登陆注册
15513600000005

第5章 CHAPTER III. THE COMING OF POLLYANNA(2)

"There! Isn't this lovely? Is it far? I hope 'tis--I love to ride," sighed Pollyanna, as the wheels began to turn. "Of course, if 'tisn't far, I sha'n't mind, though, 'cause I'll be glad to get there all the sooner, you know. What a pretty street! I knew 'twas going to be pretty; father told me--"

She stopped with a little choking breath. Nancy, looking at her apprehensively, saw that her small chin was quivering, and that her eyes were full of tears. In a moment, however, she hurried on, with a brave lifting of her head.

"Father told me all about it. He remembered. And--and I ought to have explained before. Mrs. Gray told me to, at once--about this red gingham dress, you know, and why I'm not in black. She said you'd think 'twas queer. But there weren't any black things in the last missionary barrel, only a lady's velvet basque which Deacon Carr's wife said wasn't suitable for me at all; besides, it had white spots--worn, you know--on both elbows, and some other places. Part of the Ladies' Aid wanted to buy me a black dress and hat, but the other part thought the money ought to go toward the red carpet they're trying to get--for the church, you know. Mrs. White said maybe it was just as well, anyway, for she didn't like children in black--that is, I mean, she liked the children, of course, but not the black part."

Pollyanna paused for breath, and Nancy managed to stammer:

"Well, I'm sure it--it'll be all right."

"I'm glad you feel that way. I do, too," nodded Pollyanna, again with that choking little breath. "Of course, 'twould have been a good deal harder to be glad in black--"

"Glad!" gasped Nancy, surprised into an interruption.

"Yes--that father's gone to Heaven to be with mother and the rest of us, you know. He said I must be glad. But it's been pretty hard to--to do it, even in red gingham, because I--I wanted him, so; and I couldn't help feeling I OUGHT to have him, specially as mother and the rest have God and all the angels, while I didn't have anybody but the Ladies' Aid. But now I'm sure it'll be easier because I've got you, Aunt Polly. I'm so glad I've got you!"

Nancy's aching sympathy for the poor little forlornness beside her turned suddenly into shocked terror.

"Oh, but--but you've made an awful mistake, d-dear," she faltered. "I'm only Nancy. I ain't your Aunt Polly, at all!"

"You--you AREN'T? stammered the little girl, in plain dismay.

"No. I'm only Nancy. I never thought of your takin' me for her.

We--we ain't a bit alike we ain't, we ain't!"

Timothy chuckled softly; but Nancy was too disturbed to answer the merry flash from his eyes.

"But who ARE you?" questioned Pollyanna. "You don't look a bit like a Ladies' Aider!"

Timothy laughed outright this time.

"I'm Nancy, the hired girl. I do all the work except the washin' an' hard ironin'. Mis' Durgin does that."

"But there IS an Aunt Polly?" demanded the child, anxiously.

"You bet your life there is," cut in Timothy.

Pollyanna relaxed visibly.

"Oh, that's all right, then." There was a moment's silence, then she went on brightly: "And do you know? I'm glad, after all, that she didn't come to meet me; because now I've got HER still coming, and I've got you besides."

Nancy flushed. Timothy turned to her with a quizzical smile.

"I call that a pretty slick compliment," he said. "Why don't you thank the little lady?"

