The coming of Pollyanna
InduetimecamethetelegramannouncingthatPollyannawouldarriveinBeldingsvillethenextday,thetwenty-fifthofJune,atfouro’clock. MissPollyreadthetelegram,frowned,thenclimbedthestairstotheatticroom. Shestillfrownedasshelookedabouther.
Theroomcontainedasmallbed,neatlymade,twostraight-backedchairs,awashstand,abureau—withoutanymirror—andasmalltable. Therewerenodraperycurtainsatthedormerwindows,nopicturesonthewall. Alldaythesunhadbeenpouringdownupontheroof,andthelittleroomwaslikeanovenforheat. Astherewerenoscreens,thewindowshadnotbeenraised. Abigflywasbuzzingangrilyatoneofthemnow,upanddown,upanddown,tryingtogetout.
MissPollykilledthefly,sweptitthroughthewindow(raisingthesashaninchforthepurpose),straightenedachair,frownedagain,andlefttheroom.
"Nancy,"shesaidafewminuteslater,atthekitchendoor,"Ifoundaflyup-stairsinMissPollyanna’sroom. Thewindowmusthavebeenraisedatsometime. Ihaveorderedscreens,butuntiltheycomeIshallexpectyoutoseethatthewindowsremainclosed. Myniecewillarriveto-morrowatfouro’clock. Idesireyoutomeetheratthestation. Timothywilltaketheopenbuggyanddriveyouover. Thetelegramsays‘lighthair,red-checkedginghamdress,andstrawhat. ’ThatisallIknow,butIthinkitissufficientforyourpurpose."
"Yes,ma’am; but—you—"