John Pendleton greeted Pollyanna today with a smile.

“Well, Miss Pollyanna, I’m so glad you’re here. Well, you know, I was pretty cross with you, I’m afraid, both the other day when you so kindly brought me the jelly, and that time when you found me with the broken leg at first. By the way, too, I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for that!”

“But I was glad to find you – that is, I don’t mean I was glad your leg was broken, of course,” she corrected hurriedly.

John Pendleton smiled.

“I understand. And I consider you a very brave little girl to do what you did that day. I thank you for the jelly, too,” he added.

“Did you like it?” asked Pollyanna with interest.

“Very much. Well, well, listen! Out in the library – the big room where the telephone is, you know – you will find a carved box. Bring it to me. It is heavy, but not too heavy for you to carry, I think.”

“Oh, I’m very strong,” declared Pollyanna, cheerfully. In a minute she returned with the box.

It was a wonderful half-hour that Pollyanna spent then. The box was full of treasures that John Pendleton had picked up in years of travel – and concerning each there was some entertaining story.

The visit, certainly, was a delightful one, but before it was over, Pollyanna was realizing that they were talking about something besides the wonderful things in the beautiful carved box. They were talking of herself, of Nancy, of Aunt Polly, and of her daily life. They were talking, too, even of the life and home long ago in the far Western town.

When it was time for her to go, John Pendleton said:

“Little girl, I want you to come to see me often. Will you? I’m lonesome, and I need you. At first, after I found out who you were, I didn’t want you to come any more. You reminded me of – of something I have tried for long years to forget. So I said to myself that I never wanted to see you again. But now I understand that I need you. Will you come again?”

“Yes, Mr. Pendleton!” breathed Pollyanna.”

“Thank you,” said John Pendleton, gently.

After supper that evening, Pollyanna told Nancy all about Mr. John Pendleton’s wonderful carved box, and the wonderful things it contained and that strange thing he wanted to forget.

“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. “That’s why he took to you, Miss Pollyanna! Now tell me everything he said!”

“But he didn’t tell me anything,” cried Pollyanna. 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 – ”

“Oh, Miss Pollyanna, I know, I know – I KNOW, I know!” Nancy cried rapturously. “It was after he found out you were Miss Polly’s niece that he said he didn’t ever want to see you again, wasn’t it?”

“Oh, yes. I told him that the last time I saw him, and he told me this today.”

“Then I’ve got it, sure! Now listen. MR. JOHN PENDLETON WAS MISS POLLY HARRINGTON’S LOVER!” she announced impressively.

“Why, Nancy, she doesn’t like him,” objected Pollyanna.

“Of course she doesn’t! THAT’S the quarrel!”

Pollyanna still looked incredulous.

“Just before you come, Mr. Tom told me Miss Polly had had a lover once. I didn’t believe it. But Mr. Tom said she had, and that he was living now right in this town. And NOW I know, of course. It’s John Pendleton!”

“Oh-h!” breathed Pollyanna, in amazement. “But, Nancy, I should think if they loved each other they’d make up some time. Both of them all alone, so, all these years. I should think they’d be glad to make up!”

Nancy sniffed.

“I guess maybe you don’t know much about lovers, Miss Pollyanna. You aren’t big enough yet.”

Pollyanna said nothing; but when she went into the house a little later, her face was very thoughtful.