CHAPTER XXX. JIMMY TAKES THE HELM
"It's Jimmy Bean. He wants ter see ye, ma'am," announced Nancy in thedoorway.
"Me?" rejoined Miss Polly, plainly surprised. "Are you sure he did notmean Miss Pollyanna? He may see her a few minutes to-day, if he likes."
"Yes'm. I told him. But he said it was you he wanted."
"Very well, I'll come down." And Miss Polly arose from her chair alittle wearily.
In the sitting room she found waiting for her a round-eyed,flushed-faced boy, who began to speak at once.
"Ma'am, I s'pose it's dreadful--what I'm doin', an' what I'm sayin';but I can't help it. It's for Pollyanna, and I'd walk over hot coals forher, or face you, or--or anythin' like that, any time. An' I think youwould, too, if you thought there was a chance for her ter walk again.An' so that's why I come ter tell ye that as long as it's only pride an'et--et-somethin' that's keepin' Pollyanna from walkin', why I knew youWOULD ask Dr. Chilton here if you understood--"
"Wh-at?" interrupted Miss Polly, the look of stupefaction on her facechanging to one of angry indignation.
Jimmy sighed despairingly.
"There, I didn't mean ter make ye mad. That's why I begun by tellin' yeabout her walkin' again. I thought you'd listen ter that."
"Jimmy, what are you talking about?"
Jimmy sighed again.
"That's what I'm tryin' ter tell ye."
"Well, then tell me. But begin at the beginning, and be sure Iunderstand each thing as you go. Don't plunge into the middle of it asyou did before--and mix everything all up!"
Jimmy wet his lips determinedly.
"Well, ter begin with, Dr. Chilton come ter see Mr. Pendleton, an' theytalked in the library. Do you understand that?"
"Yes, Jimmy." Miss Polly's voice was rather faint.
"Well, the window was open, and I was weedin' the flower-bed under it;an' I heard 'em talk."
"Oh, Jimmy! LISTENING?"
"'Twa'n't about me, an' 'twa'n't sneak listenin'," bridled Jimmy."And I'm glad I listened. You will be when I tell ye. Why, it may makePollyanna--walk!"
"Jimmy, what do you mean?" Miss Polly was leaning forward eagerly.
"There, I told ye so," nodded Jimmy, contentedly. "Well, Dr. Chiltonknows some doctor somewhere that can cure Pollyanna, he thinks--make herwalk, ye know; but he can't tell sure till he SEES her. And he wants tersee her somethin' awful, but he told Mr. Pendleton that you wouldn't lethim."
Miss Polly's face turned very red.
"But, Jimmy, I--I can't--I couldn't! That is, I didn't know!" Miss Pollywas twisting her fingers together helplessly.
"Yes, an' that's what I come ter tell ye, so you WOULD know," assertedJimmy, eagerly. "They said that for some reason--I didn't rightly catchwhat--you wouldn't let Dr. Chilton come, an' you told Dr. Warren so; an'Dr. Chilton couldn't come himself, without you asked him, on account ofpride an' professional et--et--well, et-somethin anyway. An' they waswishin' somebody could make you understand, only they didn't know whocould; an' I was outside the winder, an' I says ter myself right away,'By Jinks, I'll do it!' An' I come--an' have I made ye understand?"
"Yes; but, Jimmy, about that doctor," implored Miss Polly, feverishly."Who was he? What did he do? Are they SURE he could make Pollyannawalk?"
"I don't know who he was. They didn't say. Dr. Chilton knows him, an'he's just cured somebody just like her, Dr. Chilton thinks. Anyhow,they didn't seem ter be doin' no worryin' about HIM. 'Twas YOU theywas worryin' about, 'cause you wouldn't let Dr. Chilton see her. An'say--you will let him come, won't you?--now you understand?"
Miss Polly turned her head from side to side. Her breath was comingin little uneven, rapid gasps. Jimmy, watching her with anxious eyes,thought she was going to cry. But she did not cry. After a minute shesaid brokenly:
"Yes--I'll let--Dr. Chilton--see her. Now run home, Jimmy--quick! I'vegot to speak to Dr. Warren. He's up-stairs now. I saw him drive in a fewminutes ago."
A little later Dr. Warren was surprised to meet an agitated,flushed-faced Miss Polly in the hall. He was still more surprised tohear the lady say, a little breathlessly:
"Dr. Warren, you asked me once to allow Dr. Chilton to be called inconsultation, and--I refused. Since then I have reconsidered. I verymuch desire that you SHOULD call in Dr. Chilton. Will you not ask him atonce--please? Thank you."