Dear Tom, he began. Miss Della Wetherby has asked me to give her and her sister a character, which I am very glad to do. I have known the Wetherby girls from babyhood. They come from a fine old family, and are thoroughbred gentlewomen. You need not fear on that score.
There were three sisters, Doris, Ruth, and Della. Doris married a man named John Kent, much against the familys wishes. Kent came from good stock[10], but was not much himself, I guess, and was certainly a very eccentric, disagreeable man to deal with. He was bitterly angry at the Wetherbys attitude toward him, and there was little communication between the families until the baby came. The Wetherbys worshiped the little boy, James Jamie, as they called him. Doris, the mother, died when the boy was four years old, and the Wetherbys were making every effort to get the father to give the child entirely up to them, when suddenly Kent disappeared, taking the boy with him. He has never been heard from since[11], though a world-wide search has been made.
The loss practically killed old Mr. and Mrs. Wetherby. They both died soon after. Ruth was already married and widowed. Her husband was a man named Carew, very wealthy, and much older than herself. He lived but a year or so after marriage, and left her with a young son who also died within a year.
From the time little Jamie disappeared, Ruth and Della seemed to have but one object in life, and that was to find him. They have spent money like water[12], and have all but moved heaven and earth; but without avail. In time Della took up nursing. She is doing splendid work, and has become the cheerful, efficient, sane woman that she was meant to be though still never forgetting her lost nephew, and never leaving unfollowed any possible clew that might lead to his discovery.
But with Mrs. Carew it is quite different. After losing her own boy, she seemed to concentrate all her thwarted mother-love on her sisters son. As you can imagine, she was frantic when he disappeared. That was eight years ago for her, eight long years of misery, gloom, and bitterness. Everything that money can buy, of course, is at her command; but nothing pleases her, nothing interests her. Della feels that the time has come when she must be gotten out of herself, at all hazards; and Della believes that your wifes sunny little niece, Pollyanna, possesses the magic key that will unlock the door to a new existence for her. Such being the case[13], I hope you will see your way clear to granting her request. And may I add that I, too, personally, would appreciate the favor; for Ruth Carew and her sister are very old, dear friends of my wife and myself; and what touches them touches us.
As ever yours,
The letter finished, there was a long silence, so long a silence that the doctor uttered a quiet, Well, Polly?
Still there was silence. The doctor, watching his wifes face closely, saw that the usually firm lips and chin were trembling. He waited then quietly until his wife spoke.
How soon do you think theyll expect her? she asked at last.
In spite of himself Dr. Chilton gave a slight start.
You mean that you WILL let her go? he cried.
His wife turned indignantly.
Why, Thomas Chilton, what a question! Do you suppose, after a letter like that, I could do anything BUT let her go? Besides, didnt Dr. Ames HIMSELF ask us to? Do you think, after what that man has done for Pollyanna, that Id refuse him ANYTHING no matter what it was?
Dear, dear! I hope, now, that the doctor wont take it into his head to ask for for YOU, my love, murmured the husband-of-a-year, with a whimsical smile. But his wife only gave him a deservedly scornful glance, and said:
You may write Dr. Ames that well send Pollyanna; and ask him to tell Miss Wetherby to give us full instructions. It must be sometime before the tenth of next month, of course, for you sail then; and I want to see the child properly established myself before I leave, naturally.
When will you tell Pollyanna?
To-morrow, probably.
What will you tell her?
I dont know exactly; but not any more than I cant help, certainly. Whatever happens, Thomas, we dont want to spoil Pollyanna; and no child could help being spoiled if she once got it into her head that she was a sort of of
Of medicine bottle with a label of full instructions for taking? interpolated the doctor, with a smile.
Yes, sighed Mrs. Chilton. Its her unconsciousness that saves the whole thing[14]. YOU know that, dear.
Yes, I know, nodded the man.
She knows, of course, that you and I, and half the town are playing the game with her, and that we we are wonderfully happier because we ARE playing it. Mrs. Chiltons voice shook a little, then went on more steadily. But if, consciously, she should begin to be anything but her own natural, sunny, happy little self, playing the game that her father taught her, she would be just what that nurse said she sounded like impossible. So, whatever I tell her, I shant tell her that shes going down to Mrs. Carews to cheer her up, concluded Mrs. Chilton, rising to her feet with decision, and putting away her work.