Pollyanna by Eleanor H.
Porter Chapter 14 Just a Matter of Jelly Pollyanna was a little late for supper on the night of the accident to John Pendleton,
But as it happened,
She escaped without reproof.
Nancy met her at the door.
Well,
If I ain't glad to be setting my two eyes on you,
She sighed,
In obvious relief.
It's half past six.
I know it,
Admitted Pollyanna anxiously,
But I'm not to blame.
Truly,
I'm not.
And I don't think even Aunt Polly will say I am either.
She won't have the chance,
Retorted Nancy with huge satisfaction.
She's gone.
Gone?
Gasped Pollyanna.
You don't mean that I've driven her away?
Through Pollyanna's mind at the moment trooped remorseful memories of the morning and its unwanted boy,
Cat and dog,
And its unwelcome glad and forbidden father that would spring to her forgetful little tongue.
Oh,
I didn't drive her away.
Not much you did,
Scoffed Nancy.
Her cousin died suddenly down in Boston,
And she had to go to her.
She had one of them yellow telegram letters after you went away this afternoon.
She won't be back for three days.
Now I guess we're glad all right.
We'll be keeping house together,
Just you and me,
All that time.
We will,
We will.
Pollyanna looked shocked.
Glad?
Oh,
Nancy,
When it's a funeral.
Oh,
But t'was the funeral I wasn't glad for.
It was.
.
.
A shrewd twinkle came into her eye.
Why,
Miss Pollyanna,
As if it weren't yourself that was teaching me to play the game,
She reproached her gravely.
Pollyanna puckered her forehead into a troubled frown.
I can't help it,
Nancy,
She argued with a shake of her head.
It must be that there are some things that isn't right to play the game on.
And I'm sure funerals is one of them.
There's nothing in a funeral to be glad about.
Nancy chuckled.
We can be glad t'ain't aren't,
She observed merely.
But Pollyanna did not hear.
She had begun to tell of the accident,
And in a moment Nancy,
Open mouth,
Was listening.
At the appointed place the next afternoon,
Pollyanna met Jimmy Bean according to agreement.
As was to be expected,
Of course,
Jimmy showed keen disappointment that the ladies' aide preferred a little India boy to himself.
Well,
Maybe it's natural,
He sighed.
Of course things you don't know about are always nicer than things you do.
Same as the potato on another side of the plate is always the biggest.
But I wish I looked that way to someone way off.
Wouldn't it just be great now if only somebody over in India wanted me?
Pollyanna clapped her hands.
Why,
Of course.
That's the very thing,
Jimmy.
I'll write to my ladies' aiders about you.
They aren't over in India,
They're only out west.
But that's awful far away just the same.
I reckon you'd think so if you'd come all the way here as I did.
Jimmy's face brightened.
Do you think they would,
Truly,
Take me?
He asked.
Of course they would.
Don't they take little boys in India to bring up?
Well,
They can just play you are a little India boy this time.
I reckon you're far away to make a report,
All right.
You wait.
I'll write him.
All right,
Miss White.
No,
All right,
Miss Jones.
Miss White has got the most money.
But Miss Jones gives the most.
Which is kind of funny,
Isn't it?
When you think of it.
But I reckon some of the aiders will take you.
All right,
But don't forget to say I'll work for my board and keep,
Put in Jimmy.
I ain't no beggar.
And business is business.
Even with the ladies' aiders,
I'm thinking.
He hesitated,
Then added.
And I suppose I better stay here.
I'll be for a spell yet.
Till you hear.
Of course,
Nodded Pollyanna emphatically.
Then I'll know just where to find you.
And they'll take you.
I'm sure you're far enough away for that.
Didn't Aunt Polly take.
.
.
Say,
She broke off suddenly.
Do you suppose I was Aunt Polly's little girl from India?
Well,
If you ain't the queerest kid,
Grinned Jimmy as he turned away.
It was about a week after the accident in Pendleton Woods that Pollyanna said to her aunt one morning.
Aunt Polly,
Please would you mind very much if I took Miss Snow's calf's foot jelly this week to someone else?
I'm sure Miss Snow wouldn't.
.
.
Wouldn't mind just this once.
Dear me,
Pollyanna,
What are you up to now,
She sighed.
You are the most extraordinary child.
Pollyanna frowned a little anxiously.
Aunt Polly,
Please,
What is extraordinary?
