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Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter, Chapter 6. A Question Of Duty

Chapter 6. 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 hazy blue of the morning sky, and she knew that the day promised to be a fair one.

The little room was cooler now, and the air blew in fresh and sweet. Outside, the birds were twittering joyously, and Pollyanna flew to the window to talk to them. She saw then that down in the garden her aunt was already out among the rosebushes. With rapid fingers, therefore, she made herself ready to join her.

Down the attic stairs sped Pollyanna, leaving both doors wide open. Through the hall, down the next flight, then bang through the front screened-door and around to the garden, she ran.

Aunt Polly, with the bent old man, was leaning over a rose-bush when Pollyanna, gurgling with delight, flung herself upon her.

"Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, I reckon I am glad this morning just to be alive!" "Polly anna! " remonstrated the lady, sternly, pulling herself as erect as she could with a dragging weight of ninety pounds hanging about her neck. "Is this the usual way you say good morning?" The little girl dropped to her toes, and danced lightly up and down.

"No, only when I love folks so I just can't help it! I saw you from my window, Aunt Polly, and I got to thinking how you weren't a Ladies' Aider, and you were my really truly aunt; and you looked so good I just had to come down and hug you!" The bent old man turned his back suddenly. Miss Polly attempted a frown--with not her usual success.

"Pollyanna, you--I--Thomas, that will do for this morning. I think you understand--about those rose-bushes," she said stiffly. Then she turned and walked rapidly away.

"Do you always work in the garden, Mr.--Man?" asked Pollyanna, interestedly.

The man turned. His lips were twitching, but his eyes looked blurred as if with tears.

"Yes, Miss. I'm Old Tom, the gardener," he answered. Timidly, but as if impelled by an irresistible force, he reached out a shaking hand and let it rest for a moment on her bright hair. "You are so like your mother, little Miss! I used ter know her when she was even littler than you be. You see, I used ter work in the garden--then." Pollyanna caught her breath audibly.

"You did? And you knew my mother, really--when she was just a little earth angel, and not a Heaven one? Oh, please tell me about her!" And down plumped Pollyanna in the middle of the dirt path by the old man's side. A bell sounded from the house. The next moment Nancy was seen flying out the back door.

"Miss Pollyanna, that bell means breakfast--mornin's," she panted, 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're ter run like time when ye hear it, no matter where ye be. If ye don't--well, it'll take somethin' smarter'n we be ter find anythin' ter be glad about in that!" she finished, shooing Pollyanna into the house as she would shoo an unruly chicken into a coop.

Breakfast, for the first five minutes, was a silent meal; then Miss Polly, her disapproving eyes following the airy wings of two flies darting here and there over the table, said sternly:

"Nancy, where did those flies come from?" "I don't know, ma'am. There wasn't one in the kitchen." Nancy had been too excited to notice Pollyanna's up-flung windows the afternoon before. "I reckon maybe they're my flies, Aunt Polly," observed Pollyanna, amiably. "There were lots of them this morning having a beautiful time upstairs." Nancy left the room precipitately, though to do so she had to carry out the hot muffins she had just brought in.

"Yours!" gasped Miss Polly. "What do you mean? Where did they come from?" "Why, Aunt Polly, they came from out of doors of course, through the windows. I saw some of them come in." "You saw them! You mean you raised those windows without any screens?" "Why, yes. There weren't any screens there, Aunt Polly." Nancy, at this moment, came in again with the muffins. Her face was grave, but very red.

"Nancy," directed her mistress, sharply, "you may set the muffins down and go at once to Miss Pollyanna's room and shut the windows. Shut the doors, also. Later, when your morning work is done, go through every room with the spatter. See that you make a thorough search." To her niece she said:

"Pollyanna, I have ordered screens for those windows. I knew, of course, that it was my duty to do that. But it seems to me that you have quite forgotten your duty." "My--duty?" Pollyanna's eyes were wide with wonder. "Certainly. I know it is warm, but I consider it your duty to keep your windows closed till those screens come. Flies, Pollyanna, are not only unclean and annoying, but very dangerous to health. After breakfast I will give you a little pamphlet on this matter to read." "To read? Oh, thank you, Aunt Polly. I love to read!" Miss Polly drew in her breath audibly, then she shut her lips together hard. Pollyanna, seeing her stern face, frowned a little thoughtfully.

