Полліанна
Introducing Jimmy
MissPollydroppedbackinherchairandraisedashakinghandtoherthroat. Theoldhelplessnesswasthreateningoncemoretoovercomeher. Withavisiblestruggle,however,MissPollypulledherselfsuddenlyerect.
"Thatwilldo,Pollyanna. Thisisalittlethemostabsurdthingyou’vedoneyet. Asiftrampcatsandmangydogsweren’tbadenoughbutyoumustneedsbringhomeraggedlittlebeggarsfromthestreet,who—"
Therewasasuddenstirfromtheboy. Hiseyesflashedandhischincameup. WithtwostridesofhissturdylittlelegsheconfrontedMissPollyfearlessly.
"Iain’tabeggar,marm,an’Idon’twantnothin’o’you. Iwascal’latin’terwork,ofcourse,furmyboardan’keep. Iwouldn’thavecometeryouroldhouse,anyhow,ifthis‘eregirlhadn’t‘a’mademe,a-tellin’mehowyouwassogoodan’kindthatyou’dbejestdyin’tertakemein. So,there!" Andhewheeledaboutandstalkedfromtheroomwithadignitythatwouldhavebeenabsurdhaditnotbeensopitiful.
"Oh,AuntPolly,"chokedPollyanna. "Why,Ithoughtyou’dbeGLADtohavehimhere! I’msure,Ishouldthinkyou’dbeglad—"
MissPollyraisedherhandwithaperemptorygestureofsilence. MissPolly’snerveshadsnappedatlast. The"goodandkind"oftheboy’swordswerestillringinginherears,andtheoldhelplessnesswasalmostuponher,sheknew. Yetsheralliedherforceswiththelastatomofherwillpower.
"Pollyanna,"shecriedsharply,"WILLyoustopusingthateverlastingword‘glad’!It’s‘glad’—‘glad’—‘glad’frommorningtillnightuntilIthinkIshallgrowwild!"