If you're extraordinary,
You can't be ordinary,
Can you?
You certainly cannot.
Oh,
That's all right then.
I'm glad I'm extraordinary,
Sighed Pollyanna.
Pollyanna,
Her face clearing.
You see,
Miss White used to say to Miss Rawson that she was a very ordinary woman.
And she disliked Miss Rawson something awful.
They were always in a fight.
I mean,
Father had.
That is,
I mean,
We had more trouble keeping peace between them than we did between any of the rest of the Aiders,
Corrected Pollyanna.
Yes,
Yes,
Well,
Never mind,
Interposed Aunt Polly,
A trifle impatiently.
You do run on so,
Pollyanna,
And no matter what we're talking about,
You always bring up those lady Aiders.
Yesem smiled Pollyanna cheerfully.
I reckon I do,
Maybe.
But you see,
They used to bring me up and.
.
.
That will do,
Pollyanna,
Interrupted a cold voice.
Now what is it about this jelly?
Nothing,
Aunt Polly,
Truly,
That you would mind,
I'm sure.
You let me take jelly to her,
So I thought you would to him this once.
You see,
Broken legs aren't like,
Like lifelong invalids,
So his won't last forever as Miss Snow's does.
And she can have all the rest of the things after just once or twice.
Him?
He?
Broken leg?
What are you talking about,
Pollyanna?
Pollyanna stared,
Then her face relaxed.
Oh,
I forgot.
I reckon you didn't know.
You see,
It happened while you were gone.
It was the very day you went that I found him in the woods,
You know,
And I had to unlock his house and telephone for the men and the doctor and hold his head and everything.
And of course,
Then I came away and haven't seen him since.
But when Nancy made the jelly for Miss Snow this week,
I thought how nice it would be if I could take it to him instead of her,
Just this once.
Aunt Polly,
May I?
Yes,
Yes,
I suppose so,
Acquiesced Miss Polly a little wearily.
Who did you say he was?
The man,
I mean,
Mr.
John Pendleton.
Miss Polly almost sprang from her chair.
John Pendleton?
Yes,
Nancy told me his name.
Maybe you know him?
Miss Polly did not answer this.
Instead,
She asked,
Do you know him?
Pollyanna nodded.
Oh,
Yes,
He always speaks and smiles.
Now,
He's only cross outside,
You know.
I'll go and get the jelly.
Nancy had it most fixed when I came in,
Finished Pollyanna.
Already halfway across the room.
Pollyanna,
Wait.
Miss Polly's voice was suddenly very stern.
I've changed my mind.
I would prefer that Miss Snow had that jelly today,
As usual.
That is all.
You may go now.
Pollyanna's face fell.
Oh,
But Aunt Polly,
Hers will last.
She can always be sick and have things,
You know.
But his is just a broken leg.
And legs don't last.
I mean broken ones.
He had it a whole week now.
Yes,
I remember.
I heard Mr.
John Pendleton had met with an accident,
Said Miss Polly a little stiffly.
But I do not care to be sending jelly to John Pendleton,
Pollyanna.
I know he is cross outside,
Admitted Pollyanna sadly.
So I suppose you don't like him.
But I wouldn't say,
"'Twas you sent it.
" I'd say,
"'Twas me.
I like him.
I'd be glad to send him jelly.
" Miss Polly began to shake her head again.
Then suddenly she stopped and asked in a curiously quiet voice,
"'Does he know who you.
.
.
Who you are,
Pollyanna?
' The little girl sighed.
"'I reckon not.
I told him my name once,
But he never calls me it.
Never.
' "'Does he know where you live?
' "'Oh,
No.
I never told him that.
' "'Then he doesn't know you're my niece.
' "'I don't think so.
' For a moment there was silence.
Miss Polly was looking at Pollyanna with eyes that didn't seem to her at all.
The little girl,
Shifting impatiently from one small foot to the other,
Sighed audibly.
Then Miss Polly roused herself with a start.
"'Very well,
Pollyanna,
' she said at last,
Still in that queer voice so unlike her own.
"'You may take the jelly to Mr.
Pendleton as your own gift,
But understand,
I do not send it.
Be very sure that he does not think I do.
' "'Yes,
Um,
No,
Um,
I mean,
Thank you,
Aunt Polly,
' exulted Pollyanna as she flew through the door.
" And that is the end of our story this evening.
Until next time.
Sweet dreams.
