The sky was darkening when Pollyanna hurried down the hill from John Pendleton’s house. Half-way home she met Nancy with an umbrella.
“Oh, Miss Pollyanna, Miss Polly wanted me to come with this. She was worried about you!”
“Was she?” murmured Pollyanna. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare her.”
“Well, I’m glad,” retorted Nancy, unexpectedly.
“Why, Nancy,” demurred Pollyanna, “Aunt Polly always does her duty.” Unconsciously Pollyanna repeated John Pendleton’s words.
“You’re right she is – and she always was! But she’s something more, now, since you came.”
Pollyanna’s face changed.
“Do you think Aunt Polly likes to have me here? Would she mind – if I wasn’t here any more?”
“Likes to have you here? I’m sure she needs you!
“Oh, Nancy, I’m so glad – glad – glad! You don’t know how glad I am that Aunt Polly – wants me!
The task of telling John Pendleton of her decision would not be an easy one, Pollyanna knew, and she dreaded it. She was very sorry for him.
In due time she found herself in the great dim library of John Pendleton’s house.
“Well, Pollyanna, will you play the ‘glad game’ with me, all the rest of my life?” asked the man, gently.
“Oh, yes,” cried Pollyanna. “I’ve thought of the very gladdest kind of a thing for you to do, and – ”
“With – YOU?” asked John Pendleton.
“N-no; but – ”
“Pollyanna, you aren’t going to say no!” he interrupted.
“I–I’ve got to, Mr. Pendleton; truly I have. Aunt Polly – ”
“Did she REFUSE to let you come?”
“I didn’t ask her,” stammered the little girl.
“Pollyanna! So you didn’t even ask her!”
“I couldn’t, sir – truly,” faltered Pollyanna. “You see, I found out – without asking. Aunt Polly WANTS me with her, and – and I want to stay, too,” she confessed. “Sometimes she’s beginning to be glad about things. Oh, Mr. Pendleton, I can’t leave Aunt Polly – now!”
There was a long pause.
“Pollyanna; I see. You can’t leave her – now,” he said.
“Oh, but you don’t know about the rest of it,” she reminded him. “There’s the very gladdest thing you CAN do. You said only a – a woman’s hand and heart or a child’s presence could make a home. And I can get it for you – a child’s presence; – not me, you know, but another one.”
“As if I would have any but you!” resented an indignant voice.
“But you’re so kind and good! Please take Jimmy Bean!
“Take – WHO?”
“Jimmy Bean. He’s the ‘child’s presence,’ you know; and he’ll be so glad to be it.”
“Will he? Well, I won’t,” ejaculated the man. “Pollyanna, this is sheer nonsense!”
“You don’t mean – you won’t take him?”
“I certainly do mean just that.”
“Maybe you think a nice live little boy wouldn’t be better than that old dead skeleton you keep somewhere; but I think it would!”
“SKELETON?”
“Yes. Nancy said you had one in your closet.”
Suddenly he laughed.
“Pollyanna, I suspect you are right. Please tell me a little more about this nice little boy.” And Pollyanna told him.
“I’m so glad, and I’m sure you’ll like him,” sighed Pollyanna. “I do so want Jimmy Bean to have a home – and folks that care, you know.”