Page 107 - pollyanna

tremblingly delivering her message and answering the doc-
tor’s terse, pertinent questions. This done, she hung up the
receiver and drew a long breath of relief.
Only a brief glance did Pollyanna give about her; then,
with a confused vision in her eyes of crimson draperies,
book-lined walls, a littered floor, an untidy desk, innu-
merable closed doors (any one of which might conceal a
skeleton), and everywhere dust, dust, dust, she fled back
through the hall to the great carved door, still half open as
she had left it.
In what seemed, even to the injured man, an incredibly
short time, Pollyanna was back in the woods at the man’s
side.
‘Well, what is the trouble? Couldn’t you get in?’ he de-
manded.
Pollyanna opened wide her eyes.
‘Why, of course I could! I’m HERE,’ she answered. ‘As if
I’d be here if I hadn’t got in! And the doctor will be right up
just as soon as possible with the men and things. He said
he knew just where you were, so I didn’t stay to show him. I
wanted to be with you.’
‘Did you?’ smiled the man, grimly. ‘Well, I can’t say I ad-
mire your taste. I should think you might find pleasanter
companions.’
‘Do you mean—because you’re so—cross?
‘Thanks for your frankness. Yes.’
Pollyanna laughed softly.
‘But you’re only cross OUTSIDE—You arn’t cross inside
a bit!’

10 Pollyanna