Поллианна
Two visits
"IhaveamessageforPollyanna,"hesaid. "Willyoutellher,please,thatIhaveseenJimmyBeanand—thathe’sgoingtobemyboyhereafter. TellherIthoughtshewouldbe—GLADtoknow. Ishalladopthim,probably."
ForabriefmomentMissPollylostherusualwell-bredself-control.
"YouwilladoptJimmyBean!"shegasped.
Themanliftedhischinalittle.
"Yes. IthinkPollyannawillunderstand. YouwilltellherIthoughtshewouldbe—GLAD!"
"Why,of—ofcourse,"falteredMissPolly.
"Thankyou,"bowedJohnPendleton,asheturnedtogo.
InthemiddleofthefloorMissPollystood,silentandamazed,stilllookingafterthemanwhohadjustlefther. Evenyetshecouldscarcelybelievewhatherearshadheard. JohnPendletonADOPTJimmyBean? JohnPendleton,wealthy,independent,morose,reputedtobemiserlyandsupremelyselfish,toadoptalittleboy—andsuchalittleboy?
WithasomewhatdazedfaceMissPollywentup-stairstoPollyanna’sroom.
"Pollyanna,IhaveamessageforyoufromMr.JohnPendleton. Hehasjustbeenhere. HesaystotellyouhehastakenJimmyBeanforhislittleboy. Hesaidhethoughtyou’dbegladtoknowit."
