Текст книги "Поллианна / Pollyanna"

Chapter VII. Pollyanna and Punishments

The shopping expedition consumed the entire afternoon; then came supper and a delightful talk with Old Tom in the garden, and another with Nancy on the back porch.

Old Tom told Pollyanna wonderful things of her mother and she felt very happy indeed; and Nancy told her all about the little farm six miles away at “The Corners,” where lived her own dear mother, and her dear brother and sisters. She promised, too, that some time, if Miss Polly were willing, Pollyanna should be taken to see them.

“And THEY’VE got lovely names, too. You’ll like THEIR names,” sighed Nancy. “They’re ‘Algernon,’ and ‘Florabelle’ and ‘Estelle.’ I–I just hate ‘Nancy’!”

“Oh, Nancy, why?”

“Because it isn’t pretty like the others.”

“But I love ‘Nancy,’ just because it’s you,” declared Pollyanna. “Well, anyhow,” she chuckled, “you can be glad your name isn’t ‘Hephzibah’.”

“Hephzibah!”

“Yes. Mrs. White’s name is that. Her husband calls her ‘Hep’ and she doesn’t like it. She says when he calls out ‘Hep – Hep![34]34
  Hep – Hep! – Гип-гип! (восклицание, за которым обычно следует «ура»)


[Закрыть]’ she feels just as if the next minute he was going to yell ‘Hurrah!’ And she doesn’t like it.”

Nancy smiled.

“Say, Miss Pollyanna, were you playing that game about my being glad I’m not ‘Hephzibah’?”

Pollyanna frowned; then she laughed.

“Why, Nancy, that’s so! I WAS playing the game – but that’s one of the times I just did it without thinking, I reckon.”

“Well, m-maybe,” granted Nancy, with open doubt.

At half past eight Pollyanna went up to bed. It was very hot in her room and she could not sleep. It seemed to her that it must have been hours before she finally slipped out of bed[35]35
  it must have been hours before she finally slipped out of bed – должно быть, прошел уже не один час, прежде чем Поллианна выскользнула из кровати.


[Закрыть] and opened her door.

Out in the main attic all was velvet blackness except where the moon flung a path of silver near the east window. She saw something else: she saw, only a little way below the window, the wide, flat roof of Miss Polly’s sun parlor. If only, now, she were out there![36]36
  If only, now, she were out there! – Вот бы ей там оказаться!


[Закрыть]

Suddenly Pollyanna remembered that she had seen near this attic window a row of long white bags hanging from nails. She selected a nice fat soft bag for a bed; another bag for a pillow, and a thin bag which seemed almost empty for a covering. Then she stuffed her burden through the window to the roof below, then let herself down after it.

How deliciously cool it was! The roof under her feet crackled with little resounding snaps[37]37
  the roof under her feet crackled with little resounding snaps – крыша под ее ногами издавала удивительные звуки


[Закрыть] that Pollyanna rather liked. She walked, indeed, two or three times back and forth from end to end. Finally, with a sigh of content, she settled herself to sleep on the bag.

Downstairs in Miss Polly herself was hurrying into dressing gown and slippers, her face white and frightened. A minute before she had been telephoning in a shaking voice to Timothy:

“Come up quick! – you and your father. Bring lanterns. Somebody is on the roof of the sun parlor. And he can get right into the house through the east window in the attic!”

Some time later, Pollyanna was startled by a lantern flash. She opened her eyes to find Timothy at the top of a ladder near her, Old Tom just getting through the window,[38]38
  getting through the window – пролезавшего через окно


[Закрыть] and her aunt looking at her in surprise.

“Pollyanna, what does this mean?” cried Aunt Polly then.

“Why, Mr. Tom – Aunt Polly! Don’t look so scared!”

Timothy disappeared suddenly down the ladder. Old Tom handed his lantern to Miss Polly, and followed his son. Miss Polly said sternly:

“Pollyanna, hand those things to me at once and come in here!” she ejaculated a little later, as, with Pollyanna by her side, and the lantern in her hand, she turned back into the attic.

At the top of the stairs Miss Polly said:

“For the rest of the night, Pollyanna, you are to sleep in my bed with me. I consider it my duty to keep you where I know where you are.”

“With you? – in your bed?” Pollyanna cried rapturously. “Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, how perfectly lovely of you! And when I’ve so wanted to sleep with someone sometime – someone that belonged to me, you know.”