"Of course I'm sorry about the duty I forgot, Aunt Polly," she apologized timidly. "I won't raise the windows again." Her aunt made no reply. She did not speak, indeed, until the meal was over. Then she rose, went to the bookcase in the sitting room, took out a small paper booklet, and crossed the room to her niece's side. "This is the article I spoke of, Pollyanna. I desire you to go to your room at once and read it. I will be up in half an hour to look over your things." Pollyanna, her eyes on the illustration of a fly's head, many times magnified, cried joyously: "Oh, thank you, Aunt Polly!" The next moment she skipped merrily from the room, banging the door behind her.

Miss Polly frowned, hesitated, then crossed the room majestically and opened the door; but Pollyanna was already out of sight, clattering up the attic stairs.

Half an hour later when Miss Polly, her face expressing stern duty in every line, climbed those stairs and entered Pollyanna's room, she was greeted with a burst of eager enthusiasm. "Oh, Aunt Polly, I never saw anything so perfectly lovely and interesting in my life. I'm so glad you gave me that book to read! Why, I didn't suppose flies could carry such a lot of things on their feet, and--" "That will do," observed Aunt Polly, with dignity. "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." With visible reluctance Pollyanna laid down the pamphlet and turned toward the closet.

"I'm afraid you'll think they're worse than the Ladies' Aid did--and they said they were shameful," she sighed. "But there were mostly things for boys and older folks in the last two or three barrels; and--did you ever have a missionary barrel, Aunt Polly?" At her aunt's look of shocked anger, Pollyanna corrected herself at once. "Why, no, of course you didn't, Aunt Polly!" she hurried on, with a hot blush. "I forgot; rich folks never have to have them. But you see sometimes I kind of forget that you are rich--up here in this room, you know." Miss Polly's lips parted indignantly, but no words came. Pollyanna, plainly unaware that she had said anything in the least unpleasant, was hurrying on.

"Well, as I was going to say, you can't tell a thing about missionary barrels--except that you won't find in 'em what you think you're going to--even when you think you won't. It was the barrels every time, too, that were hardest to play the game on, for father and--" Just in time Pollyanna remembered that she was not to talk of her father to her aunt. She dived into her closet then, hurriedly, and brought out all the poor little dresses in both her arms.

"They aren't nice, at all," she choked, "and they'd been black if it hadn't been for the red carpet for the church; but they're all I've got." With the tips of her fingers Miss Polly turned over the conglomerate garments, so obviously made for anybody but Pollyanna. Next she bestowed frowning attention on the patched undergarments in the bureau drawers.

"I've got the best ones on," confessed Pollyanna, anxiously. "The Ladies' Aid bought me one set straight through all whole. Mrs. Jones--she's the president--told 'em I should have that if they had to clatter down bare aisles themselves the rest of their days. But they won't. Mr. White doesn't like the noise. He's got nerves, his wife says; but he's got money, too, and they expect he'll give a lot toward the carpet--on account of the nerves, you know. I should think he'd be glad that if he did have the nerves he'd got money, too; shouldn't you?" Miss Polly did not seem to hear. Her scrutiny of the undergarments finished, she turned to Pollyanna somewhat abruptly.

"You have been to school, of course, Pollyanna?" "Oh, yes, Aunt Polly. Besides, fath--I mean, I was taught at home some, too." Miss Polly frowned.

"Very good. In the fall you will enter school here, of course. Mr. Hall, the principal, will doubtless settle in which grade you belong. Meanwhile, I suppose I ought to hear you read aloud half an hour each day." "I love to read; but if you don't want to hear me I'd be just glad to read to myself--truly, Aunt Polly. And I wouldn't have to half try to be glad, either, for I like best to read to myself--on account of the big words, you know." "I don't doubt it," rejoined Miss Polly, grimly. "Have you studied music?" "Not much. I don't like my music--I like other people's, though. I learned to play on the piano a little. Miss Gray--she plays for church--she taught me. But I'd just as soon let that go as not, Aunt Polly. I'd rather, truly." "Very likely," observed Aunt Polly, with slightly uplifted eyebrows. "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. But I had an awful time. Mrs. Jones didn't believe in holding your needle like the rest of 'em did on buttonholing, and Mrs. White thought backstitching ought to be taught you before hemming (or else the other way), and Mrs. Harriman didn't believe in putting you on patchwork ever, at all." "Well, there will be no difficulty of that kind any longer, Pollyanna. 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. They were more divided up on that than they were on the sewing. They were going to begin on bread; but there wasn't two of 'em that made it alike, so after arguing it all one sewing-meeting, they decided to take turns at me one forenoon a week--in their own kitchens, you know. I'd only learned chocolate fudge and fig cake, though, when--when I had to stop." Her voice broke.

