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airily. ā€œAll that sounds very fine; but the real commonsense reason is because we donā€™t have any Mrs. Tom and Dick and Harry sitting on their side porches and commenting on every time we stir, and wondering among themselves where we are going, why we are going there, and how long weā€™re intending to stay!ā€

ā€œOh, Jimmy, how you do take the poetry out of things,ā€ reproached Pollyanna, laughingly.

ā€œBut thatā€™s my business,ā€ flashed Jimmy. ā€œHow do you suppose Iā€™m going to build dams and bridges if I donā€™t see something besides poetry in the waterfall?ā€

ā€œYou canā€™t, Pendleton! And itā€™s the bridgeā ā€”that countsā ā€”every time,ā€ declared Jamie in a voice that brought a sudden hush to the group about the fire. It was for only a moment, however, for almost at once Sadie Dean broke the silence with a gay:

ā€œPooh! Iā€™d rather have the waterfall every time, without any bridge aroundā ā€”to spoil the view!ā€

Everybody laughedā ā€”and it was as if a tension somewhere snapped. Then Mrs. Carew rose to her feet.

ā€œCome, come, children, your stern chaperon says itā€™s bedtime!ā€ And with a merry chorus of good nights the party broke up.

And so the days passed. To Pollyanna they were wonderful days, and still the most wonderful part was the charm of close companionshipā ā€”a companionship that, while differing as to details with each one, was yet delightful with all.

With Sadie Dean she talked of the new Home, and of what a marvelous work Mrs. Carew was doing. They talked, too, of the old days when Sadie was selling bows behind the counter, and of what Mrs. Carew had done for her. Pollyanna heard, also, something of the old father and mother ā€œback home,ā€ and of the joy that Sadie, in her new position, had been able to bring into their lives.

ā€œAnd after all itā€™s really you that began it, you know,ā€ she said one day to Pollyanna. But Pollyanna only shook her head at this with an emphatic:

ā€œNonsense! It was all Mrs. Carew.ā€

With Mrs. Carew herself Pollyanna talked also of the Home, and of her plans for the girls. And once, in the hush of a twilight walk, Mrs. Carew spoke of herself and of her changed outlook on life. And she, like Sadie Dean, said brokenly: ā€œAfter all, itā€™s really you that began it, Pollyanna.ā€ But Pollyanna, as in Sadie Deanā€™s case, would have none of this; and she began to talk of Jamie, and of what he had done.

ā€œJamieā€™s a dear,ā€ Mrs. Carew answered affectionately. ā€œAnd I love him like an own son. He couldnā€™t be dearer to me if he were really my sisterā€™s boy.ā€

ā€œThen you donā€™t think he is?ā€

ā€œI donā€™t know. Weā€™ve never learned anything conclusive. Sometimes Iā€™m sure he is. Then again I doubt it. I think he really believes he isā ā€”bless his heart! At all events, one thing is sure: he has good blood in him from somewhere. Jamieā€™s no ordinary waif of the streets, you know, with his talents; and the wonderful way he has responded to teaching and training proves it.ā€

ā€œOf course,ā€ nodded Pollyanna. ā€œAnd as long as you love him so well, it doesnā€™t really matter, anyway, does it, whether heā€™s the real Jamie or not?ā€

Mrs. Carew hesitated. Into her eyes crept the old somberness of heartache.

ā€œNot so far as he is concerned,ā€ she sighed, at last. ā€œItā€™s only that sometimes I get to thinking: if he isnā€™t our Jamie, where isā ā€”Jamie Kent? Is he well? Is he happy? Has he anyone to love him? When I get to thinking like that, Pollyanna, Iā€™m nearly wild. Iā€™d giveā ā€”everything I have in the world, it seems to me, to really know that this boy is Jamie Kent.ā€

Pollyanna used to think of this conversation sometimes, in her after talks with Jamie. Jamie was so sure of himself.

ā€œItā€™s just somehow that I feel itā€™s so,ā€ he said once to Pollyanna. ā€œI believe I am Jamie Kent. Iā€™ve believed it quite a while. Iā€™m afraid Iā€™ve believed it so long now, thatā ā€”that I just couldnā€™t bear it, to find out I wasnā€™t he. Mrs. Carew has done so much for me; just think if, after all, I were only a stranger!ā€

ā€œBut sheā ā€”loves you, Jamie.ā€

ā€œI know she doesā ā€”and that would only hurt all the moreā ā€”donā€™t you see?ā ā€”because it would be hurting her. She wants me to be the real Jamie. I know she does. Now if I could only do something for herā ā€”make her proud of me in some way! If I could only do something to support myself, even, like a man! But what can I do, withā ā€”these?ā€ He spoke bitterly, and laid his hand on the crutches at his side.

Pollyanna was shocked and distressed. It was the first time she had heard Jamie speak of his infirmity since the old boyhood days. Frantically she cast about in her mind for just the right thing to say; but before she had even thought of anything, Jamieā€™s face had undergone a complete change.

ā€œBut, there, forget it! I didnā€™t mean to say it,ā€ he cried gaily. ā€œAnd ā€™twas rank heresy to the game, wasnā€™t it? Iā€™m sure Iā€™m glad Iā€™ve got the crutches. Theyā€™re a whole lot nicer than the wheel chair!ā€

ā€œAnd the Jolly Bookā ā€”do you keep it now?ā€ asked Pollyanna, in a voice that trembled a little.

ā€œSure! Iā€™ve got a whole library of jolly books now,ā€ he retorted. ā€œTheyā€™re all in leather, dark red, except the first one. That is the same little old notebook that Jerry gave me.ā€

ā€œJerry! And Iā€™ve been meaning all the time to ask for him,ā€ cried Pollyanna. ā€œWhere is he?ā€

ā€œIn Boston; and his vocabulary is just as picturesque as ever, only he has to tone it down at times. Jerryā€™s still in the newspaper businessā ā€”but heā€™s getting the news, not selling it. Reporting, you know. I have been able to help him and mumsey. And donā€™t you suppose I was glad? Mumseyā€™s in a sanatorium for her rheumatism.ā€

ā€œAnd is she better?ā€

ā€œVery much. Sheā€™s coming out pretty soon, and going to housekeeping with Jerry. Jerryā€™s been making up some of his lost schooling during these past few

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