Two visits

           ItwasNancywhowassenttotellMr.JohnPendletonofDr.Mead’sverdict. MissPollyhadrememberedherpromisetolethimhavedirectinformationfromthehouse. Togoherself,ortowritealetter,shefelttobealmostequallyoutofthequestion. ItoccurredtoherthentosendNancy. 

           TherehadbeenatimewhenNancywouldhaverejoicedgreatlyatthisextraordinaryopportunitytoseesomethingoftheHouseofMysteryanditsmaster. Butto-dayherheartwastooheavyto,rejoiceatanything. Shescarcelyevenlookedaboutheratall,indeed,duringthefewminutes,shewaitedforMr.JohnPendletontoappear. 

           "I’mNancy,sir,"shesaidrespectfully,inresponsetothesurprisedquestioningofhiseyes,whenhecameintotheroom. "MissHarringtonsentmetotellyouabout—MissPollyanna." 

           "Well?" 

           Inspiteofthecurttersenessoftheword,Nancyquiteunderstoodtheanxietythatlaybehindthatshort"well?" 

           "Itain’twell,Mr.Pendleton,"shechoked. 

           "Youdon’tmean—" Hepaused,andshebowedherheadmiserably. 

           "Yes,sir. Hesays—shecan’twalkagain—never." 

           Foramomenttherewasabsolutesilenceintheroom; thenthemanspoke,inavoiceshakenwithemotion. 

           "Poor—little—girl! Poor—little—girl!" 

           Nancyglancedathim,butdroppedhereyesatonce. Shehadnotsupposedthatsour,cross,sternJohnPendletoncouldlooklikethat. Inamomenthespokeagain,stillinthelow,unsteadyvoice. "Itseemscruel—nevertodanceinthesunshineagain!Mylittleprismgirl!"