Page 211 - pollyanna
P. 211

and Dr. Warren is carrying them out to the letter, of course.
           But—Dr. Mead held out almost no hope.’
              John Pendleton rose abruptly—though he had but just
            come. His face was white, and his mouth was set into stern
            lines. Miss Polly, looking at him, knew very well why he felt
           that he could not stay longer in her presence. At the door
           he turned.
              ‘I have a message for Pollyanna,’ he said. ‘Will you tell her,
           please, that I have seen Jimmy Bean and—that he’s going
           to be my boy hereafter. Tell her I thought she would be—
           GLAD to know. I shall adopt him, probably.’
              For a brief moment Miss Polly lost her usual well-bred
            self-control.
              ‘You will adopt Jimmy Bean!’ she gasped.
              The man lifted his chin a little.
              ‘Yes. I think Pollyanna will understand. You will tell her
           I thought she would be—GLAD!’
              ‘Why, of—of course,’ faltered Miss Polly.
              ‘Thank you,’ bowed John Pendleton, as he turned to go.
              In the middle of the floor Miss Polly stood, silent and
            amazed, still looking after the man who had just left her.
           Even yet she could scarcely believe what her ears had heard.
           John  Pendleton  ADOPT  Jimmy  Bean?  John  Pendleton,
           wealthy, independent, morose, reputed to be miserly and
            supremely selfish, to adopt a little boy—and such a little
            boy?
              With a somewhat dazed face Miss Polly went up-stairs to
           Pollyanna’s room.
              ‘Pollyanna, I have a message for you from Mr. John Pend-

            10                                      Pollyanna
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