sleeping in that room at all, I'm
sure," panted Pollyanna, finding suddenly that she needed the rest of
her breath for purposes other than talking.

"Gorry!" exclaimed Jimmy Bean tersely and uncomprehendingly, but
admiringly. Then he added: "I shouldn't think anybody who could talk
like that, runnin', would need ter ask no questions ter fill up time
with!"

Pollyanna laughed.

"Well, anyhow, you can be glad of that," she retorted; "for when I'm
talking, YOU don't have to!"

When the house was reached, Pollyanna unhesitatingly piloted her
companion straight into the presence of her amazed aunt.

"Oh, Aunt Polly," she triumphed, "just look a-here! I've got something
ever so much nicer, even, than Fluffy and Buffy for you to bring up.
It's a real live boy. He won't mind a bit sleeping in the attic, at
first, you know, and he says he'll work; but I shall need him the most
of the time to play with, I reckon."

Miss Polly grew white, then very red. She did not quite understand; but
she thought she understood enough.

"Pollyanna, what does this mean? Who is this dirty little boy? Where did
you find him?" she demanded sharply.

The "dirty little boy" fell back a step and looked toward the door.
Pollyanna laughed merrily.

"There, if I didn't forget to tell you his name! I'm as bad as the Man.
And he is dirty, too, isn't he?--I mean, the boy is--just like Fluffy
and Buffy were when you took them in. But I reckon he'll improve all
right by washing, just as they did, and--Oh, I 'most forgot again," she
broke off with a laugh. "This is Jimmy Bean, Aunt Polly."

"Well, what is he doing here?"

"Why, Aunt Polly, I just told you!" Pollyanna's eyes were wide with
surprise. "He's for you. I brought him home--so he could live here, you
know. He wants a home and folks. I told him how good you were to me,
and to Fluffy and Buffy, and that I knew you would be to him, because of
course he's even nicer than cats and dogs."

Miss Polly dropped back in her chair and raised a shaking hand to her
throat. The old helplessness was threatening once more to overcome her.
With a visible struggle, however, Miss Polly pulled herself suddenly
erect.

"That will do, Pollyanna. This is a little the most absurd thing you've
done yet. As if tramp cats and mangy dogs weren't bad enough but you
must needs bring home ragged little beggars from the street, who--"

There was a sudden stir from the boy. His eyes flashed and his chin came
up. W