"Chocolate fudge and fig cake, indeed!" scorned Miss Polly. "I think we can remedy that very soon." She paused in thought for a minute, then went on slowly: "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 forenoons, 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. I shall, of course, procure a teacher at once for you," she finished decisively, as she arose from her chair. 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!" "Oh, of course I'd be breathing all the time I was doing those things, Aunt Polly, but I wouldn't be living. You breathe all the time you're asleep, but you aren't living. I mean living--doing the things you want to do: playing outdoors, reading (to myself, of course), climbing hills, talking to Mr. Tom in the garden, and Nancy, and finding out all about the houses and the people and everything everywhere all through the perfectly lovely streets I came through yesterday. That's what I call living, Aunt Polly. Just breathing isn't living!" Miss Polly lifted her head irritably.

"Pollyanna, you are the most extraordinary child! You will be allowed a proper amount of playtime, of course. But, surely, it seems to me if I am willing to do my duty in seeing that you have proper care and instruction, you ought to be willing to do yours by seeing that that care and instruction are not ungratefully wasted." Pollyanna looked shocked.

"Oh, Aunt Polly, as if I ever could be ungrateful--to you! Why, I love you --and you aren't even a Ladies' Aider; you're an aunt!" "Very well; then see that you don't act ungrateful," vouchsafed Miss Polly, as she 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--to give away." Aunt Polly emitted a tired sigh--a sigh that ascended straight to Pollyanna's ears. "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. Certainly I should be very far from doing my duty by you if I should let you appear out in any one of them." Pollyanna sighed now--she believed she was going to hate that word--duty.

"Aunt Polly, please," she called wistfully, "isn't there any way you can be glad about all that--duty business?" "What?" Miss Polly looked up in dazed surprise; then, suddenly, with very red cheeks, she turned and swept angrily down the stairs. "Don't be impertinent, Pollyanna!" In the hot little attic room Pollyanna dropped herself on to one of the straight-backed chairs. To her, existence loomed ahead one endless round of duty.

"I don't see, really, what there was impertinent about that," she sighed. "I was only asking her if she couldn't tell me something to be glad about in all that duty business." For several minutes Pollyanna sat in silence, her rueful eyes fixed on the forlorn heap of garments on the bed. Then, slowly, she rose and began to put away the dresses.

"There just isn't anything to be glad about, that I can see," she said aloud; "unless--it's to be glad when the duty's done!" Whereupon she laughed suddenly.

Chapter 6. A Question Of Duty Kapitel 6. Eine Frage der Pflicht Capítulo 6. Cuestión de deberes Chapitre 6. Une question de devoir Capítulo 6. Uma questão de dever 第6章 责任问题

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 hazy blue of the morning sky, and she knew that the day promised to be a fair one. Ее окна выходили на юг и запад, поэтому солнца еще не было видно, но она видела туманную синеву утреннего неба и знала, что день обещает быть светлым.

The little room was cooler now, and the air blew in fresh and sweet. Outside, the birds were twittering joyously, and Pollyanna flew to the window to talk to them. She saw then that down in the garden her aunt was already out among the rosebushes. Тут она увидела, что в саду среди кустов роз уже гуляет ее тетя. With rapid fingers, therefore, she made herself ready to join her.

Down the attic stairs sped Pollyanna, leaving both doors wide open. По чердачной лестнице спустилась Поллианна, оставив обе двери широко открытыми. Through the hall, down the next flight, then bang through the front screened-door and around to the garden, she ran. Через холл, по следующему лестничному пролету, затем через переднюю дверь с экранированной дверью и вокруг сада, она побежала.

Aunt Polly, with the bent old man, was leaning over a rose-bush when Pollyanna, gurgling with delight, flung herself upon her. Тетя Полли с согбенным стариком склонилась над розовым кустом, когда Поллианна, зарычав от восторга, бросилась к ней.

"Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, I reckon I am glad this morning just to be alive!" "Polly anna! " remonstrated the lady, sternly, pulling herself as erect as she could with a dragging weight of ninety pounds hanging about her neck. сурово возразила дама, выпрямляясь изо всех сил, когда на ее шее висела тяжесть в девяносто фунтов. "Is this the usual way you say good morning?" The little girl dropped to her toes, and danced lightly up and down.

"No, only when I love folks so I just can't help it! "Нет, только когда я люблю людей так, что просто не могу удержаться! I saw you from my window, Aunt Polly, and I got to thinking how you weren't a Ladies' Aider, and you were my really truly aunt; and you looked so good I just had to come down and hug you!" Я увидела тебя из окна, тетя Полли, и подумала, что ты не была дамской помощницей, а была моей настоящей тетей; и ты выглядела так хорошо, что я просто должна была спуститься и обнять тебя!". The bent old man turned his back suddenly. Согбенный старик внезапно отвернулся. Miss Polly attempted a frown--with not her usual success. Мисс Полли попыталась нахмуриться - не с обычным для нее успехом.

"Pollyanna, you--I--Thomas, that will do for this morning. "Поллианна, ты... я... Томас, на сегодня хватит. I think you understand--about those rose-bushes," she said stiffly. Я думаю, вы понимаете... насчет тех розовых кустов, - жестко сказала она. Then she turned and walked rapidly away.

"Do you always work in the garden, Mr.--Man?" asked Pollyanna, interestedly.

The man turned. His lips were twitching, but his eyes looked blurred as if with tears. Его губы подергивались, а глаза казались мутными, словно от слез.

"Yes, Miss. I'm Old Tom, the gardener," he answered. Timidly, but as if impelled by an irresistible force, he reached out a shaking hand and let it rest for a moment on her bright hair. Робко, но словно побуждаемый непреодолимой силой, он протянул дрожащую руку и позволил ей на мгновение задержаться на ее светлых волосах. "You are so like your mother, little Miss! I used ter know her when she was even littler than you be. You see, I used ter work in the garden--then." Pollyanna caught her breath audibly. У Поллианны перехватило дыхание.

"You did? And you knew my mother, really--when she was just a little earth angel, and not a Heaven one? Oh, please tell me about her!" And down plumped Pollyanna in the middle of the dirt path by the old man's side. И Поллианна плюхнулась посреди грунтовой дорожки рядом со стариком. A bell sounded from the house. В доме раздался звонок. The next moment Nancy was seen flying out the back door.

"Miss Pollyanna, that bell means breakfast--mornin's," she panted, pulling the little girl to her feet and hurrying her back to the house; "and other times it means other meals. "Мисс Поллианна, этот колокольчик означает завтрак - утро, - пыхтела она, поднимая девочку на ноги и торопя ее обратно в дом, - а в другое время он означает другие блюда". But it always means that you're ter run like time when ye hear it, no matter where ye be. If ye don't--well, it'll take somethin' smarter'n we be ter find anythin' ter be glad about in that!" Если нет... Ну, нужно быть умнее, чем мы, чтобы найти в этом хоть что-то, чему можно радоваться!" she finished, shooing Pollyanna into the house as she would shoo an unruly chicken into a coop. закончила она, отпихивая Поллианну в дом, как отпихивают непокорную курицу в курятник.

Breakfast, for the first five minutes, was a silent meal; then Miss Polly, her disapproving eyes following the airy wings of two flies darting here and there over the table, said sternly: Первые пять минут завтрак проходил в молчании; затем мисс Полли, неодобрительным взглядом следя за воздушными крыльями двух мух, порхающих тут и там над столом, строго сказала:

"Nancy, where did those flies come from?" "I don't know, ma'am. There wasn't one in the kitchen." Nancy had been too excited to notice Pollyanna's up-flung windows the afternoon before. Днем раньше Нэнси была слишком взволнована, чтобы обратить внимание на распахнутые окна Поллианны. "I reckon maybe they're my flies, Aunt Polly," observed Pollyanna, amiably. "Я думаю, может быть, это мои мухи, тетя Полли", - дружелюбно заметила Поллианна. "There were lots of them this morning having a beautiful time upstairs." "Сегодня утром их было много, они прекрасно проводили время наверху". Nancy left the room precipitately, though to do so she had to carry out the hot muffins she had just brought in. Нэнси поспешно вышла из комнаты, хотя для этого ей пришлось вынести горячие кексы, которые она только что принесла.