There was no reply. Miss Polly, to tell the truth, was feeling curiously helpless. For the third time since Pollyanna’s arrival, Miss Polly was punishing Pollyanna – and for the third time she was being confronted with the amazing fact that her punishment was being taken as a special reward of merit.[39]39
  she was being confronted with the amazing fact that her punishment was being taken as a special reward of merit – ее ставил в тупик тот факт, что ее наказание воспринималось как особая награда или поощрение


[Закрыть] No wonder Miss Polly was feeling curiously helpless.

Chapter VIII. Pollyanna Pays a Visit

It was not long before life at the Harrington homestead settled into something like order. Pollyanna sewed, played the piano, read aloud, and studied cooking in the kitchen. But she had more time, also, to “just live,” as she expressed it, for almost all afternoon from two until six o’clock she could do everything she liked except the certain things already prohibited by Aunt Polly.

There were no children in the neighborhood of the Harrington homestead for Pollyanna to play with. This, however, did not seem to disturb Pollyanna in the least.

“Oh, no, I don’t mind it at all,[40]40
  I don’t mind it at all – Меня это совершенно не беспокоит


[Закрыть]” she explained to Nancy. “I’m happy just to walk around and see the streets and the houses and watch the people. I just love people.”

Almost every afternoon Pollyanna begged for “an errand to run,” so that she could be off for a walk in one direction or another; and it was on these walks that frequently she met the Man. To herself Pollyanna always called him “the Man,” no matter if she met a dozen other men the same day.

The Man often wore a long black coat and a high hat. His face was clean shaven and rather pale, and his hair, showing below his hat, was gray. He walked erect, and rather rapidly, and he was always alone, and Pollyanna felt sorry for him. Perhaps it was because of this that she one day spoke to him.

“How do you do, sir? Isn’t this a nice day?” she called cheerily, as she approached him.

The man stopped uncertainly.

“Did you speak – to me?” he asked in a sharp voice.

“Yes, sir, I say, it’s a nice day, isn’t it?”

“Eh? Oh! Humph![41]41
  Eh? Oh! Humph! – Сложное, неизвестно что выражающее восклицание


[Закрыть]” he grunted; and strode on again.

Pollyanna laughed. He was such a funny man, she thought.

The next day she saw him again.

“It isn’t quite so nice as yesterday, but it’s pretty nice,” she called out cheerfully.

“Eh? Oh! Humph!” grunted the man as before; and once again Pollyanna laughed happily.

When for the third time Pollyanna accosted him in much the same manner, the man stopped.

“See here, child, who are you, and why are you speaking to me every day?”

“I’m Pollyanna Whittier, and I thought you looked lonesome. I’m so glad you stopped. Now we’re introduced – only I don’t know your name yet.”

“Well, of all the – ” The man did not finish his sentence, but strode on faster than ever.

Pollyanna looked after him disappointed.

“Maybe he didn’t understand – but that was only half an introduction. I don’t know HIS name, yet.” she murmured.

Pollyanna was carrying calf’s-foot jelly to Mrs. Snow today. Miss Polly Harrington always sent something to Mrs. Snow once a week. She said it was her duty, as Mrs. Snow was poor, sick, and a member of her church – it was the duty of all the church members to look out for her, of course. Miss Polly did her duty by Mrs. Snow usually on Thursday afternoons – not personally, but through Nancy. Today Pollyanna had begged the privilege, and Nancy had promptly given it to her in accordance with Miss Polly’s orders.[42]42
  Today Pollyanna had begged the privilege, and Nancy had promptly given it to her in accordance with Miss Polly’s orders. – Поллианна уговорила тетю Полли разрешить пойти вместо Нэнси, и Нэнси с радостью передала Поллианне свои полномочия.


[Закрыть]

“I’m glad that I won’t go to her,” Nancy declared to Pollyanna.

“But, why, Nancy?”

Nancy shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, it’s just that nothing whatever has happened, has happened right in Mis’ Snow’s eyes. If you bring her jelly you’ll certainly hear she wanted chicken – but if you DID bring her chicken,[43]43
  if you DID bring her chicken – если ты принесешь ей именно курицу


[Закрыть] she says she wanted lamb broth!”

“What a funny woman,” laughed Pollyanna. “I think I shall like to go to see her. She must be so surprising and – and different. I love DIFFERENT people.”

Pollyanna was thinking of Nancy’s remarks today as she turned in at the gate of the shabby little cottage.

A pale, tired-looking young girl answered her knock at the door.

