A WAITING GAME
I meant. It is a new doctor—a very famous doctor from New York, who who—knows a great deal about—about hurts like yours."
Pollyanna's face fell.
"I don't believe he knows half so much as Dr. Chilton."
"Oh, yes, he does, I'm sure, dear."
"But it was Dr. Chilton who doctored Mr. Pendleton's broken leg, Aunt Polly. If—if you don't mind very much, I would like to have Dr. Chilton—truly I would!"
A distressed color suffused Miss Polly's face. For a moment she did not speak at all; then she said gently—though yet with a touch of her old stern decisiveness:
"But I do mind, Pollyanna. I mind very much. I would do anything—almost anything for you, my dear; but I—for reasons which I do not care to speak of now, I don't wish Dr. Chilton called in on—on this case. And believe me, he can not know so much about—about your trouble, as this great doctor does, who will come from New York to-morrow."
Pollyanna still looked unconvinced.
"But, Aunt Polly, if you loved Dr. Chilton—"
"What, Pollyanna?" Aunt Polly's voice was very sharp now. Her cheeks were very red, too.
"I say, if you loved Dr. Chilton, and didn't love
229
