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Miss Polly frowned, hesitated, then crossed the room majestically and opened the door; but Pollyanna was already out of sight, clattering up the attic stairs. Half an hour later when Miss Polly, her face expressing stern duty in every line, climbed those stairs and entered Pollyannas room, she was greeted with a burst of eager enthusiasm. Oh, Aunt Polly, I never saw anything so perfectly lovely and interesting in my life. Im so glad you gave me that book to read! Why, I didnt suppose flies could carry such a lot of things on their feet, and That will do, observed Aunt Polly, with dignity. Pollyanna, you may bring out your clothes now, and I will look them over. What are not suitable for you I shall give to the Sullivans, of course. With visible reluctance Pollyanna laid down the pamphlet and turned toward the closet. Im afraid youll think theyre worse than the Ladies Aid didand they said they were shameful, she sighed. But there were mostly things for boys and older folks in the last two or three barrels; anddid you ever have a missionary barrel, Aunt Polly? At her aunts look of shocked anger, Pollyanna corrected herself at once. Why, no, of course you didnt, Aunt Polly! she hurried on, with a hot blush. I forgot; rich folks never have to have them. But you see sometimes I kind of forget that you are richup here in this room, you know. Miss Pollys lips parted indignantly, but no words came. Pollyanna, plainly unaware that she had said anything in the least unpleasant, was hurrying on. Well, as I was going to say, you cant tell a thing about missionary barrelsexcept that you wont find in em what you think youre going toeven when you think you wont. It was the barrels every time, too, that were hardest to play the game on, for father and Just in time Pollyanna remembered that she was not to talk of her father to her aunt. She dived into her closet then, hurriedly, and brought out all the poor little dresses in both her arms. They arent nice, at all, she choked, and theyd been black if it hadnt been for the red carpet for the church; but theyre all Ive got. With the tips of her fingers Miss Polly turned over the conglomerate garments, so obviously made for anybody but Pollyanna. Next she bestowed frowning attention on the patched undergarments in the bureau drawers. Ive got the best ones on, confessed Pollyanna, anxiously. The Ladies Aid bought me one set straight through all whole. Mrs. Jonesshes the presidenttold em I should have that if they had to clatter down bare aisles themselves the rest of their days. But they wont. Mr. White doesnt like the noise. Hes got nerves, his wife says; but hes got money, too, and they expect hell give a lot toward the carpeton account of the nerves, you know. I should think hed be glad that if he did have the nerves hed got money, too; shouldnt you? Miss Polly did not seem to hear. Her scrutiny of the undergarments finished, she turned to Pollyanna somewhat abruptly. You have been to school, of course, Pollyanna? Oh, yes, Aunt Polly. Besides, fathI mean, I was taught at home some, too. Miss Polly frowned. |
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