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?[28]”
“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?[29]”
“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.[30]”
“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.