"Yours!" gasped Miss Polly. "What do you mean? Where did they come from?" "Why, Aunt Polly, they came from out of doors of course, through the windows. I saw some of them come in." "You saw them! You mean you raised those windows without any screens?" "Why, yes. There weren't any screens there, Aunt Polly." Nancy, at this moment, came in again with the muffins. Her face was grave, but very red. Ее лицо было серьезным, но очень красным.

"Nancy," directed her mistress, sharply, "you may set the muffins down and go at once to Miss Pollyanna's room and shut the windows. "Нэнси, - резко приказала хозяйка, - отложи кексы и немедленно иди в комнату мисс Поллианны и закрой окна. Shut the doors, also. Later, when your morning work is done, go through every room with the spatter. See that you make a thorough search." Проследите за тем, чтобы все тщательно обыскать". To her niece she said:

"Pollyanna, I have ordered screens for those windows. I knew, of course, that it was my duty to do that. Я, конечно, знал, что мой долг - сделать это. But it seems to me that you have quite forgotten your duty." Но мне кажется, что вы совсем забыли о своем долге". "My--duty?" Pollyanna's eyes were wide with wonder. "Certainly. I know it is warm, but I consider it your duty to keep your windows closed till those screens come. Я знаю, что сейчас тепло, но я считаю вашим долгом держать окна закрытыми, пока не появятся эти экраны. Flies, Pollyanna, are not only unclean and annoying, but very dangerous to health. Мухи, Поллианна, не только нечисты и надоедливы, но и очень опасны для здоровья. After breakfast I will give you a little pamphlet on this matter to read." "To read? Oh, thank you, Aunt Polly. I love to read!" Miss Polly drew in her breath audibly, then she shut her lips together hard. Мисс Полли шумно вдохнула, затем крепко сомкнула губы. Pollyanna, seeing her stern face, frowned a little thoughtfully.

"Of course I'm sorry about the duty I forgot, Aunt Polly," she apologized timidly. "I won't raise the windows again." Her aunt made no reply. She did not speak, indeed, until the meal was over. Then she rose, went to the bookcase in the sitting room, took out a small paper booklet, and crossed the room to her niece's side. Затем она поднялась, подошла к книжному шкафу в гостиной, достала небольшой бумажный буклет и пересекла комнату, чтобы подойти к племяннице. "This is the article I spoke of, Pollyanna. I desire you to go to your room at once and read it. I will be up in half an hour to look over your things." Pollyanna, her eyes on the illustration of a fly's head, many times magnified, cried joyously: Поллианна, глядя на многократно увеличенную иллюстрацию головы мухи, радостно вскрикнула: "Oh, thank you, Aunt Polly!" The next moment she skipped merrily from the room, banging the door behind her.

Miss Polly frowned, hesitated, then crossed the room majestically and opened the door; but Pollyanna was already out of sight, clattering up the attic stairs.

Half an hour later when Miss Polly, her face expressing stern duty in every line, climbed those stairs and entered Pollyanna's room, she was greeted with a burst of eager enthusiasm. Полчаса спустя, когда мисс Полли, лицо которой выражало суровый долг в каждой черточке, поднялась по лестнице и вошла в комнату Поллианны, ее встретили с бурным энтузиазмом. "Oh, Aunt Polly, I never saw anything so perfectly lovely and interesting in my life. I'm so glad you gave me that book to read! Why, I didn't suppose flies could carry such a lot of things on their feet, and--" "That will do," observed Aunt Polly, with dignity. "Pollyanna, you may bring out your clothes now, and I will look them over. "Поллианна, ты можешь вынести свою одежду, а я ее осмотрю. What are not suitable for you I shall give to the Sullivans, of course." То, что не подходит для вас, я, конечно, отдам Салливанам". With visible reluctance Pollyanna laid down the pamphlet and turned toward the closet.

