wonder, perhaps: it was not for "giving
things" that John Pendleton had been best known in the past. "That's all
nonsense. 'Twasn't much, anyhow--but what there was, was because of you.
YOU gave those things; not I! Yes, you did," he repeated, in answer to
the shocked denial in her face. "And that only goes to prove all the
more how I need you, little girl," he added, his voice softening into
tender pleading once more. "If ever, ever I am to play the 'glad game,'
Pollyanna, you'll have to come and play it with me."

The little girl's forehead puckered into a wistful frown.

"Aunt Polly has been so good to me," she began; but the man interrupted
her sharply. The old irritability had come back to his face. Impatience
which would brook no opposition had been a part of John Pendleton's
nature too long to yield very easily now to restraint.

"Of course she's been good to you! But she doesn't want you, I'll
warrant, half so much as I do," he contested.

"Why, Mr. Pendleton, she's glad, I know, to have--"

"Glad!" interrupted the man, thoroughly losing his patience now. "I'll
wager Miss Polly doesn't know how to be glad--for anything! Oh, she does
her duty, I know. She's a very DUTIFUL woman. I've had experience with
her 'duty,' before. I'll acknowledge we haven't been the best of friends
for the last fifteen or twenty years. But I know her. Every one knows
her--and she isn't the 'glad' kind, Pollyanna. She doesn't know how to
be. As for your coming to me--you just ask her and see if she won't let
you come. And, oh, little girl, little girl, I want you so!" he finished
brokenly.

Pollyanna rose to her feet with a long sigh.

"All right. I'll ask her," she said wistfully. "Of course I don't mean
that I wouldn't like to live here with you, Mr. Pendleton, but--" She
did not complete her sentence. There was a moment's silence, then she
added: "Well, anyhow, I'm glad I didn't tell her yesterday;--'cause then
I supposed SHE was wanted, too."

John Pendleton smiled grimly.

"Well, yes, Pollyanna; I guess it is just as well you didn't mention
it--yesterday."

"I didn't--only to the doctor; and of course he doesn't count."

"The doctor!" cried John Pendleton, turning quickly.
"Not--Dr.--Chilton?"

"Yes; when he came to tell me you wanted to see me to-day, you know."

"Well, of all the--" muttered the man, falling back in his chair. Then
he sat up with sudden interest. "And what did Dr. Chilton say?" he
asked.

Pollyan