Полліанна
Before the Ladies’ Aid
PollyannaknewthattheLadies’Aidmetattwoo’clockinthechapelnextthechurch,notquitehalfamilefromhome. Sheplannedhergoing,therefore,sothatsheshouldgettherealittlebeforethree.
"Iwantthemalltobethere,"shesaidtoherself; "elsetheveryonethatwasn’ttheremightbetheonewhowouldbewantingtogiveJimmyBeanahome; and,ofcourse,twoo’clockalwaysmeansthree,really—toLadies’Aiders."
Quietly,butwithconfidentcourage,Pollyannaascendedthechapelsteps,pushedopenthedoorandenteredthevestibule. Asoftbabeloffemininechatterandlaughtercamefromthemainroom. HesitatingonlyabriefmomentPollyannapushedopenoneoftheinnerdoors.
Thechatterdroppedtoasurprisedhush. Pollyannaadvancedalittletimidly. Nowthatthetimehadcome,shefeltunwontedlyshy. Afterall,thesehalf-strange,half-familiarfacesaboutherwerenotherowndearLadies’Aid.
"Howdoyoudo,Ladies’Aiders?"shefalteredpolitely. "I’mPollyannaWhittier. I—Ireckonsomeofyouknowme,maybe; anyway,IdoYOU—onlyIdon’tknowyoualltogetherthisway."
Thesilencecouldalmostbefeltnow. Someoftheladiesdidknowthisratherextraordinarynieceoftheirfellow-member,andnearlyallhadheardofher; butnotoneofthemcouldthinkofanythingtosay,justthen.
"I—I’vecometo—tolaythecasebeforeyou,"stammeredPollyanna,afteramoment,unconsciouslyfallingintoherfather’sfamiliarphraseology.
Therewasaslightrustle. "Did—didyourauntsendyou,mydear?"askedMrs.Ford,theminister’swife.