“How do you do?” began Pollyanna politely. “I’m from Miss Polly Harrington, and I’d like to see Mrs. Snow, please.”

In the dark and gloomy sick-room, Polyanna saw a woman half-sitting up in the bed.

“How do you do, Mrs. Snow? Aunt Polly says she hopes you are comfortable today, and she sent you some calf’s-foot jelly.”

“Dear me! Jelly? Of course I’m very much obliged, but I hoped it would be lamb broth[44]44
  I hoped it would be lamb broth – я надеялась, что сегодня будет говяжий бульон


[Закрыть] today.”

Pollyanna frowned a little.

“Why, I thought it was CHICKEN you wanted when folks brought you jelly,” she said.

“What?” The sick woman turned sharply.

“Why, nothing, much,” apologized Pollyanna, hurriedly; “and of course it doesn’t really make any difference. It’s only that Nancy said it was chicken you wanted when we brought jelly, and lamb broth when we brought chicken – but maybe it was the other way,[45]45
  the other way – наоборот


[Закрыть] and Nancy forgot.”

“Well, Miss Impertinence, who are you?” she demanded.

Pollyanna laughed.

“Oh, THAT isn’t my name. I’m Pollyanna Whittier, Miss Polly Harrington’s niece, and I live with her now. That’s why I’m here with the jelly this morning.”

“Very well; thank you. Your aunt is very kind, of course, but my appetite isn’t very good this morning, and I was wanting lamb – ” She stopped suddenly.

“Here! Can you go to that window and pull up the curtain?” she asked. “I want to know what you look like!”

“O dear! then you’ll see my freckles, won’t you?” she sighed, as she went to the window; “I’m so glad you wanted to see me, because now I can see you! They didn’t tell me you were so pretty!”

“Me! – pretty!” scoffed the woman.

“Why, yes. Didn’t you know it?” cried Pollyanna.

“Well, no, I didn’t,” retorted Mrs. Snow.

“Oh, but your eyes are so big and dark, and your hair’s all dark, too, and curly,” said Pollyanna. “I love black curls. Mrs. Snow, you ARE pretty! I should think you’d know it when you looked at yourself in the glass.”

“Wait – just let me show you,” she exclaimed, picking up a small mirror.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to fix your hair[46]46
  I’d like to fix your hair – я бы хотела уложить ваши волосы


[Закрыть] just a little before I let you see it,” she proposed.

“Why, I – suppose so, if you want to,” permitted Mrs. Snow.

For five minutes Pollyanna worked swiftly.

“There!” panted Pollyanna, hastily plucking a pink from a vase and tucking it into the dark hair. “Now I reckon we’re ready to be looked at![47]47
  Now I reckon we’re ready to be looked at! – А вот теперь мы полностью готовы!


[Закрыть]” And she held out the mirror in triumph.

“Humph!” grunted the sick woman, looking at her reflection severely. “I like red pinks better than pink ones; but then, it’ll fade before night.”

“I just love your hair fluffed out like that,” she finished. “Don’t you?”

“Hm-m; maybe. But it won’t last.[48]48
  Hm-m; maybe. But it won’t last. – Ну, может быть. Но прическа не продержится долго.


[Закрыть]”

“Of course not – and I’m glad, too,” nodded Pollyanna, cheerfully, “because then I can fix it again. Oh, I love black hair!”

“Well, you wouldn’t be glad for black hair nor anything else – if you had to lie here all day as I do!”

“Anyway, you must be glad about things.”

“Be glad about things – when you’re sick in bed all your days?!”

“That’s really hard really. But now I must go. I’ll think about it all the way home. Goodbye!”

“What does she mean by that?” Mrs. Snow thought. She turned her head and picked up the mirror.

“That little thing HAS got a knack with hair and no mistake,[49]49
  That little thing HAS got a knack with hair and no mistake. – А эта малышка точно умеет управляться с волосами!


[Закрыть]” she said.

When a little later, Milly, Mrs. Snow’s daughter, came in, she said,

“I should think SOMEBODY might give me a new nightdress – instead of lamb broth, for a change!”

Chapter IX. Which Tells of the Man

It rained the next time Pollyanna saw the Man. She greeted him, however, with a smile.

“How do you do?” she called.

The man stopped abruptly.

“See here, why don’t you find someone your own age to talk to?”

“I’d like to, sir, but there aren’t any around here. Still, I don’t mind so very much. I like old folks[50]50
  old folks – зд. взрослые


[Закрыть] just as well, maybe better, sometimes – being used to the Ladies’ Aid, so.”

