Полліанна
A Surprise for Mrs. Snow
Thewomanhesitated. Shedidnotrealizeitherself,butshehadsolongbeenaccustomedtowantingwhatshedidnothave,thattostateoff-handwhatsheDIDwantseemedimpossible—untilsheknewwhatshehad. Obviously,however,shemustsaysomething. Thisextraordinarychildwaswaiting.
"Well,ofcourse,there’slambbroth—"
"I’vegotit!"crowedPollyanna.
"Butthat’swhatIDIDN’Twant,"sighedthesickwoman,surenowofwhatherstomachcraved. "ItwaschickenIwanted."
"Oh,I’vegotthat,too,"chuckledPollyanna.
Thewomanturnedinamazement.
"Bothofthem?"shedemanded.
"Yes—andcalf’s-footjelly,"triumphedPollyanna. "Iwasjustboundyoushouldhavewhatyouwantedforonce; soNancyandIfixedit. Oh,ofcourse,there’sonlyalittleofeach—butthere’ssomeofallof‘em! I’msogladyoudidwantchicken,"shewentoncontentedly,assheliftedthethreelittlebowlsfromherbasket. "Yousee,Igottothinkingonthewayhere—whatifyoushouldsaytripe,oronions,orsomethinglikethat,thatIdidn’thave! Wouldn’tithavebeenashame—whenI’dtriedsohard?"shelaughedmerrily.
Therewasnoreply. Thesickwomanseemedtobetrying—mentallytofindsomethingshehadlost.
"There! I’mtoleavethemall,"announcedPollyanna,asshearrangedthethreebowlsinarowonthetable. "Likeenoughit’llbelambbrothyouwantto-morrow. Howdoyoudoto-day?"shefinishedinpoliteinquiry.
