"I'll come back to take you home at half-past five," Dr. Chilton said, leaving Pollyanna at Mr. Pendleton's door.
Pollyanna entered the great stone house and found Mr. Pendleton lying in bed as before. But this time he smiled when she sat down.
"You must be a very forgiving person to visit after the way I've treated you," Mr. Pendleton said. "I apologize for my rudeness when you brought the beef stew. And I've never thanked you for helping me when I broke my leg. Thank you!"
"I was glad to help you," Pollyanna said. "I mean, I wasn't glad your leg was broken."
"I understand what you meant." Mr. Pendleton smiled again. "You were brave that day in the woods, and the stew was delicious. Is there any more today that Aunt Polly didn't send?"
Pollyanna's eyes widened at the reminder of Aunt Polly's scolding. "No, sir."
Mr. Pendleton stared straight ahead, lost in thought. At last he sighed. "I didn't send for you to watch me mope. Go into the library—you know, the big room with the telephone. You'll find a wooden box in the cabinet with glass doors. Bring it here, please."
A few minutes later, Pollyanna returned with the box. It was full of interesting things that Mr. Pendleton had picked up during his travels. He had an entertaining story about every item, including an intricately carved chess set. They also talked about Pollyanna's life with Aunt Polly as well as her former home out West. Much too soon, it was time for Pollyanna to leave.
"I want you to visit me often," Mr. Pendleton said. "I'm lonely, and there's another reason . . ." His voice trailed off. "When I first learned who you are, I didn't want to see you again. You reminded me of something I've tried to forget for years. But then the more I tried to forget, the more I remembered. So now I want you to come. Will you?"
"Of course, Mr. Pendleton." Pollyanna's eyes were filled with sympathy for the sad-faced man.
***
That evening after supper, Pollyanna sat in the backyard, talking with Nancy.
"I can't believe Mr. Pendleton showed you all those things and told you stories about them." Nancy shook her head in amazement. "He's usually so grumpy—if he even bothers to speak."
Pollyanna quickly defended her new friend. "People wouldn't think he's so bad if they knew him."
Nancy swatted away a fly. "I don't understand why he's so interested in you. I mean, no offense, but he's not someone who likes children."
Pollyanna smiled. "He didn't like me right away. Just today he admitted that, at first, he didn't want to see me again. I reminded him of something he wanted to forget and—"
"Something he wanted to forget?" Nancy leaned forward with excitement. "What was it?"
"He didn't say."
"A mystery!" Nancy said in an awestruck voice. "Just like in the mystery novels I love to read. Only this is a real-life mystery! Tell me every little detail."
So Pollyanna told everything she could remember from the first time she met Mr. Pendleton until that day.
"He didn't want to see you again after he learned you were Miss Polly's niece, right?" Nancy said.
"Yes, that's what he said today."
"And he acted strange when you said Miss Polly didn't want him to think she'd sent the stew?" Nancy was growing more excited by the minute.
"Yes, but—"
"I've got it!" Nancy looked around to make sure nobody else was listening. "He and Miss Polly were sweethearts!"
"What? Aunt Polly doesn't even like him. She didn't want him to think the beef stew came from her."
"Tom told me that she had a sweetheart long ago. They had an argument and broke off their engagement. Tom said the man still lives in town!"
Pollyanna still wasn't convinced, so Nancy pressed on. "Mr. Pendleton said you reminded him of someone. It has to be Miss Polly!"
"But if they loved each other, they would have made up years ago."
"Sometimes sweethearts can be stubborn." Nancy had a dreamy look on her face. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if you taught them the Glad Game and they got back together?"
