The Game

           "Fortheland’ssake,MissPollyanna,whatascareyoudidgiveme,"pantedNancy,hurryinguptothebigrock,downwhichPollyannahadjustregretfullyslid. 

           "Scare? Oh,I’msosorry; butyoumustn’t,really,evergetscaredaboutme,Nancy. FatherandtheLadies’Aidusedtodoit,too,tilltheyfoundIalwayscamebackallright." 

           "ButIdidn’tevenknowyou’dwent,"criedNancy,tuckingthelittlegirl’shandunderherarmandhurryingherdownthehill. "Ididn’tseeyougo,andnobodydidn’t. Iguessyouflewrightupthroughtheroof; Ido,Ido." 

           Pollyannaskippedgleefully. 

           "Idid,‘most—onlyIflewdowninsteadofup. Icamedownthetree." 

           Nancystoppedshort. 

           "Youdid—what?" 

           "Camedownthetree,outsidemywindow." 

           "Mystarsandstockings!"gaspedNancy,hurryingonagain. "I’dliketerknowwhatyerauntwouldsayterthat!" 

           "Wouldyou? Well,I’lltellher,then,soyoucanfindout,"promisedthelittlegirl,cheerfully. 

           "Mercy!"gaspedNancy. "No—no!" 

           "Why,youdon’tmeanshe’dCARE!"criedPollyanna,plainlydisturbed. 

           "No—er—yes—well,nevermind. I—Iain’tsoveryparticularaboutknowin’whatshe’dsay,truly,"stammeredNancy,determinedtokeeponescoldingfromPollyanna,ifnothingmore. "But,say,webetterhurry. I’vegottergetthemdishesdone,yeknow." 

           "I’llhelp,"promisedPollyanna,promptly. 

           "Oh,MissPollyanna!"demurredNancy. 

           Foramomenttherewassilence. Theskywasdarkeningfast. Pollyannatookafirmerholdofherfriend’sarm.