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           Iknew‘twasgoingtobepretty; fathertoldme—"Shestoppedwithalittlechokingbreath. Nancy,lookingatherapprehensively,sawthathersmallchinwasquivering,andthathereyeswerefulloftears. Inamoment,however,shehurriedon,withabraveliftingofherhead. 

           "Fathertoldmeallaboutit. Heremembered. And—andIoughttohaveexplainedbefore. Mrs.Graytoldmeto,atonce—aboutthisredginghamdress,youknow,andwhyI’mnotinblack. Shesaidyou’dthink‘twasqueer. Butthereweren’tanyblackthingsinthelastmissionarybarrel,onlyalady’svelvetbasquewhichDeaconCarr’swifesaidwasn’tsuitableformeatall; besides,ithadwhitespots—worn,youknow—onbothelbows,andsomeotherplaces. PartoftheLadies’Aidwantedtobuymeablackdressandhat,buttheotherpartthoughtthemoneyoughttogotowardtheredcarpetthey’retryingtoget—forthechurch,youknow. Mrs.Whitesaidmaybeitwasjustaswell,anyway,forshedidn’tlikechildreninblack—thatis,Imean,shelikedthechildren,ofcourse,butnottheblackpart." 

           Pollyannapausedforbreath,andNancymanagedtostammer: 

           "Well,I’msureit—it’llbeallright." 

           "I’mgladyoufeelthatway. Ido,too,"noddedPollyanna,againwiththatchokinglittlebreath. "Ofcourse,‘twouldhavebeenagooddealhardertobegladinblack—" 

           "Glad!"gaspedNancy,surprisedintoaninterruption. 

           "Yes—thatfather’sgonetoHeaventobewithmotherandtherestofus,youknow. HesaidImustbeglad.