"I'm afraid you'll think they're worse than the Ladies' Aid did--and they said they were shameful," she sighed. "Боюсь, вы сочтете их хуже, чем это было в "Дамской помощи" - а они говорили, что они позорные", - вздохнула она. "But there were mostly things for boys and older folks in the last two or three barrels; and--did you ever have a missionary barrel, Aunt Polly?" "Но в последних двух или трех бочках были в основном вещи для мальчиков и пожилых людей; и... у вас когда-нибудь была миссионерская бочка, тетя Полли?". At her aunt's look of shocked anger, Pollyanna corrected herself at once. При виде шокированного гнева тети, Поллианна тут же исправилась. "Why, no, of course you didn't, Aunt Polly!" she hurried on, with a hot blush. торопливо продолжала она, пылая румянцем. "I forgot; rich folks never have to have them. But you see sometimes I kind of forget that you are rich--up here in this room, you know." Но иногда я забываю, что вы богаты - здесь, в этой комнате". Miss Polly's lips parted indignantly, but no words came. Pollyanna, plainly unaware that she had said anything in the least unpleasant, was hurrying on. Поллианна, явно не осознавая, что сказала что-то неприятное, поспешила дальше.

"Well, as I was going to say, you can't tell a thing about missionary barrels--except that you won't find in 'em what you think you're going to--even when you think you won't. "Ну, как я и собирался сказать, о миссионерских бочках ничего нельзя сказать, кроме того, что вы не найдете в них того, о чем думаете - даже когда думаете, что не найдете. It was the barrels every time, too, that were hardest to play the game on, for father and--" Just in time Pollyanna remembered that she was not to talk of her father to her aunt. She dived into her closet then, hurriedly, and brought out all the poor little dresses in both her arms. Тогда она торопливо нырнула в свой шкаф и вытащила оттуда все бедные маленькие платья, которые держала в обеих руках.

"They aren't nice, at all," she choked, "and they'd been black if it hadn't been for the red carpet for the church; but they're all I've got." "Они совсем не красивые, - задыхалась она, - и они были бы черными, если бы не красный ковер для церкви; но это все, что у меня есть". With the tips of her fingers Miss Polly turned over the conglomerate garments, so obviously made for anybody but Pollyanna. Кончиками пальцев мисс Полли перебирала конгломерат одежды, которая явно предназначалась кому угодно, только не Поллианне. Next she bestowed frowning attention on the patched undergarments in the bureau drawers. Затем она уделила хмурое внимание заплатанному нижнему белью в ящиках бюро.

"I've got the best ones on," confessed Pollyanna, anxiously. "Я надела самые лучшие", - с тревогой призналась Поллианна. "The Ladies' Aid bought me one set straight through all whole. "Дамская помощь" купила мне один комплект сразу на все случаи жизни. Mrs. Jones--she's the president--told 'em I should have that if they had to clatter down bare aisles themselves the rest of their days. Миссис Джонс - она президент - сказала им, что у меня будет это, если им самим придется топать по голым проходам до конца своих дней. But they won't. Но они этого не сделают. Mr. White doesn't like the noise. Мистеру Уайту не нравится шум. He's got nerves, his wife says; but he's got money, too, and they expect he'll give a lot toward the carpet--on account of the nerves, you know. У него нервы, говорит его жена; но у него есть и деньги, и они надеются, что он много даст на ковер - из-за нервов, знаете ли. I should think he'd be glad that if he did have the nerves he'd got money, too; shouldn't you?" Я думаю, он будет рад, что если у него есть нервы, то у него есть и деньги, не так ли?". Miss Polly did not seem to hear. Her scrutiny of the undergarments finished, she turned to Pollyanna somewhat abruptly. Закончив рассматривать нижнее белье, она несколько резко повернулась к Поллианне.

"You have been to school, of course, Pollyanna?" "Ты, конечно, ходила в школу, Поллианна?". "Oh, yes, Aunt Polly. Besides, fath--I mean, I was taught at home some, too." Кроме того, фат... то есть, меня тоже учили дома". Miss Polly frowned.