“Humph! The Ladies’ Aid, indeed! Is that what you took me for?”

Pollyanna laughed gleefully.

“Oh, no, sir. You don’t look like a Ladies’ Aider. Though I’m sure you’re much nicer than you look!”

The man turned and strode on as before.

The next time Pollyanna met the Man, he greeted her. The Man always spoke to Pollyanna after this, and frequently he spoke first, though usually he said just “good afternoon.” Even that was a great surprise to Nancy.

“Miss Pollyanna,” she gasped, “did that man SPEAK TO YOU?”

“Why, yes, he always does – now,” smiled Pollyanna.

“‘He always does’! Do you know who – he – is?” demanded Nancy.

Pollyanna frowned and shook her head.[51]51
  shook her head – покачала головой


[Закрыть]

“I reckon he forgot to tell me one day.”

“But he never speaks to anybody, I guess, except when he speaks about business. He’s John Pendleton. He lives in the big house on Pendleton Hill. He is very rich. But he doesn’t spend money he just saves it. Usually he doesn’t speak to anyone; and he lives all alone in that great big lovely house all full of grand things, they say. Some people even think he’s crazy. And EVERYBODY says he’s mysterious.” She went on: “He travels a lot and writes books.”

“Oh, Nancy!” Pollyanna exclaimed. “He is a funny man, and he’s different, too, just like Mrs. Snow, only he’s a different differently.”

“Well, I guess he is,” chuckled Nancy.

“I’m so glad that he speaks to me,” sighed Pollyanna contentedly.

Chapter X. A Surprise for Mrs. Snow

The next time Pollyanna went to see Mrs. Snow, she found that lady, as at first, in a darkened room.

“It’s the little girl from Miss Polly’s, mother,” announced Milly.

“Oh, it’s you?” asked a voice from the bed. I wish you had come yesterday.”

“Did you? Well, I’m glad,” Pollyanna entered the room and set her basket carefully down on a chair. “It’s so dark here! I can’t see you,” she cried. After that Pollyanna pulled up the shade.[52]52
  pulled up the shade – подняла занавеску


[Закрыть]

Mrs. Snow turned her eyes toward the basket. “Well, what is it?”

“Guess! What do you want?”

The sick woman frowned.

“Why, I don’t WANT anything,” she sighed. “After all, they all taste alike!”

Pollyanna chuckled.

“If you DID want something, what would it be?”

The woman hesitated.

“Well, of course, there’s lamb broth – ”

“I’ve got it!” crowed Pollyanna.

“But that’s what I DIDN’T want,[53]53
  But that’s what I DIDN’T want. – Нет, это как раз то, чего я не хотела.


[Закрыть]” sighed the sick woman. “It was chicken I wanted.”

“Oh, I’ve got that, too,” chuckled Pollyanna.

The woman turned in amazement.

“Both of them?” she demanded.

“Yes – and calf’s-foot jelly,” triumphed Pollyanna. “I was just bound you should have what you wanted for once; so Nancy and I fixed it. “I’ll leave them all,” announced Pollyanna.

Suddenly Milly appeared at the door.

“Your aunt is wanting you,[54]54
  Your aunt is wanting you – Ваша тетушка желает вас видеть


[Закрыть] Miss Pollyanna.

Pollyanna rose.

“All right,” she sighed. “Goodbye, I’m awfully sorry about the hair – I wanted to do it. But maybe I can next time!”

One by one the July days passed. To Pollyanna, they were happy days, indeed. She often told her aunt, joyously, how very happy they were. Her aunt usually replied:

“Very well, Pollyanna. I am gratified, of course, that they are happy; but I trust that they are profitable, as well – otherwise I should have failed signally in my duty.[55]55
  otherwise I should have failed signally in my duty – иначе я решу, что плохо выполняю свой долг


[Закрыть]”

“Is just being glad isn’t pro-fi-ta-ble?” asked Pollyanna, a little anxiously.

“Certainly not.”

“Oh dear! I’m afraid, now, you won’t ever play the game, Aunt Polly.”

“Game? What game?”

“Why, that father – ” Pollyanna clapped her hand to her lips. “N-nothing,” she stammered. Miss Polly frowned.

It was that afternoon that Pollyanna, coming down from her attic room, met her aunt on the stairway.

