Полліанна
A Surprise for Mrs. Snow
GenerallyPollyannawouldanswerthiswithahugandakiss—aproceedingthatwasstillalwaysmostdisconcertingtoMissPolly; butonedayshespoke. Itwasduringthesewinghour. "Doyoumeanthatitwouldn’tbeenoughthen,AuntPolly,thattheyshouldbejusthappydays?"sheaskedwistfully.
"ThatiswhatImean,Pollyanna."
"Theymustbepro-fi-ta-bleaswell?"
"Certainly."
"Whatisbeingpro-fi-ta-ble?"
"Why,it—it’sjustbeingprofitable—havingprofit,somethingtoshowforit,Pollyanna. Whatanextraordinarychildyouare!"
"Thenjustbeinggladisn’tpro-fi-ta-ble?"questionedPollyanna,alittleanxiously.
"Certainlynot."
"Odear! Thenyouwouldn’tlikeit,ofcourse. I’mafraid,now,youwon’teverplaythegame,AuntPolly."
"Game? Whatgame?"
"Why,thatfather—"Pollyannaclappedherhandtoherlips. "N-nothing,"shestammered. MissPollyfrowned.
"Thatwilldoforthismorning,Pollyanna,"shesaidtersely. Andthesewinglessonwasover.
ItwasthatafternoonthatPollyanna,comingdownfromheratticroom,metherauntonthestairway.
"Why,AuntPolly,howperfectlylovely!"shecried. "Youwerecominguptoseeme! Comerightin. Ilovecompany,"shefinished,scamperingupthestairsandthrowingherdoorwideopen.
