Страница 3 из 6
She was at the back of the house. Then Pollya
Fifteen minutes later the great clock struck six. At the last stroke Nancy sounded the bell for supper.
One, two, three minutes passed. Miss Polly frowned. She rose to her feet, went into the hall, and looked upstairs. For a minute she listened; then she turned and went to the dining room.
“Nancy,” she said, “my niece is late. You need not call her,” she added. “I told her what time supper was, and now she will have to suffer the consequences.[19] She must learn to be punctual. When she comes she may have bread and milk in the kitchen.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
At the possible moment after supper, Nancy crept up to the attic room.
She softly pushed open the door. The next moment she gave a frightened cry. “Where are you?” she panted, and flew to Old Tom in the garden.
“Mr. Tom, Mr. Tom, that blessed child’s gone,[20]” she cried.
The old man stopped, straightened up and pointed at the slender figure on top of a huge rock.
Chapter V. The Game
“Miss Pollya
“Scare? Oh, I’m so sorry; but you mustn’t, really, ever get scared about me, Nancy,” said Pollya
“I didn’t see you go, and nobody didn’t. I guess you flew right up through the roof; I do, I do. Poor little lamb, you must be hungry, too. I–I’m afraid you’ll have to have bread and milk in the kitchen with me. Your aunt didn’t like it – because you didn’t come down to supper.”
“But I couldn’t. I was up here. But I’m glad.”
“Glad! Why?”
“I like bread and milk, and I’d like to eat with you. I don’t see any trouble about being glad about that.”
“You don’t seem to see any trouble being glad about everything,” retorted Nancy.
Pollya
“Well, that’s the game, you know, anyway.”
“The – GAME?”
“Yes; the ‘just being glad’ game.[22]”
“Whatever in the world are you talking about?”
“Why, it’s a game. Father told it to me, and it’s lovely. We’ve played it always, ever since I was a little, little girl. I told the Ladies’ Aid, and they played it – some of them… Only sometimes it’s almost too hard especially when your father goes to Heaven… I suppose, though, it’ll be a little harder now, as long as I haven’t anybody to play it with. Maybe Aunt Polly will play it, though,” she added.
“See here, Miss Pollya
“Oh, Nancy! That’ll be splendid!”
“Maybe,” said Nancy, in open doubt. “You mustn’t count too much[23] on me but I’ll try to play it with you,” she finished, as they entered the kitchen together.
Pollya
“Have you had your supper, Pollya
“Yes, Aunt Polly.”
“I’m very sorry, Pollya
“But I was really glad you did it, Aunt Polly. I like bread and milk, and Nancy, too. You mustn’t feel bad about that.”
Aunt Polly sat suddenly a little more erect in her chair.
“Pollya
Pollya
“I know I’m going to just love living with you but then. Good night,” she said cheerfully, as she ran from the room.
“What a most extraordinary child!” Aunt Polly said. Then she frowned. “She’s ‘glad’ I punished her, and I ‘mustn’t feel bad about that,’ and she’s going to ‘love to live’ with me! Well, upon my soul!”
Fifteen minutes later, in the attic room, a lonely little girl sobbed into the sheet:
“I know, father-among-the-angels, I’m not playing the game; I don’t believe even you could find anything to be glad about sleeping all alone in the dark. If only I was near Nancy or Aunt Polly, or even a Ladies’ Aider, it would be easier![26]”
Chapter VI. A Question of Duty
It was nearly seven o’clock when Pollya
Pollya
“Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, I am glad this morning just to be alive![27]”
“PollyANNA!” said Aunt Polly, “is this the usual way you say good morning?”
“I saw you from my window and I decided to hug you!”
The old man turned his back suddenly.
“Do you always work in the garden, Mister?” asked Pollya
The man turned. His eyes were filled with tears.
“Yes, Miss. I’m Old Tom, the gardener,” he answered. “You are so like your mother, little Miss! I used to know her when she was a young girl. You see, I used to work in the garden – then.”
“You did? And you knew my mother, really? Oh, please tell me about her!”
A bell sounded from the house. The next moment Nancy appeared.
“Miss Pollya
Half an hour after breakfast Miss Polly entered Pollya
“Pollya
Pollya
With the tips of her fingers Miss Polly turned over the garments, so obviously made for anybody but Pollya
Aunt Polly turned to Pollya
“You have been to school, of course, Pollya
“Oh, yes, Aunt Polly. Besides, I was taught at home, too.”
Miss Polly frowned.
“Very good. In autumn you will enter school here, of course. Mr. Hall, will doubtless settle in which grade you belong.”
“I love to read; but if you don’t want to hear me I will be glad to read to myself, Aunt Polly.”
“I don’t doubt it,” rejoined Miss Polly. “Have you studied music?[29]”
“Not much. I don’t like my music. Though I learned to play the piano a little.”
“Nevertheless I think it is my duty to see that you are properly instructed in at least the rudiments of music. You sew, of course.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Pollya
“I shall teach you sewing myself, of course. You do not know how to cook, I presume.”
Pollya
“They were just begi
19
she will have to suffer the consequences – ей придется смириться с обстоятельствами
20
that blessed child’s gone – это чудесное дитя пропало
21
what a scare you did give me – как же вы меня напугали
22
Yes; the ‘just being glad’ game. – Да, игра заключается в том, чтобы всегда радоваться, быть довольной.
23
You mustn’t count too much – Ты не должна на меня серьезно рассчитывать
24
I’m very sorry, Pollya
25
gave her an affectionate hug – ласково обняла
26
If only I was near Nancy or Aunt Polly, or even a Ladies’ Aider, it would be easier! – Если бы только рядом была Нэнси, тетя Полли или кто-то из «Женской помощи», мне было бы легче радоваться.
27
I am glad this morning just to be alive! – Этим утром я так рада, что живу!
28
You have been to school, of course, Pollya
29
Have you studied music? – Ты занималась музыкой?
30
They were just begi