Jimmy takes the Helm

           "It’sJimmyBean. Hewantsterseeye,ma’am,"announcedNancyinthedoorway. 

           "Me?"rejoinedMissPolly,plainlysurprised. "AreyousurehedidnotmeanMissPollyanna? Hemayseeherafewminutesto-day,ifhelikes." 

           "Yes’m. Itoldhim. Buthesaiditwasyouhewanted." 

           "Verywell,I’llcomedown." AndMissPollyarosefromherchairalittlewearily. 

           Inthesittingroomshefoundwaitingforheraround-eyed,flushed-facedboy,whobegantospeakatonce. 

           "Ma’am,Is’poseit’sdreadful—whatI’mdoin’,an’whatI’msayin’; butIcan’thelpit. It’sforPollyanna,andI’dwalkoverhotcoalsforher,orfaceyou,or—oranythin’likethat,anytime. An’Ithinkyouwould,too,ifyouthoughttherewasachanceforherterwalkagain. An’sothat’swhyIcometertellyethataslongasit’sonlypridean’et—et-somethin’that’skeepin’Pollyannafromwalkin’,whyIknewyouWOULDaskDr.Chiltonhereifyouunderstood—" 

           "Wh-at?"interruptedMissPolly,thelookofstupefactiononherfacechangingtooneofangryindignation. 

           Jimmysigheddespairingly. 

           "There,Ididn’tmeantermakeyemad. That’swhyIbegunbytellin’yeaboutherwalkin’again. Ithoughtyou’dlistenterthat." 

           "Jimmy,whatareyoutalkingabout?" 

           Jimmysighedagain. 

           "That’swhatI’mtryin’tertellye."