Полліанна
The Game
Well,uponmysoul!"ejaculatedMissPolly,halfaloud. "Whatamostextraordinarychild!" Thenshefrowned. "She’s‘glad’Ipunishedher,andI‘mustn’tfeelbadonebit,’andshe’sgoingto‘lovetolive’withme! Well,uponmysoul!"ejaculatedMissPollyagain,asshetookupherbook.
Fifteenminuteslater,intheatticroom,alonelylittlegirlsobbedintothetightly-clutchedsheet:
"Iknow,father-among-the-angels,I’mnotplayingthegameonebitnow—notonebit; butIdon’tbelieveevenyoucouldfindanythingtobegladaboutsleepingallalone‘wayoffuphereinthedark—likethis. IfonlyIwasnearNancyorAuntPolly,orevenaLadies’Aider,itwouldbeeasier!"
Down-stairsinthekitchen,Nancy,hurryingwithherbelatedwork,jabbedherdish-mopintothemilkpitcher,andmutteredjerkily:
"Ifplayin’asilly-foolgame—aboutbein’gladyou’vegotcrutcheswhenyouwantdolls—isgotterbe—myway—o’bein’thatrocko’refuge—why,I’ma-goin’terplayit—Iam,Iam!"
