“I couldn't, sir—truly,” faltered Pollyanna. “You see, I found out—without asking. Aunt Polly WANTS me with her, and—and I want to stay, too,” she confessed bravely. “You don't know how good she's been to me; and—and I think, really, sometimes she's beginning to be glad about things—lots of things. And you know she never used to be. You said it yourself. Oh, Mr. Pendleton, I COULDN'T leave Aunt Polly—now!”
There was a long pause. Only the snapping of the wood fire in the grate broke the silence. At last, however, the man spoke.
“No, Pollyanna; I see. You couldn't leave her—now,” he said. “I won't ask you—again.” The last word was so low it was almost inaudible; but Pollyanna heard.
“Oh, but you don't know about the rest of it,” she reminded him eagerly. “There's the very gladdest thing you CAN do—truly there is!”
“Not for me, Pollyanna.”
“Yes, sir, for you. You SAID it. You said only a—a woman's hand and heart or a child's presence could make a home. And I can get it for you—a child's presence;—not me, you know, but another one.”
“As if I would have any but you!” resented an indignant voice.
“But you will—when you know; you're so kind and good! Why, think of the prisms and the gold pieces, and all that money you save for the heathen, and—”
“Pollyanna!” interrupted the man, savagely. “Once for all let us end that nonsense! I've tried to tell you half a dozen times before. There is no money for the heathen. I never sent a penny to them in my life. There!”
He lifted his chin and braced himself to meet what he expected—the grieved disappointment of Pollyanna's eyes. To his amazement, however, there was neither grief nor disappointment in Pollyanna's eyes. There was only surprised joy.