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Happy listening.
Chapter 30 Jimmy Takes the Helm It's Jimmy Bain,
He wants to see you ma'am,
Announced Nancy in the doorway.
Me?
Rejoined Miss Polly,
Plainly surprised.
Are you sure he did not mean Miss Polly Anna?
He may see her a few minutes today if he likes.
Yes,
I told him but he said it was who he wanted.
Very well,
I'll come down.
Miss Polly arose from her chair a little wearily.
In the sitting room she found waiting for her a round-eyed,
Flush-faced boy who began to speak at once.
Mum,
I suppose it's dreadful what I'm doing and what I'm saying but I can't help it,
It's for Polly Anna and I'll walk over hot coals for her or face you or anything like that any time and I think you would too if you thought there was a chance for her to walk again and that's why I've come to tell you,
As long as it's his only pride and his summateness keeping Polly Anna from walking,
I knew you would ask Dr Chilterneer if you understood.
What?
Interrupted Miss Polly,
The look of stupefaction on her face changing to one of angry indignation.
Jimmy sighed despairingly.
There,
I didn't mean to make you mad,
That's why I began by telling you about her walking again,
I thought you'd listen for that.
Jimmy what are you talking about?
Jimmy sighed again,
That's what I'm trying to tell you.
Well then tell me but begin at the beginning and be sure I understand each thing as you go,
Don't plunge into the middle of it as you did before and mix everything all up.
Jimmy wet his lips determinedly.
Well to begin with,
Dr Chilterne came to see Mr Pendleton and they talked in the library,
Do you understand that?
Yes.
Then the window was open and I was weeding the flower bed under it and I heard them talk.
Listening Jimmy?
What about me and Twinsnake listening?
I'm glad I listened,
You will be when I tell you,
It might make Polly Anna walk again.
Jimmy what do you mean?
I told you so,
Well Dr Chilterne knows some doctor somewhere who can cure Polly Anna he thinks and make her walk but he can't tell her until he sees her and he wants to say her something awful but he told Mr Pendleton you wouldn't let him.
Miss Polly's face turned very red.
But Jimmy I can't,
I couldn't,
That is,
I didn't know.
She was twisting her fingers round helplessly and that's what I came to tell you so you would know.
They said for some reason,
I didn't quite catch what,
You wouldn't let Dr Chilterne come and you told Dr Warren so and Dr Chilterne wouldn't come without you asking him on account of pride and professional,
Well something and they was wishing somebody could make you understand but they didn't know who could and I was outside the window and I says to myself,
I said right away,
By jinx I'll do it and I'll come and I'll make you understand didn't I?
Yes Jimmy but how about that doctor,
Who was he and what did he do?
Are they sure he could make Polly Anna walk?
I don't know who he was,
They didn't say.
Dr Chilterne knows him and he's just cured someone just like Polly Anna.
Anyhow,
They didn't seem to be doing too much worrying about him.
It was you they were worrying about because you wouldn't let Dr Chilterne see her.
You will let him come won't you,
Now that you understand.
Miss Polly turned her head from side to side.
Her breath was coming in little uneven rapid gasps.
Jimmy watching her with anxious eyes thought she was going to cry but she did not cry and after a moment she said brokenly,
Yes I'll let Dr Chilterne see her.
Now run home Jimmy,
Quick I've got to speak to Dr Warren,
He's upstairs.
I saw him drive in a few minutes ago.
A little later Dr Warren was surprised to meet an agitated flushed face Miss Polly in the hall.
He was still more surprised to hear her say,
Dr Warren,
You asked me once to allow Dr Chilterne to be called in and I refused.
Since then I have reconsidered.
I very much desire you should call him in.
Why not ask him at once please?
Thank you very much.
Chapter 31 A New Uncle The next time Dr Warren entered the chamber where Pollyanna lay watching the dancing shimmer of colour on the ceiling,
A tall broad shouldered man followed close behind.
Dr Chilterne,
Oh Dr Chilterne,
How glad I am to see you.
At this joyous rapture more than one pair of eyes brimmed hot with sudden tears.
But of course if Aunt Polly doesn't want him.
.
.
It's alright my dear,
Don't worry,
Soothed Miss Polly agitatedly.
I've told Dr Chilterne that I want him to look over you with Dr Warren this morning.
Oh then you asked him to come.
Yes dear,
I asked him.
That is,
But it was too late.
The adoring happiness that had leaped to Dr Chilterne's eyes was unmistakable and Miss Polly had seen it.
With very pink cheeks she turned and left the room hurriedly.
Over in the window the nurse and Dr Warren were talking earnestly.
Dr Chilterne held out his hands to Pollyanna.
I'm thinking one of the very gladdest jobs you ever did has been done today.
He said in a voice shaking with emotion.
At twilight a wonderfully tremulous,
Wonderfully different Aunt Polly crept to Pollyanna's bedside.
The nurse was at supper.
They had the room to themselves.
Pollyanna dear,
I'm going to tell you.
The very first one of all.
Someday I'm going to give Dr Chilterne to you for your uncle.
And it's you that have done it all.
It's you Pollyanna.
I'm so happy and so glad darling.
Pollyanna began to clap her hands.
But even as she brought her small palms together the first time she stopped and held them suspended.
Aunt Polly,
You were the woman's hand and heart he wanted so long ago.
You were.
And that's what he meant by saying I'd done the gladdest job of all today.
Well I'm so glad.
Why Aunt Polly I don't know but I'm so glad that I don't even mind my legs now.
Aunt Polly swallowed a sob.
Perhaps someday dear.
But she did not finish.
She did not dare to tell yet the great hope that Dr Chilterne had put into her heart.
Now next week you're going to take a journey on a nice comfortable little bed.
And you're going to be carried in cars and carriages to a great doctor who has a big house.
Many miles from here.
Made on purpose for just such people as you.
He's a dear friend of Dr Chilterne's and we're going to see what he can do.
Chapter 32 Which is a letter from Pollyanna.
Dear Aunt Polly and Uncle Tom.
Oh I can,
I can,
I can walk.
I did today all the way from my bed to the window.
It was six whole steps.
My how good it was to be on my legs again.
All the doctors stood round and smiled and all the nurses stood beside them and cried.
A lady in the next ward who walked past last week first peeked into the door.
And another one who hopes she will be able to walk next month was invited into the party.
And she laid on my nurse's bed and clapped her hands.
Even Tilly who washes the floor looked through the piazza window and called Happy Honey Child when she wasn't crying too much to call me anything else.
I don't see why they cried.
I wanted to sing and shout and yell.
Just think I can walk.
Now I don't mind being here almost ten months.
And I didn't miss the wedding anyhow.
Wasn't that just like you Aunt Polly to come on here and get married right beside my bed so I could see you.
You always do think of the gladdest things.
Pretty soon they say I'll be able to go home.
I wish I could walk all the way there.
I don't think I shall ever want to ride anywhere anymore.
It'll be so good just to walk.
I'm so glad.
I'm glad for everything.
Why I'm glad now I lost my legs for a while.
For you never never know how perfectly lovely legs are until you haven't got them.
I'm going to walk eight steps tomorrow.
With heaps of love to everybody.
Pollyanna The End
