“It’s Jimmy Bean. He wants to see you, ma’am,” announced Nancy.
“Me?” rejoined Miss Polly, plainly surprised. “Are you sure he did not mean Miss Pollyanna? He may see her a few minutes today, if he likes.”
“Yes, I told him. But he said it was you he wanted.”
“Very well, I’ll come down.”
In the sitting room she found waiting for her a flushed-faced boy, who began to speak at once.
“Ma’am, I supppose it’s dreadful – what I’m doing – but it’s all for Pollyanna.”
“Jimmy, what are you talking about?”
“Well, to begin with, Dr. Chilton came to see Mr. Pendleton, and they talked in the library. Do you understand that?”
“Yes, Jimmy.”
“Well, the window was open, and I was weeding the flowerbed under it; and I heard their talk.”
“Oh, Jimmy! LISTENING?”
“‘Yes! And I’m glad I listened. You will be too when I tell you because it may make Pollyanna – walk!”
“Jimmy, what do you mean?”
“Well, Dr. Chilton knows some doctor somewhere that can cure Pollyanna, he thinks – make her walk; but he can’t tell sure till he SEES her. And he wants to see her. Please let him see her!”
Miss Polly’s face turned very red.
“But, Jimmy, I–I can’t – I couldn’t! That is, I didn’t know!”
“They said that for some reason you wouldn’t let Dr. Chilton come, and you told Dr. Warren so; and they wanted to find somebody who could make you understand; and I was outside the window and I said to myself right away, ‘I’ll do it!’ And that’s why I’m here.”
“But, Jimmy, about that doctor,” implored Miss Polly. “Who was he? What did he do? Are they SURE he could make Pollyanna walk?”
“I don’t know who he was. They didn’t say. Dr. Chilton knows him, and he’s just cured somebody just like her, Dr. Chilton thinks. And say – you will let him come, won’t you? – now you understand?”
Miss Polly turned her head from side to side. After a minute she said brokenly:
“Yes – I’ll let – Dr. Chilton – see her. Now run home, Jimmy – quick!”
A little later Dr. Warren was surprised to meet a flushed-faced Miss Polly in the hall. He was still more surprised to hear the lady say, a little breathlessly:
“Dr. Warren, you asked me once to allow Dr. Chilton to be called in consultation, and – I refused. Since then I have reconsidered. I very much desire that you SHOULD call in Dr. Chilton. Will you not ask him at once – please? Thank you.”