Page 143 - pollyanna

and a lover! But Mr. Tom said she had, and that he was livin’
now right in this town. And NOW I know, of course. It’s
John Pendleton. Hain’t he got a mystery in his life? Don’t he
shut himself up in that grand house alone, and never speak
ter no one? Didn’t he act queer when he found out you
was Miss Polly’s niece? And now hain’t he owned up that
you remind him of somethin’ he wants ter forget? Just as
if ANYBODY couldn’t see ‘twas Miss Polly!—an’ her sayin’
she wouldn’t send him no jelly, too. Why, Miss Pollyanna,
it’s as plain as the nose on yer face; it is, it is!’
‘Oh-h!’ breathed Pollyanna, in wide-eyed amazement.
‘But, Nancy, I should think if they loved each other they’d
make up some time. Both of ‘em all alone, so, all these years.
I should think they’d be glad to make up!’
Nancy sniffed disdainfully.
‘I guess maybe you don’t know much about lovers, Miss
Pollyanna. You ain’t big enough yet, anyhow. But if there IS
a set o’ folks in the world that wouldn’t have no use for that
‘ere ‘glad game’ o’ your’n, it’d be a pair o’ quarrellin’ lov-
ers; and that’s what they be. Ain’t he cross as sticks, most
gen’rally?—and ain’t she—‘
Nancy stopped abruptly, remembering just in time to
whom, and about whom, she was speaking. Suddenly, how-
ever, she chuckled.
‘I ain’t sayin’, though, Miss Pollyanna, but what it would
be a pretty slick piece of business if you could GET ‘em ter
playin’ it—so they WOULD be glad ter make up. But, my
land! wouldn’t folks stare some—Miss Polly and him! I
guess, though, there ain’t much chance, much chance!’

1 Pollyanna