Page 141 - pollyanna

ain’t, he ain’t.’
Pollyanna smiled happily.
‘But he did, Nancy,’ she nodded, ‘only I reckon even he
didn’t want to—ALL the time. Why, only to-day he owned
up that one time he just felt he never wanted to see me again,
because I reminded him of something he wanted to forget.
But afterwards—‘
‘What’s that?’ interrupted Nancy, excitedly. ‘He said you
reminded him of something he wanted to forget?’
‘Yes. But afterwards—‘
‘What was it?’ Nancy was eagerly insistent.
‘He didn’t tell me. He just said it was something.’
‘THE MYSTERY!’ breathed Nancy, in an awestruck
voice. ‘That’s why he took to you in the first place. Oh, Miss
Pollyanna! Why, that’s just like a book—I’ve read lots of ‘em;
‘Lady Maud’s Secret,’ and ‘The Lost Heir,’ and ‘Hidden for
Years’—all of ‘em had mysteries and things just like this. My
stars and stockings! Just think of havin’ a book lived right
under yer nose like this an’ me not knowin’ it all this time!
Now tell me everythin’—everythin’ he said, Miss Pollyanna,
there’s a dear! No wonder he took ter you; no wonder—no
wonder!’
‘But he didn’t,’ cried Pollyanna, ‘not till I talked to HIM,
first. And he didn’t even know who I was till I took the calf’s-
foot jelly, and had to make him understand that Aunt Polly
didn’t send it, and—‘
Nancy sprang to her feet and clasped her hands together
suddenly.
‘Oh, Miss Pollyanna, I know, I know—I KNOW I know!’

1 0 Pollyanna