Chapter XII. Before The Ladies’ Aid
Next day Aunt Polly told the minister’s wife over the telephone, that she would not be at the Ladies’ Aid meeting that afternoon, owing to a headache.
The Ladies’ Aid met at two o’clock in the chapel next the church.
Pollyanna ascended the chapel steps, pushed open the door and entered the vestibule.
“How do you do, Ladies’ Aiders?” she faltered politely. “I’m Pollyanna Whittier. I–I reckon some of you know me, maybe.”
Some of the ladies did know this rather extraordinary niece of their fellow-member, but nearly all had heard of her; but not one of them could think of anything to say, just then.
“I–I’ve come to – to lay the case before you,” stammered Pollyanna, after a moment.
“Did – did your aunt send you, my dear?” asked Mrs. Ford, the minister’s wife.
“Oh, no. I came all by myself.”
“Yes, dear. What is it?”
“Well, it – it’s Jimmy Bean,” sighed Pollyanna. “He hasn’t any home except the Orphan one, and he wants one of the common kind. He’s ten years old. I think some of you might like him – to live with you, you know.”
“Well —!” murmured a voice.
“Oh, I forgot to say; he will work,” she said.
One or two women began to question her. After a time they all had the story and began to talk among themselves.
Pollyanna listened with growing anxiety. Some of what was said she could not understand. After a time, however, she understood that there was no woman who had a home to give him.
It seemed that their society was famous for its offering to Hindu missions. Most of what was said Pollyanna could not understand, but the most important thing was clear to her. Ladies’ Aid had decided that they would rather send all their money to bring up the little Indian boys than to save out enough to bring up one little boy in their own town.
Chapter XIII. In Pendleton Woods
After the meeting Pollyanna didn’t go home but turned instead toward Pendleton Hill. It was a “vacation day” (the day when there was no sewing or cooking lesson), and Pollyanna was sure that nothing would do her quite so much good as a walk through the green quiet of Pendleton Woods.
It was very beautiful in the Pendleton Woods, as Pollyanna knew by experience.
Suddenly Pollyanna lifted her head and listened. A dog had barked some distance ahead. A moment later she saw the dog.
“Hullo, doggie!” Pollyanna recognized Mr. Pendleton’s dog.
The dog, as Pollyanna could see, was acting strangely. He was still barking and running back and forth. Pollyanna followed the dog.
“Ho! That isn’t the way home,” laughed Pollyanna.
The little dog seemed frantic now. Back and forth, back and forth, and then it ran to the side path. Polyanna followed it again. And soon Pollyanna saw a man lying motionless at the rock a few yards from the side path.
A twig cracked sharply under Pollyanna’s foot, and the man turned his head. Pollyanna ran to his side.
“Mr. Pendleton! Oh, are you hurt?”
“Hurt? Oh, no! I’m just taking a siesta in the sunshine,” snapped the man irritably. “See here, how much do you know? What can you do? Have you got any sense?”
Pollyanna answered the questions literally, one by one.
“Why, Mr. Pendleton, I–I don’t know so very much, and I can’t do a great many things; but most of the Ladies’ Aiders said I had real good sense.
The man smiled grimly.
“There, there, child, I beg your pardon. Now listen.” He paused, and with some difficulty reached his hand into his trousers pocket and brought out a key. “About five minutes’ walk, is my house. This key will admit you to the side door. When you get into the house, go straight through the vestibule and hall to the door at the end. On the big desk in the middle of the room you’ll find a telephone. Do you know how to use a telephone?”
“Oh, yes, sir!”
“Find Dr. Thomas Chilton’s number on the card you’ll find somewhere around there. Call Dr. Chilton and tell him that John Pendleton is at the foot of Little Eagle Ledge in Pendleton Woods with a broken leg, and to come at once with a stretcher and two men. He’ll know what to do.”
Pollyanna did not stop until she reached the house. When she opened the door she caught her breath. This was John Pendleton’s house; the house of mystery.
The room was large, and there was a big desk in the middle of the room. It was toward this desk that Pollyanna hurriedly tiptoed.
Pollyanna found the telephone card and called Dr. Chilton. She delivered her message and answered the doctor’s pertinent questions. After that she hung up the receiver and drew a long breath of relief.
