Lovingly but distractedly yours,
Hasnt preached yet, indeed! chuckled Della Wetherby to herself, folding up the closely-written sheets of her sisters letter. Oh, Ruth, Ruth! and yet you admit that youve opened every room, raised every shade, decked yourself in satin and jewels and Pollyanna hasnt been there a week yet. But she hasnt preached oh, no, she hasnt preached!
Chapter IV
The Game and MRS. Carew
Boston, to Pollyanna, was a new experience, and certainly Pollyanna, to Boston such part of it as was privileged to know her was very much of a new experience.
Pollyanna said she liked Boston, but that she did wish it was not quite so big.
You see, she explained earnestly to Mrs. Carew, the day following her arrival, I want to see and know it ALL, and I cant. Its just like Aunt Pollys company dinners; theres so much to eat I mean, to see that you dont eat I mean, see anything, because youre always trying to decide what to eat I mean, to see.
Of course you can be glad there IS such a lot, resumed Pollyanna, after taking breath, cause a whole lot of anything is nice that is, GOOD things; not such things as medicine and funerals, of course! but at the same time I couldnt used to help wishing Aunt Pollys company dinners could be spread out a little over the days when there wasnt any cake and pie; and I feel the same way about Boston. I wish I could take part of it home with me up to Beldingsville so Id have SOMETHING new next summer. But of course I cant. Cities arent like frosted cake and, anyhow, even the cake didnt keep very well. I tried it, and it dried up, specially the frosting. I reckon the time to take frosting and good times is while they are going; so I want to see all I can now while Im here.
Pollyanna, unlike the people who think that to see the world one must begin at the most distant point, began her seeing Boston by a thorough exploration of her immediate surroundings[21] the beautiful Commonwealth Avenue residence which was now her home. This, with her school work, fully occupied her time and attention for some days.
There was so much to see, and so much to learn; and everything was so marvelous and so beautiful, from the tiny buttons in the wall that flooded the rooms with light, to the great silent ballroom hung with mirrors and pictures. There were so many delightful people to know, too, for besides Mrs. Carew herself there were Mary, who dusted the drawing-rooms, answered the bell, and accompanied Pollyanna to and from school each day; Bridget, who lived in the kitchen and cooked; Jennie, who waited at table, and Perkins who drove the automobile. And they were all so delightful yet so different!
Pollyanna had arrived on a Monday, so it was almost a week before the first Sunday. She came downstairs that morning with a beaming countenance.
I love Sundays, she sighed happily.
Do you? Mrs. Carews voice had the weariness of one who loves no day.
Yes, on account of church, you know, and Sunday school. Which do you like best, church, or Sunday school?
Well, really, I began Mrs. Carew, who seldom went to church and never went to Sunday school.
tis hard to tell, isnt it? interposed Pollyanna, with luminous but serious eyes. But you see I like church best, on account of father. You know he was a minister, and of course hes really up in Heaven with mother and the rest of us, but I try to imagine him down here, lots of times; and its easiest in church, when the minister is talking. I shut my eyes and imagine its father up there; and it helps lots. Im so glad we can imagine things, arent you?
Im not so sure of that, Pollyanna.
Oh, but just think how much nicer our IMAGINED things are than our really truly ones that is, of course, yours arent, because your REAL ones are so nice. Mrs. Carew angrily started to speak, but Pollyanna was hurrying on. And of course MY real ones are ever so much nicer than they used to be. But all that time I was hurt, when my legs didnt go, I just had to keep imagining all the time, just as hard as I could. And of course now there are lots of times when I do it like about father, and all that. And so to-day Im just going to imagine its father up there in the pulpit. What time do we go?
GO?
To church, I mean.
But, Pollyanna, I dont that is, Id rather not Mrs. Carew cleared her throat and tried again to say that she was not going to church at all; that she almost never went. But with Pollyannas confident little face and happy eyes before her, she could not do it.
Why, I suppose about quarter past ten if we walk, she said then, almost crossly. Its only a little way.[22]
Thus it happened that Mrs. Carew on that bright September morning occupied for the first time in months the Carew pew in the very fashionable and elegant church to which she had gone as a girl, and which she still supported liberally so far as money went.
To Pollyanna that Sunday morning service was a great wonder and joy. The marvelous music of the vested choir, the opalescent rays from the jeweled windows, the impassioned voice of the preacher, and the reverent hush of the worshiping throng filled her with an ecstasy that left her for a time almost speechless. Not until they were nearly home did she fervently breathe: