPolly?"
"Yes,dear." MissPollysternlyforcedhervoicetobecheerfullymatter-of-fact. "Nancytoldme. Ithinkit’sabeautifulgame. I’mgoingtoplayitnow—withyou."
"Oh,AuntPolly—YOU? I’msoglad! Yousee,I’vereallywantedyoumostofanybody,allthetime."
AuntPollycaughtherbreathalittlesharply. Itwasevenharderthistimetokeephervoicesteady; butshedidit.
"Yes,dear;andthereareallthoseothers,too. Why,Pollyanna,Ithinkallthetownisplayingthatgamenowwithyou—eventotheminister! Ihaven’thadachancetotellyou,yet,butthismorningImetMr.FordwhenIwasdowntothevillage,andhetoldmetosaytoyouthatjustassoonasyoucouldseehim,hewascomingtotellyouthathehadn’tstoppedbeinggladoverthoseeighthundredrejoicingtextsthatyoutoldhimabout. Soyousee,dear,it’sjustyouthathavedoneit. Thewholetownisplayingthegame,andthewholetowniswonderfullyhappier—andallbecauseofonelittlegirlwhotaughtthepeopleanewgame,andhowtoplayit."
Pollyannaclappedherhands.
