Поллианна / Pollyanna - стр. 9
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]
“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] 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] 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] 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!”