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           Thedoctor’seyesfilledwithsuddenhottears. Thedoctor’slifewasasingularlylonelyone. Hehadnowifeandnohomesavehistwo-roomofficeinaboardinghouse. Hisprofessionwasverydeartohim. LookingnowintoPollyanna’sshiningeyes,hefeltasifalovinghandhadbeensuddenlylaidonhisheadinblessing. Heknew,too,thatneveragainwouldalongday’sworkoralongnight’swearinessbequitewithoutthatnew-foundexaltationthathadcometohimthroughPollyanna’seyes. 

           "Godblessyou,littlegirl,"hesaidunsteadily. Then,withthebrightsmilehispatientsknewandlovedsowell,headded:"AndI’mthinking,afterall,thatitwasthedoctor,quiteasmuchashispatients,thatneededadraftofthattonic!" AllofwhichpuzzledPollyannaverymuch—untilachipmunk,runningacrosstheroad,drovethewholematterfromhermind. 

           ThedoctorleftPollyannaatherowndoor,smiledatNancy,whowassweepingoffthefrontporch,thendroverapidlyaway. 

           "I’vehadaperfectlybeautifulridewiththedoctor,"announcedPollyanna,boundingupthesteps. "He’slovely,Nancy!" 

           "Ishe?" 

           "Yes. AndItoldhimIshouldthinkhisbusinesswouldbetheverygladdestonetherewas." 

           "What!—goin’terseesickfolks—an’folkswhatain’tsickbutthinkstheyis,whichisworse?"Nancy’sfaceshowedopenskepticism. 

           Pollyannalaughedgleefully. 

           "Yes. That’s‘mostwhathesaid,too; butthereisawaytobeglad,eventhen. Guess!" 

           Nancyfrownedinmeditation. Nancywasgettingsoshecouldplaythisgameof"beingglad"quitesuccessfully,shethought. SheratherenjoyedstudyingoutPollyanna’s"posers,"too,asshecalledsomeofthelittlegirl’squestions. 

           "Oh,Iknow,"shechuckled. "It’sjusttheoppositefromwhatyoutoldMis’Snow." 

           "Opposite?"repeatedPollyanna,obviouslypuzzled. "Yes. Youtoldhershecouldbegladbecauseotherfolkswasn’tlikeher—allsick,youknow."