Полліанна
A Surprise for Mrs. Snow
NowMissPollyhadnotbeenintendingtocallonherniece. Shehadbeenplanningtolookforacertainwhitewoolshawlinthecedarchestneartheeastwindow. Buttoherunboundedsurprisenow,shefoundherself,notinthemainatticbeforethecedarchest,butinPollyanna’slittleroomsittinginoneofthestraight-backedchairs—somany,manytimessincePollyannacame,MissPollyhadfoundherselflikethis,doingsomeutterlyunexpected,surprisingthing,quiteunlikethethingshehadsetouttodo!
"Ilovecompany,"saidPollyanna,again,flittingaboutasifsheweredispensingthehospitalityofapalace; "speciallysinceI’vehadthisroom,allmine,youknow. Oh,ofcourse,Ihadaroom,always,but‘twasahiredroom,andhiredroomsaren’thalfasniceasownedones,arethey? AndofcourseIdoownthisone,don’tI?"
"Why,y-yes,Pollyanna,"murmuredMissPolly,vaguelywonderingwhyshedidnotgetupatonceandgotolookforthatshawl.
"AndofcourseNOWIjustlovethisroom,evenifithasn’tgotthecarpetsandcurtainsandpicturesthatI’dbeenwant—"WithapainfulblushPollyannastoppedshort. Shewasplungingintoanentirelydifferentsentencewhenherauntinterruptedhersharply.
"What’sthat,Pollyanna?"
"N-nothing,AuntPolly,truly. Ididn’tmeantosayit."
"Probablynot,"returnedMissPolly,coldly; "butyoudidsayit,sosupposewehavetherestofit."
"Butitwasn’tanythingonlythatI’dbeenkindofplanningonprettycarpetsandlacecurtainsandthings,youknow. But,ofcourse—"
"PLANNINGonthem!"interruptedMissPolly,sharply.
