Chapter 4 A Question of Duty Pollyanna woke up just before seven the next morning.
She could see blue sky out her window.
A light, cool breeze was coming into the room.
She knew it was going to be a beautiful day.
She walked to the window and looked over the garden.
Her Aunt Polly was already outside, walking among the plants.
Pollyanna dressed quickly and ran downstairs to greet her.
Miss Polly was talking to Tom about the rose bushes.
Pollyanna ran up behind her and threw her arms about her waist.
Good morning, Aunt Polly, the little girl said.
Isn't it a lovely day?
Miss Polly stood up straight, pushing Pollyanna back.
Is this how you usually say good morning?
Pollyanna giggled and danced around her aunt.
No, only when I love someone so much I just can't help it.
I saw you from my window and I remembered that you weren't someone from the ladies' eight, but my honest-to-goodness aunt.
I was just so excited that I ran all the way down here.
Oh, my goodness, Miss Polly said.
She tried to frown, but it was not so easy.
That is all for now, Tom.
Please do as I say with the roses.
Pollyanna looked at the old man.
Do you always work in the garden, Mr. Mr. Man? she asked.
He turned to look at her.
There were tears in his eyes because she reminded him of Miss Jenny.
Yes, Miss, he said.
My name is Tom.
I'm the gardener.
I've worked here for many, many years.
He reached out a hand to touch Pollyanna's hair.
You look just like your mother, he said quietly.
I knew her when she was even younger than you.
Pollyanna's eyes grew wide.
You knew my mother?
She said, amazed.
Please tell me everything about her.
The girl sat down in the dirt path beside Tom.
She waited patiently for him to start talking.
Just then, a bell sounded.
Nancy rushed out the back door.
Miss Pollyanna, she called.
That's the breakfast bell.
She grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her toward the house.
You can't be late, Miss.
After breakfast, Miss Polly followed her niece to the attic room.
Please show me your dresses.
Whatever is not appropriate will be given to the needy.
Pollyanna slowly moved to her closet.
I'm afraid there isn't much, she said softly.
All of my clothes came from donations.
There weren't many dresses given to me lately.
Have you ever had to rely on charity for your clothes, Aunt Polly?
Miss Polly looked at her niece with shock.
Pollyanna quickly realized her mistake.
Oh, no, I don't suppose you have.
Rich people never have to rely on charity.
I'm sorry.
I guess being up in this room, I forgot that you were rich.
Miss Polly continued to stare at Pollyanna.
The girl kept talking.
"'Well, I was just going to say that you never know what you'll find in a donation barrel.
There weren't always a lot of dresses to choose from.
It was hard to play the game then, but Father used to say—' Pollyanna remembered that she was not supposed to mention her father.
Miss Polly went to the closet and looked over each garment slowly.
Pollyanna was right.
They were not pretty dresses.
It was hard to believe that any of them even fit the girl.
Miss Polly examined the rest of her niece's things and came to the same conclusion.
All of the girls' clothes were in a similar condition.
"'Have you been to school?'
Miss Polly asked.
Yes, Aunt Polly, Pollyanna answered.
Also, father taught me at home.
I mean, yes, I have been to school.
That's fine.
We will put you in school in the fall.
Hopefully you will be able to be in the proper grade.
I suppose you should read to me for a half hour every day to prepare.
I'd love to read, Aunt Polly, the girl said.
I would like that very much, and I don't mind reading on my own.
I actually prefer it because of the big words.
I like sounding them out all on my own.
I'm sure you do, Miss Polly said.
It was hard to keep up with the girls' strange stories.
What about cooking?
Well, we didn't get very far with that, Pollyanna said.
The ladies couldn't decide if I should learn how to cook or sew.
They argued endlessly about it.
Finally, it was decided that I should take one cooking lesson and then one sewing lesson, but the only thing I learned how to make before I had to leave was a chocolate and fig cake.
Chocolate and fig cake, Miss Polly said.
There's not much use for that.
Pollyanna shrugged her shoulders in response.
All right.
At nine o'clock every morning, you will read to me for thirty minutes.
Two days a week you will spend your mornings with Nancy, learning how to cook.
You will spend the other mornings with me, learning how to sew.
You will spend the afternoons on music lessons.
I should probably arrange a tutor for you as well.
Who knows what kind of schooling you've had so far.
But Aunt Polly, Pollyanna exclaimed, You haven't left me any time for living.'
"'Living?
My goodness, what are you talking about?'
Miss Polly frowned.
"'As if you weren't living all the time.'
"'Of course I'd be breathing while I was doing all those things, but I wouldn't be living.'
Pollyanna clasped her hands together.
I need time to talk with Nancy and old Tom in the garden and to wander through the town and fields and find out about people and houses and everything.
That is what I call living, Aunt Polly.
Just breathing isn't living.
Miss Polly shook her head.
Pollyanna!
You are the most extraordinary girl I've ever met.
Of course you will be allowed a proper amount of playtime, but if I am willing to do my duty to feed and clothe and care for you I think you should meet me halfway.
Pollyanna looked shocked.
I'm sorry, Aunt Polly.
I didn't mean to be ungrateful.
I love you.
Very well, Miss Polly said.
Then be sure to not act ungrateful.
Miss Polly stood up.
Timothy will take us into town at one o'clock.
We need to pick up material for new clothes.
None of these dresses will do.
I can't have my niece seen in such rags.
I would be ignoring my duty if I let that happen.
Pollyanna sighed.
She was beginning to dislike this word, duty.
Aunt Polly, she said, do you think that there's any way to be glad about this duty business?
Excuse me, Miss Polly said.
Don't be rude, Pollyanna.
Miss Polly left the attic room without slamming the door.
Pollyanna sat in the chair.
She wondered if the rest of her days would be filled with nothing but duty.
I guess there isn't anything to be glad about, she thought to herself, unless of course, I can be glad when the duty's done.
Then, with that thought, Pollyanna laughed out loud.