同类推荐
  • 鞞婆沙论

    鞞婆沙论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 张氏妇科

    张氏妇科

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 钱氏秘传产科方书名试验录

    钱氏秘传产科方书名试验录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 汉杂事秘辛

    汉杂事秘辛

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 重订西方公据

    重订西方公据

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 斗气地球

    斗气地球

    见本书第一章(第一章以后会补上的)主角穿越地球,
  • 视界之理

    视界之理

    少年韩亏,无意间发现,自己是韩非子的后人,拥有无上的秩序力量。在伙伴的帮助下,探寻世界本源的故事。
  • 红死魔的面具

    红死魔的面具

    这篇短篇小说以红死病大规模爆发的某国为背景,贯穿作品的整个基调是阴森恐怖,神秘诡异的,最终将故事推向那预定的可伯的结局,给人带来“一种特殊的舒适的的恐怖和激动”。亲王本该可以采取行动,本该能做出正确的举动,同红死魔抗争,帮助他的人民,但王爷和他的侍臣们抛弃了他领土的臣民,封死了铁门,没有人能从外面进来,统治者对人民的不管不问,从而注定要灭亡。亲王的傲慢与他对其不幸地陷入团境的国民的忽视与淡漠结合在一起,尽管他拥有的财富可以帮助需要的人,但他把自己的财富用于保护自己和堕落的纵欲,他举办的假面舞会实际上把自己变成了笼中的因兽,无法逃脱。
  • 豪门隐婚妻

    豪门隐婚妻

    破旧的厂房内,她浑身是血的她蜷缩在墙角,浑浑噩噩间,耳边传来女人得意的声音:你只是我的替代品,现在我回来了,你也可以滚出他的视线了。五年后,她挽着他同父异母的弟弟高调亮相,望着那一对狗男女脸上的错愕,心中默默喊道:唐宁,是时候该报仇了。入驻他的家族,成为他的弟媳,潜入他的公司,成为他的助理,这一切,只是想找回当年的真相,替她可怜的孩子报仇,但是,当她越靠近真相,心就越疼,原来,这一切,远不止她想象中的那么简单……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 艺术类研究生入学考试参考用书·艺术综合

    艺术类研究生入学考试参考用书·艺术综合

    本书专门为艺术类考研的专业基础课考试而编写。主体部分由六部分组成,艺术基础知识与艺术史、艺术学基础理论、艺术学前沿理论、中国文艺理论、西方文艺理论、文艺理论名著选读。
  • 潜龙无用

    潜龙无用

    灵魂夺舍者程飞,在这个武力为尊的世界里,小心翼翼地活着。从小被龙女银兰欺负;后来勾引魔兽风狐拉帮结伙,欺负别人;回到东屏城程家认祖,为报养育之恩,玩残同为炼药师家族的曹家..............更新时间:每天12:20和20:00两更,不定时加更!
  • 宇本宙源

    宇本宙源

    宇宙是如何形成的?只要有恒星的地方就会有生命存在吗?地球上第一个生物是怎样产生的?人到底是女娲创造的还是猴子变的?中华上下五千年,到底出过神仙没?神佛真的是该被科学批判为迷信吗?物质精微到原子时,是否可以随意变化?时间是否也是一种物质?那么穿越时光又是怎么一回事?我去,要打劫?哥们我既是重生者又是修仙者,还怕你这小瘪三不成?那是我前世注定的老婆,你敢追?你丫欠收拾!你就是叫来神仙都没用,何况你叫来的是小小的恶魔!这是一个男人重生后快意恩仇的故事,这是一个强者追寻未知的历程,最后才发现,原来他就是宇宙。书友群:123835554
  • 末世之逃亡日记

    末世之逃亡日记

    主角有十一个,除了我,其他的都代表着我的朋友,希望未来能看到,能想起对方。在末世时代,敌人正在慢慢变多,慢慢变强。怎么办?杀!我们人类要翻盘!凭什么我们人类只能被当成食物看待?而翻盘的重要东西,就是这十几位少年。浴血奋战,最终进入了天域。注:小说内容不是真实的,不要模仿。
  • 真爱不缺席

    真爱不缺席

    外表正太、内心腹黑的大灰狼弟弟,如何一步一步吃掉,外表御姐、内心率直单纯的小白兔姐姐
  • TFBOYS之让我爱上你

    TFBOYS之让我爱上你

    女主角,夏芷,男主角,tfboys。至于简介,我就不写了,读者们,还是看吧。不好意思哈。纯属小说虚构,不要上身本人。