“Oh, yes,” cried Pollyanna. “I've thought of the very gladdest kind of a thing for you to do, and—”

“With—YOU?” asked John Pendleton, his mouth growing a little stern at the corners.

“N-no; but—”

“Pollyanna, you aren't going to say no!” interrupted a voice deep with emotion.

“I—I've got to, Mr. Pendleton; truly I have. Aunt Polly—”

“Did she REFUSE—to let you—come?”

“I—I didn't ask her,” stammered the little girl, miserably.

“Pollyanna!”

Pollyanna turned away her eyes. She could not meet the hurt, grieved gaze of her friend.

“So you didn't even ask her!”