"Very good. In the fall you will enter school here, of course. Mr. Hall, the principal, will doubtless settle in which grade you belong. Мистер Холл, директор школы, несомненно, определит, к какому классу вы относитесь. Meanwhile, I suppose I ought to hear you read aloud half an hour each day." Тем временем, я полагаю, мне следует слушать, как вы читаете вслух по полчаса каждый день". "I love to read; but if you don't want to hear me I'd be just glad to read to myself--truly, Aunt Polly. And I wouldn't have to half try to be glad, either, for I like best to read to myself--on account of the big words, you know." И мне не придется и половины стараться, чтобы радоваться, потому что я больше люблю читать сама себе - из-за больших слов, знаете ли". "I don't doubt it," rejoined Miss Polly, grimly. "Я в этом не сомневаюсь, - мрачно ответила мисс Полли. "Have you studied music?" "Not much. I don't like my music--I like other people's, though. I learned to play on the piano a little. Я немного научился играть на пианино. Miss Gray--she plays for church--she taught me. But I'd just as soon let that go as not, Aunt Polly. Но я бы с таким же успехом оставила это без внимания, тетя Полли. I'd rather, truly." Я бы предпочел, правда". "Very likely," observed Aunt Polly, with slightly uplifted eyebrows. "Очень вероятно", - заметила тетя Полли, слегка приподняв брови. "Nevertheless I think it is my duty to see that you are properly instructed in at least the rudiments of music. "Тем не менее, я считаю своим долгом проследить за тем, чтобы вас должным образом обучили хотя бы зачаткам музыки. You sew, of course." Вы, конечно, шьете". "Yes, ma'am." Pollyanna sighed. "The Ladies' Aid taught me that. But I had an awful time. Но у меня было ужасное время. Mrs. Jones didn't believe in holding your needle like the rest of 'em did on buttonholing, and Mrs. White thought backstitching ought to be taught you before hemming (or else the other way), and Mrs. Harriman didn't believe in putting you on patchwork ever, at all." Миссис Джонс не верила, что при пришивании пуговиц нужно держать иглу, как все остальные, а миссис Уайт считала, что обратной строчке нужно учить до подшивания (или наоборот), а миссис Гарриман вообще не верила, что тебя когда-нибудь научат лоскутному шитью". "Well, there will be no difficulty of that kind any longer, Pollyanna. "Ну, теперь таких трудностей больше не будет, Поллианна. I shall teach you sewing myself, of course. You do not know how to cook, I presume." Вы не умеете готовить, я полагаю". Pollyanna laughed suddenly.

"They were just beginning to teach me that this summer, but I hadn't got far. "Этим летом они только начали учить меня этому, но я не успел далеко уйти. They were more divided up on that than they were on the sewing. В этом вопросе они разделились больше, чем в вопросе шитья. They were going to begin on bread; but there wasn't two of 'em that made it alike, so after arguing it all one sewing-meeting, they decided to take turns at me one forenoon a week--in their own kitchens, you know. Они собирались начать с хлеба; но среди них не было двух одинаковых, так что после споров на одном швейном собрании они решили по очереди заниматься со мной по полдня в неделю - на своих кухнях, знаете ли. I'd only learned chocolate fudge and fig cake, though, when--when I had to stop." Но я освоила только шоколадную помадку и фиговый торт, когда... когда мне пришлось остановиться". Her voice broke.

"Chocolate fudge and fig cake, indeed!" scorned Miss Polly. "I think we can remedy that very soon." "Я думаю, мы сможем исправить это очень скоро". She paused in thought for a minute, then went on slowly: "At nine o'clock every morning you will read aloud one half-hour to me. Она сделала минутную паузу в раздумье, затем медленно продолжила: "Каждое утро в девять часов ты будешь читать мне вслух по полчаса. Before that you will use the time to put this room in order. Перед этим вы используете время, чтобы привести комнату в порядок. Wednesday and Saturday forenoons, after half-past nine, you will spend with Nancy in the kitchen, learning to cook. В среду и субботу, после половины девятого вечера, вы будете проводить время с Нэнси на кухне, учась готовить. Other mornings you will sew with me. That will leave the afternoons for your music. I shall, of course, procure a teacher at once for you," she finished decisively, as she arose from her chair. Pollyanna cried out in dismay.

