Page 120 - pollyanna

‘And I’ve brought you some jelly,’ resumed Pollyanna; ‘—
calf’s-foot. I hope you like it?’ There was a rising inflection
in her voice.
‘Never ate it.’ The fleeting smile had gone, and the scowl
had come back to the man’s face.
For a brief instant Pollyanna’s countenance showed
disappointment; but it cleared as she set the bowl of jelly
down.
‘Didn’t you? Well, if you didn’t, then you can’t know you
DON’T like it, anyhow, can you? So I reckon I’m glad you
haven’t, after all. Now, if you knew—‘
‘Yes, yes; well, there’s one thing I know all right, and that
is that I’m flat on my back right here this minute, and that
I’m liable to stay here—till doomsday, I guess.’
Pollyanna looked shocked.
‘Oh, no! It couldn’t be till doomsday, you know, when
the angel Gabriel blows his trumpet, unless it should come
quicker than we think it will—oh, of course, I know the
Bible says it may come quicker than we think, but I don’t
think it will—that is, of course I believe the Bible; but I
mean I don’t think it will come as much quicker as it would
if it should come now, and—‘
John Pendleton laughed suddenly—and aloud. The
nurse, coming in at that moment, heard the laugh, and beat
a hurried—but a very silent—retreat. He had the air of a
frightened cook who, seeing the danger of a breath of cold
air striking a half-done cake, hastily shuts the oven door.
‘Aren’t you getting a little mixed?’ asked John Pendleton
of Pollyanna.

11