“Why, Aunt Polly,” she cried. “You were coming up to see me! Come right in. I love company,” said Pollyanna, “especially since I’ve had this room,[56]56
  especially since I’ve had this room – особенно с тех пор, как у меня есть эта комната


[Закрыть] all mine, you know. And of course NOW I just love this room, even if it hasn’t got the carpets and curtains and pictures – ” With a painful blush Pollyanna stopped.

“What’s that, Pollyanna?”

Pollyanna blushed still more painfully.

“I ought not to have, of course, Aunt Polly,” she apologized. “It was only because I’d always wanted them and hadn’t had them, I suppose.”

Miss Polly rose suddenly to her feet. Her face was very red.

“That will do,[57]57
  That will do – Довольно


[Закрыть] Pollyanna,” she said.

Less than twenty-four hours later, Miss Polly said to Nancy:

“Nancy, move Miss Pollyanna’s things downstairs this morning to the room directly beneath.

“Yes, ma’am,” said Nancy aloud.

“O glory!” said Nancy to herself.

To Pollyanna, a minute later, she cried joyously:

“You’re to sleep downstairs in the room straight under this![58]58
  You’re to sleep downstairs in the room straight under this! – Вы теперь будете жить в комнате этажом ниже!


[Закрыть]”

“You mean – why, Nancy, not really – really and truly?”

“Your aunt told me to take your things down. And I’m going to take them there now.”

Pollyanna did not stop to hear the end of this sentence. She flied downstairs to Aunt Polly.

“Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, did you mean it, really? Why, that room’s got EVERYTHING – the carpet and curtains and three pictures. Oh, Aunt Polly!”

“Very well, Pollyanna. I am gratified that you like the change, of course; but if you think so much of all those things, I trust you will take proper care of them.

But Pollyanna had gone to help Nancy bring down “her things”.[59]59
  But Pollyanna had gone to help Nancy bring down “her things”. – Только Поллианна уже убежала вниз, чтобы помочь Нэнси перенести «ее вещи».


[Закрыть]

Miss Polly, in the sitting room, felt vaguely disturbed but she was glad!

Chapter XI. Introducing Jimmy

August came. August brought several surprises and some changes.

First there was the kitten.

Pollyanna found the kitten mewing distance down the road. Nobody wanted to take it and Pollyanna brought it home.

“I was glad I didn’t find any one who owned it,” she told her aunt in happy confidence; “because I wanted to bring it home all the time. I love kitties. I knew you’d be glad to let it live here.”

“Of course I knew,” added Pollyanna, gratefully, “that you wouldn’t let a dear little lonesome kitty go hunting for a home when you’d just taken ME in.[60]60
  you wouldn’t let a dear little lonesome kitty go hunting for a home when you’d just taken ME in – вы не позволите этому маленькому одинокому котеночку бродить где-то в поисках дома, ведь меня вы приютили


[Закрыть]”

“But, Pollyanna, Pollyanna,” remonstrated Miss Polly. “I don’t – ”

But Pollyanna was already halfway to the kitchen, calling:

“Nancy, Nancy, just see this dear little kitty that Aunt Polly is going to bring up along with me!”

The next day it was a dog; and again Miss Polly found herself as before powerless to remonstrate.

Mrs. Snow and Pollyanna were the best friends now. And Mrs. Snow herself was playing the game now, with Pollyanna. To be sure, she was not playing it very well – but under Pollyanna’s cheery instructions and merry laughter at her mistakes, she was learning fast. That day she was carrying calf’s-foot jelly to Mrs. Snow when suddenly she saw a boy. The boy was sitting by the roadside.

“Hullo,” smiled Pollyanna.

The boy glanced up, but he looked away again, at once.

“Hullo yourself,[61]61
  Hullo yourself. – Себе «привет» и говори.


[Закрыть]” he mumbled.

Pollyanna laughed. She hesitated, but then sat comfortably down on the grass near him.

“My name’s Pollyanna Whittier,” she began pleasantly. “What’s yours?”

“Jimmy Bean,” he grunted with ungracious indifference.

“Good! Now we’re introduced. Where do you live?”

“Nowhere.”

“Nowhere! Why, you can’t do that – everybody lives somewhere,” asserted Pollyanna.

“Well, I don’t – just now. I’m hunting up a new place.”

“Oh! Where is it?”

The boy looked at her with scornful eyes.

“Silly! As if I’d be hunting for it – if I knew![62]62
  Silly! As if I’d be hunting for it – if I knew! – Ну и глупая! Искал бы я его, если бы знал, где оно находится.


[Закрыть]”

“Where did you live – before?” she asked.

