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Chapter 14 Just the 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 I've driven her away?
Through Pollyanna's mind at the moment trooped remorseful memories of the morning with its unwanted boy,
Cat and dog,
And its unwelcome glad and forbidden father that would spring to her forgetful little tongue.
No,
I didn't drive her away,
Did I?
Not much you did,
Scoffed Nancy.
Her cousin died suddenly down in Boston,
She had to go.
She had one of those telegram letter things 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 the time,
We will.
Pollyanna looked shocked.
Glad?
Oh Nancy,
When it's a funeral?
Oh,
But when the funeral I was glad for Miss Pollyanna,
It was.
.
.
Nancy stopped abruptly.
A shrewd twinkle came into her eyes.
Why,
Miss Pollyanna,
As if it weren't yourself that was teaching me to play the game?
Pollyanna puckered her forehead into a troubled frown.
I can't help it,
Nancy,
She argued with a shake of the head.
It must be there's some things it 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,
Is there?
Nancy chuckled.
We can be glad to ain't own,
She observed demurely,
But Pollyanna did not hear.
She'd begun to tell of the accident,
And in a moment Nancy,
Open mouthed,
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 lady's 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 potatoes on the other side of the plate,
It's always the biggest.
But I wish I looked that way to somebody way off.
Wouldn't it just be great now if only someone over in India wanted me?
Pollyanna clapped her hands.
Why,
Of course,
That's the very thing,
Jimmy.
I'll write to my lady's aide 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 the little India boy this time.
I reckon you're far enough away to make a report,
All right?
You wait.
I'll write them.
I'll write Mrs.
Wright.
No,
I'll write Mrs.
Jones.
Mrs.
Wright has got the most money,
But Mrs.
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 work for my board and keep,
Put in Jimmy.
I ain't no beggar.
And business is business,
Even with lady's aiders,
I'm thinking.
He hesitated,
Then added,
And I suppose I better stay where I'll be for a spell year,
Till you hear that is.
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,
Queen Jimmy,
Turning away.
It was about a week after the accident in Pendleton Woods that Pollyanna said to her aunt one morning,
Oh,
Polly,
Please would you mind very much if I took Mrs.
Snow's calf's foot jelly this week to someone else?
I'm sure Mrs.
Snow wouldn't this once.
Dear me,
Pollyanna,
What are you up to now?
Sighed her aunt.
You are the most extraordinary child.
Pollyanna frowned a little anxiously.
Aunt Pollyanna,
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,
Her face clearing.
You see,
Mrs.
White used to say Mrs.
Rawson was a very ordinary woman and she disliked Mrs.
Rawson for something awful.
They were always figh.
.
.
I mean,
Father had.
.
.
That means.
.
.
I mean.
.
.
We had more trouble keeping peace between them than we did between any of the rest of the Aiders.
Pollyanna was a little breathless from her efforts to steer between her father's past commands in regarding to speaking of church quarrels and her aunt's present commands in regard to speaking of her father.
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 ladies Aiders.
Yes,
Smiled Pollyanna cheerfully.
I reckon I do,
Maybe,
But you see,
They used to bring me up and that will do,
Pollyanna.
Now,
What is it about this jelly?
Nothing,
Aunt Polly,
Truly,
That you would mind,
I'm sure.
You let me take the jelly to her,
So I thought you'd let me take it to him this once.
You see,
Broken legs aren't like lifelong imbeciles,
So his won't last forever as Mrs.
Snow's does and she can have all the rest of 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 out 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 I haven't seen him since.
But when Nancy made the jelly for Mrs.
Snow,
I thought how nice it would be if I could take it to him instead.
Just this once,
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 crossed outside,
You know.
I'll go and get the jelly then.
Nancy had it almost fixed when I came in.
Pollyanna,
Wait!
Miss Polly's voice was suddenly very stern.
I'd changed my mind.
I prefer that Mrs.
Snow had that jelly,
As usual.
That is all,
You may go.
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's had it a whole week.
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.
I know he's crossed outside,
Admitted Pollyanna sadly,
So I suppose you don't like him,
But I wouldn't say it was you that sent it.
I'd say it was me.
I like him,
And 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 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?
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 did not seem to see 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.
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 that I do.
Yes,
Thank you,
Aunt Polly,
Exulted Pollyanna.
And she flew ecstatically through the door.