"Oh, but Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, you haven't left me any time at all just to--to live." "О, но тетя Полли, тетя Полли, вы совсем не оставили мне времени, чтобы просто... жить". "To live, child! What do you mean? As if you weren't living all the time!" "Oh, of course I'd be breathing all the time I was doing those things, Aunt Polly, but I wouldn't be living. You breathe all the time you're asleep, but you aren't living. Вы дышите все время, пока спите, но вы не живете. I mean living--doing the things you want to do: playing outdoors, reading (to myself, of course), climbing hills, talking to Mr. Tom in the garden, and Nancy, and finding out all about the houses and the people and everything everywhere all through the perfectly lovely streets I came through yesterday. Я имею в виду жить - делать то, что хочется делать: играть на свежем воздухе, читать (про себя, конечно), взбираться на холмы, разговаривать с мистером Томом в саду, с Нэнси, узнавать все о домах, людях и обо всем на свете по совершенно чудесным улицам, по которым я вчера прошла. That's what I call living, Aunt Polly. Вот что я называю жизнью, тетя Полли. Just breathing isn't living!" Miss Polly lifted her head irritably.

"Pollyanna, you are the most extraordinary child! You will be allowed a proper amount of playtime, of course. Разумеется, вам будет предоставлено соответствующее количество игрового времени. But, surely, it seems to me if I am willing to do my duty in seeing that you have proper care and instruction, you ought to be willing to do yours by seeing that that care and instruction are not ungratefully wasted." Но, конечно, мне кажется, что если я готов выполнить свой долг, чтобы обеспечить вам надлежащий уход и обучение, то вы должны быть готовы выполнить свой, чтобы убедиться, что этот уход и обучение не пропали даром". Pollyanna looked shocked.

"Oh, Aunt Polly, as if I ever could be ungrateful--to you! Why, I love you --and you aren't even a Ladies' Aider; you're an aunt!" "Very well; then see that you don't act ungrateful," vouchsafed Miss Polly, as she turned toward the door. She had gone halfway down the stairs when a small, unsteady voice called after her: Она уже спустилась на половину лестницы, когда ее окликнул тоненький, нетвердый голосок:

"Please, Aunt Polly, you didn't tell me which of my things you wanted to--to give away." "Пожалуйста, тетя Полли, вы не сказали мне, какие из моих вещей вы хотите отдать". Aunt Polly emitted a tired sigh--a sigh that ascended straight to Pollyanna's ears. Тетя Полли издала усталый вздох - вздох, который донесся прямо до ушей Поллианны. "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. Ни одно из ваших изделий не подходит для ношения моей племянницей. Certainly I should be very far from doing my duty by you if I should let you appear out in any one of them." Конечно, я не выполню свой долг по отношению к вам, если позволю вам появиться в любом из них". Pollyanna sighed now--she believed she was going to hate that word--duty.

"Aunt Polly, please," she called wistfully, "isn't there any way you can be glad about all that--duty business?" "Тетя Полли, пожалуйста, - тоскливо позвала она, - неужели вы никак не можете порадоваться всем этим дежурствам?" "What?" Miss Polly looked up in dazed surprise; then, suddenly, with very red cheeks, she turned and swept angrily down the stairs. Мисс Полли подняла голову в ошеломленном удивлении; затем, внезапно покраснев, она повернулась и сердито понеслась вниз по лестнице. "Don't be impertinent, Pollyanna!" In the hot little attic room Pollyanna dropped herself on to one of the straight-backed chairs. В маленькой жаркой чердачной комнате Поллианна опустилась на один из стульев с прямыми спинками. To her, existence loomed ahead one endless round of duty. Для нее существование представлялось бесконечным кругом обязанностей.

"I don't see, really, what there was impertinent about that," she sighed. "Я не понимаю, что в этом дерзкого", - вздохнула она. "I was only asking her if she couldn't tell me something to be glad about in all that duty business." "Я просто спросила ее, не может ли она сказать мне что-нибудь, чему можно порадоваться во всем этом деле долга". For several minutes Pollyanna sat in silence, her rueful eyes fixed on the forlorn heap of garments on the bed. Несколько минут Поллианна сидела молча, ее горестный взгляд был устремлен на бесполезный ворох одежды на кровати. Then, slowly, she rose and began to put away the dresses. Затем она медленно поднялась и начала убирать платья.

"There just isn't anything to be glad about, that I can see," she said aloud; "unless--it's to be glad when the duty's done!" "Мне просто нечему радоваться, как я вижу", - сказала она вслух, - "разве что - радоваться, когда долг выполнен!". Whereupon she laughed suddenly. После этого она неожиданно рассмеялась.