Полліанна
The little attic room
Shewasonthestairwaynow. Justahead,heraunt’sblacksilkskirtrustledluxuriously. Behindheranopendoorallowedaglimpseofsoft-tintedrugsandsatin-coveredchairs. Beneathherfeetamarvellouscarpetwaslikegreenmosstothetread. Oneverysidethegiltofpictureframesortheglintofsunlightthroughthefilmymeshoflacecurtainsflashedinhereyes.
"Oh,AuntPolly,AuntPolly,"breathedthelittlegirl,rapturously; "whataperfectlylovely,lovelyhouse! Howawfullygladyoumustbeyou’resorich!"
"PollyANNA!"ejaculatedheraunt,turningsharplyaboutasshereachedtheheadofthestairs. "I’msurprisedatyou—makingaspeechlikethattome!"
"Why,AuntPolly,AREN’Tyou?"queriedPollyanna,infrankwonder.
"Certainlynot,Pollyanna. IhopeIcouldnotsofarforgetmyselfastobesinfullyproudofanygifttheLordhasseenfittobestowuponme,"declaredthelady; "certainlynot,ofRICHES!"
MissPollyturnedandwalkeddownthehalltowardtheatticstairwaydoor. Shewasglad,now,thatshehadputthechildintheatticroom. Herideaatfirsthadbeentogethernieceasfarawayaspossiblefromherself,andatthesametimeplaceherwhereherchildishheedlessnesswouldnotdestroyvaluablefurnishings. Now—withthisevidentstrainofvanityshowingthusearly—itwasallthemorefortunatethattheroomplannedforherwasplainandsensible,thoughtMissPolly.
EagerlyPollyanna’ssmallfeetpatteredbehindheraunt. Stillmoreeagerlyherbigblueeyestriedtolookinalldirectionsatonce,thatnothingofbeautyorinterestinthiswonderfulhousemightbepassedunseen. Mosteagerlyofallhermindturnedtothewondrouslyexcitingproblemabouttobesolved:behindwhichofallthesefascinatingdoorswaswaitingnowherroom—thedear,beautifulroomfullofcurtains,rugs,andpictures,thatwastobeherveryown? Then,abruptly,herauntopenedadoorandascendedanotherstairway.