In what seemed, even to the injured man, an incredibly short time, Pollyanna was back in the woods.
“Well, what is the trouble? Couldn’t you get in?” he demanded.
Pollyanna opened wide her eyes.
“Why, of course I could! I’m HERE,” she answered, “and the doctor will be here 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 the way. I wanted to be with you.”
The man smiled grimly. “Well, I can’t say I admire your taste. I think you could 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 aren’t cross inside!”
“How do you know that?” asked the man.
“Oh, lots of ways; there – like that – the way you act with the dog,” she added, pointing to his hand that rested on the dog’s head near him. “It’s funny how dogs and cats know the insides of folks better than other folks do, isn’t it? Now I’m going to hold your head,” she finished abruptly.
He did not speak again for some time. Pollyanna, watching his face, wondered if he were asleep. She did not think he was. He looked as if his lips were tight shut to keep back moans of pain.
Minute by minute the time passed.
At last the dog gave a short, sharp bark. The next moment Pollyanna heard voices, and very soon their owners appeared three men carrying a stretcher and various other articles.
Dr. Chilton advanced cheerily.
“Well, my little lady, playing nurse?”
“Oh, no, sir,” smiled Pollyanna. “I just held his head. But I’m glad I was here.”
“So am I,” nodded the doctor and turned his attention to the injured man.
Chapter XIV. Just A Matter of Jelly
Pollyanna was a little late for supper on the night of the accident to John Pendleton.
Nancy met her at the door.
“Well, I’m glad you’re home,” she sighed in obvious relief. “It’s half-past six!”
“I know it,” said Pollyanna; “but I’m not to blame. And I don’t think even Aunt Polly will say I am, either.”
“She won’t have the chance,” retorted Nancy. “She’s gone. She will be back in three days.”
And Pollyanna began to tell of the accident; and Nancy, open-mouthed, was listening.
At the appointed place the next afternoon, Pollyanna met Jimmy. As was to be expected, of course, Jimmy showed disappointment about the Ladies’ Aid decision.
About a week after the accident in Pendleton Woods that Pollyanna said to her aunt one morning:
“Aunt Polly, please would you mind very much if I took Mrs. Snow’s calf’s-foot jelly this week to someone else?”
“Dear me, Pollyanna, what ARE you up to now?” sighed her aunt.
“Please let me take jelly to HIM. He has broken leg.”
“‘Him’? ‘Broken leg’? What are you talking about, Pollyanna?”
“Oh, I forgot. I reckon you didn’t know. You see, it happened while you were gone. I found him in the woods, you know; and I had to unlock his house and telephone for the men and the doctor, and everything. Aunt Polly, may I take jelly to him?”
“Yes, I suppose so,” said Miss Polly. “Who was he?”
“The Man. I mean, Mr. John Pendleton.”
Miss Polly almost sprang from her chair.
“JOHN PENDLETON!”
“Yes. Nancy told me his name. Maybe you know him.”
Miss Polly did not answer this. Instead she asked:
“Do YOU know him?”
Pollyanna nodded.
“Oh, yes. He always speaks and smiles. He’s only cross OUTSIDE, you know. I’ll go and get the jelly.” finished Pollyanna, already halfway across the room.
“Pollyanna, wait! I’ve changed my mind. Take the jelly to Mrs. Snow as usual. That is all. You may go now.”
“I know, he is cross – outside,” said Pollyanna, sadly, “so I suppose you don’t like him. But I like him. I’d be glad to send him jelly.”
Miss Polly began to shake her head. Then, suddenly, she stopped, and asked in a curiously quiet voice:
“Does he know who you are, Pollyanna?”
The little girl sighed.
“I reckon not. I told him my name, once, but he never calls me it.”
“Does he know where you live?”
“Oh, no. I never told him that.”
“Then he doesn’t know you’re my niece?”
“I don’t think so.”
For a moment there was silence. Miss Polly was looking at Pollyanna with eyes that did not seem to see her at all. Then Miss Polly roused herself with a start.
“Very well, Pollyanna,” she said at last, “you may take the jelly to Mr. Pendleton as your own gift. But understand: I do not send it. Be very sure that he does not think I do!”
“Thank you, Aunt Polly,” exulted Pollyanna.
