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The Game and its players
"Oh,ev’rybody,‘most,knowsitnow,Iguess. Anyhow,IshouldthinktheydidfromthewayI’mhearin’ofitev’rywhereIgo. Ofcourseshetoldalot,andtheytoldtherest. Themthingsgo,yeknow,whentheygetsstarted. An’shewasalwayssosmilin’an’pleasantterev’ryone,an’so—sojestgladherselfallthetime,thattheycouldn’thelpknowin’it,anyhow. Now,sinceshe’shurt,ev’rybodyfeelssobad—speciallywhentheyheardhowbadSHEfeels‘causeshecan’tfindanythin’terbegladabout. An’sothey’vebeencomin’ev’rydaytertellherhowgladshe’smadeTHEM,hopin’that’llhelpsome. Yesee,she’salwayswantedev’rybodyterplaythegamewithher."
"Well,Iknowsomebodywho’llplayit—now,"chokedMissPolly,assheturnedandspedthroughthekitchendoorway.
Behindher,Nancystoodstaringamazedly.
"Well,I’llbelieveanythin’—anythin’now,"shemutteredtoherself. "Yecan’tstumpmewithanythin’Iwouldn’tbelieve,now—o’MissPolly!"
Alittlelater,inPollyanna’sroom,thenurseleftMissPollyandPollyannaalonetogether.
"Andyou’vehadstillanothercallerto-day,mydear,"announcedMissPolly,inavoiceshevainlytriedtosteady. "DoyourememberMrs.Payson?"
"Mrs.Payson? Why,IreckonIdo! ShelivesonthewaytoMr.Pendleton’s,andshe’sgottheprettiestlittlegirlbabythreeyearsold,andaboy‘mostfive. She’sawfullynice,andso’sherhusband—onlytheydon’tseemtoknowhowniceeachotheris. Sometimestheyfight—Imean,theydon’tquiteagree. They’repoor,too,theysay,andofcoursetheydon’teverhavebarrels,‘causeheisn’tamissionaryminister,youknow,like—well,heisn’t."