Полліанна
Pollyanna and punishments
Shehadhoped,vaguely,thatthiswindowmighthaveascreen,butitdidnot. Outside,however,therewasawideworldoffairy-likebeauty,andtherewas,too,sheknew,fresh,sweetairthatwouldfeelsogoodtohotcheeksandhands!
Asshesteppednearerandpeeredlonginglyout,shesawsomethingelse:shesaw,onlyalittlewaybelowthewindow,thewide,flattinroofofMissPolly’ssunparlorbuiltovertheporte-cochere. Thesightfilledherwithlonging. Ifonly,now,shewereoutthere!
Fearfullyshelookedbehindher. Backthere,somewhere,wereherhotlittleroomandherstillhotterbed; butbetweenherandthemlayahorriddesertofblacknessacrosswhichonemustfeelone’swaywithoutstretched,shrinkingarms; whilebeforeher,outonthesun-parlorroof,werethemoonlightandthecool,sweetnightair.
Ifonlyherbedwereoutthere! Andfolksdidsleepoutofdoors. JoelHartleyathome,whowassosickwiththeconsumption,HADtosleepoutofdoors.
SuddenlyPollyannarememberedthatshehadseennearthisatticwindowarowoflongwhitebagshangingfromnails. Nancyhadsaidthattheycontainedthewinterclothing,putawayforthesummer. Alittlefearfullynow,Pollyannafeltherwaytothesebags,selectedanicefatsoftone(itcontainedMissPolly’ssealskincoat)forabed; andathinneronetobedoubledupforapillow,andstillanother(whichwassothinitseemedalmostempty)foracovering. Thusequipped,Pollyannainhighgleepatteredtothemoonlitwindowagain,raisedthesash,stuffedherburdenthroughtotheroofbelow,thenletherselfdownafterit,closingthewindowcarefullybehindher—Pollyannahadnotforgottenthoseflieswiththemarvellousfeetthatcarriedthings.