“All right then —! I’m Jimmy Bean, and I’m ten years old. I came last year to live at the Orphans’ Home; but I’ve left it. I’m going to live somewhere else. I’d LIKE to have a home. Since my parents died I’ve tried four houses,[63]63
  I’ve tried four houses – Я побывал в четырех домах


[Закрыть] but – they didn’t want me – though I said I wanted to work, of course. There! Is that all you want to know?”

“O dear! I know just how you feel, because after – after my father died, too, there wasn’t anybody but the Ladies’ Aid for me, until Aunt Polly said – ”

Pollyanna stopped abruptly.

“Oh, I know just the place for you,” she cried. “Aunt Polly will take you – I know she will! Didn’t she take me? And didn’t she take Fluffy and Buffy, when they didn’t have any one to love them, or any place to go? – and they’re only cats and dogs. Oh, come, I know Aunt Polly’ll take you! You don’t know how good and kind she is!”

Jimmy Bean’s thin little face brightened.

“I will work, and I’m really strong!” He bared a small, bony arm.

When they reached the house, Pollyanna piloted her companion straight to her amazed aunt.

“Oh, Aunt Polly, just look here! I’ve got something nicer, even, than Fluffy and Buffy for you to bring up. It’s a real live boy. And he says he’ll work.”

“Pollyanna, what does this mean? Who is this dirty little boy? Where did you find him?” she demanded sharply.

“This is Jimmy Bean, Aunt Polly.”

“Well, what is he doing here?”

“Why, Aunt Polly, I just told you!” Pollyanna’s eyes were wide with surprise. “He’s for you. I brought him home – so he could live here, you know. He wants a home and folks. I told him how good you were to me, and to Fluffy and Buffy, and that I knew you would be to him, because of course he’s even nicer than cats and dogs.”

Miss Polly dropped back in her chair.

“That will do,[64]64
  that will do – хватит (достаточно)


[Закрыть] Pollyanna. This is absurd. He is just a ragged little beggar from the street, who – ”

Jimmy’s eyes flashed. There was a sudden stir from the boy. His eyes flashed and he confronted Miss Polly fearlessly.

“I’m not a beggar, ma’am, and I don’t want anything from you. I just wanted some work and the place to live. I wouldn’t have come to your old house, but this girl told me you’re so good and kind that you’d be just dying to take me in. So, there!” And he went away with dignity.

“Oh, Aunt Polly,” choked Pollyanna. “Why, I thought you’d be GLAD to have him here!”

“Pollyanna,” she cried sharply, “WILL you stop using that everlasting word ‘glad’!”

Pollyanna’s jaw dropped.

Before the boy had reached the end of the driveway, she overtook him.

“Boy! Boy! Jimmy Bean, I want you to know how – how sorry I am,” she panted.

“I’m not blaming you,[65]65
  I’m not blaming you. – Я тебя ни в чем не виню


[Закрыть]” retorted the boy, sullenly. “But I’m not beggar!” he added.

“Of course, you aren’t! But you mustn’t blame auntie,” appealed Pollyanna. “Probably I didn’t do the introducing right, anyhow; and I reckon I didn’t tell her much who you were. She is good and kind, really —; but I probably didn’t explain it right.”

The boy shrugged his shoulders and half turned away.

“Never mind.[66]66
  Never mind. – Не переживай.


[Закрыть] But I’m no beggar, you know.”

“I know what I will do! The Ladies’ Aid meets this afternoon.”

“Well, what is a Ladies’ Aid?”

“It’s just a lot of ladies that meet and sew and give suppers and raise money and – and talk; that’s what a Ladies’ Aid is. They’re awfully kind. I’m going to tell them about you this afternoon.”

The boy turned fiercely.

“Maybe you think I’m going to stand in front of them and hear how all these women call me a beggar, instead of just ONE? No!”

“Oh, but you wouldn’t be there,” argued Pollyanna. “I will go alone, of course, and tell them. And I’m sure someone would be glad to give you a home.[67]67
  would be glad to give you a home – будет рад приютить тебя


[Закрыть]”

“Don’t forget to tell them I can work,” the boy said.

“Then I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

“Where?”

“By the road – where I found you today; near Mrs. Snow’s house.”

“All right. I’ll be there.”

“Goodbye!” she called brightly.

Miss Polly stood at the sitting-room window and watched them. In her ears still was the boy’s scornful “you’re so good and kind.” In her heart was a curious sense of desolation – as of something lost.