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Chapter VI. A Question of Duty
It was nearly seven o’clock when Pollyanna awoke that first day after her arrival. Her windows faced the south and the west, so she could not see the sun yet; but she could see the morning sky, and she knew that the day promised to be a fair one.
Pollyanna ran to the garden where she saw Aunt Polly with an old man.
“Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, I am glad this morning just to be alive!”
“PollyANNA!” said Aunt Polly, “is this the usual way you say good morning?”
“I saw you from my window and I decided to hug you!”
The old man turned his back suddenly.
“Do you always work in the garden, Mister?” asked Pollyanna.
The man turned. His eyes were filled with tears.
“Yes, Miss. I’m Old Tom, the gardener,” he answered. “You are so like your mother, little Miss! I used to know her when she was a young girl. You see, I used to work in the garden – then.”
“You did? And you knew my mother, really? Oh, please tell me about her!”
A bell sounded from the house. The next moment Nancy appeared.
“Miss Pollyanna, that bell means breakfast,” she said, pulling the little girl to her feet and hurrying her back to the house; “and other times it means other meals. But it always means that you must run when you hear it, no matter where you are.” she finished, shooing Pollyanna into the house.
Half an hour after breakfast Miss Polly entered Pollyanna’s room.
“Pollyanna, you may bring out your clothes now, and I will look them over. What are not suitable for you I shall give to the Sullivans, of course.”
Pollyanna dived into her closet then, hurriedly, and brought out all the poor little dresses in both her arms.
With the tips of her fingers Miss Polly turned over the garments, so obviously made for anybody but Pollyanna.
Aunt Polly turned to Pollyanna abruptly.
“You have been to school, of course, Pollyanna?”
“Oh, yes, Aunt Polly. Besides, I was taught at home, too.”
Miss Polly frowned.
“Very good. In autumn you will enter school here, of course. Mr. Hall, will doubtless settle in which grade you belong.”
“I love to read; but if you don’t want to hear me I will be glad to read to myself, Aunt Polly.”
“I don’t doubt it,” rejoined Miss Polly. “Have you studied music?”
“Not much. I don’t like my music. Though I learned to play the piano a little.”
“Nevertheless I think it is my duty to see that you are properly instructed in at least the rudiments of music. You sew, of course.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Pollyanna sighed. “The Ladies’ Aid taught me that.”
“I shall teach you sewing myself, of course. You do not know how to cook, I presume.”
Pollyanna laughed suddenly.
“They were just beginning to teach me that this summer, but I hadn’t got far.”
“At nine o’clock every morning you will read aloud one half-hour to me. Before that you will use the time to put this room in order. Wednesday and Saturday, after half-past nine, you will spend with Nancy in the kitchen, learning to cook. Other mornings you will sew with me. That will leave the afternoons for your music,” she finished.
Pollyanna cried out in dismay.
“Oh, but Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, you haven’t left me any time at all just to – to live.”
“To live, child! What do you mean? As if you weren’t living all the time!”
“I mean living – doing the things you want to do: playing outdoors, reading to myself, climbing hills, talking to Mr. Tom in the garden, and Nancy. That’s what I call living, Aunt Polly. Just breathing isn’t living!”
“Pollyanna, you ARE the most extraordinary child! You will be allowed a proper amount of playtime, of course. Just be grateful.
Pollyanna looked shocked.
“Oh, Aunt Polly, as if I ever could be ungrateful to YOU! I LOVE YOU, you’re my aunt!”
“Very well; then don’t act ungrateful,” said Miss Polly and turned toward the door.
She had gone halfway down the stairs when a small, unsteady voice called after her:
“Please, Aunt Polly, you didn’t tell me which of my things you wanted to give away.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Pollyanna. Timothy will drive us into town at half past one this afternoon. Not one of your garments is fit for my niece to wear.”
