Chapter 12 Prisms Pollyanna did as she promised and went to see Mr. Pendleton often.
She enjoyed her visits and loved hearing his stories of the world, but she did wonder if she was helping him at all.
He didn't seem any less cross having her there.
She tried to teach him the just-be-glad game, but it was never the right time.
Whenever she brought up the subject of playing the game with her father, Mr Pendleton quickly changed the subject.
Pollyanna never doubted that Mr. Pendleton was Miss Polly's one-time love.
More than anything else in the world, she wanted to bring both of them happiness.
She often talked to Mr. Pendleton about her aunt.
Sometimes he listened politely.
Other times he angrily changed the subject.
Her aunt reacted in the same way whenever Pollyanna brought up the subject of Mr. Pendleton.
She was certain this proved that they still had feelings for each other.
Pollyanna noticed that there were some people her aunt did not like discussing.
She already knew not to mention her father around Aunt Polly.
Her aunt was also very uncomfortable whenever Pollyanna mentioned Dr. Chilton.
Pollyanna assumed this was because he had seen her aunt with ribbons in her hair.
One night, Pollyanna was feeling feverish.
Miss Polly felt her forehead with the back of her hand.
If you start to feel any worse, her aunt said, we'll have to call the doctor.
Will we?
Pollyanna said.
She was very excited.
Oh, I would love to see Dr. Chilton.
Miss Polly looked sternly at Pollyanna.
Dr. Chilton is not our doctor.
We will call Dr. Warren if you feel worse.
Oh, Pollyanna looked upset.
I don't think I would like that very much, and I don't think Dr. Chilton would either.
He's really lovely, you know.
It wasn't his fault that he saw you with ribbons in your hair.
That is enough, Pollyanna, Miss Polly said crossly.
I will check on you in an hour.
We will call Dr. Warren then, if necessary.
Miss Polly turned and left the room.
Pollyanna did not feel any worse.
They did not call Dr. Warren.
One day, Pollyanna noticed a colored light on Mr. Pendleton's wall.
Look at that!
She exclaimed, it's a little baby rainbow on your wall.
Wherever did that come from?
From the sun shining through the window, of course, Mr. Pendleton said.
Pollyanna looked at him quizzically.
Surely you've seen a prism before, he asked.
I've never even heard the word prism before, Pollyanna said matter-of-factly.
What do they teach you at school, he said sharply.
I don't start school here until next month, Pollyanna replied.
I guess we didn't talk about prisms at my old school.
When the sunlight goes through the angled glass of that thermometer, it turns the light into a rainbow, he said.
He thought about explaining it further, but realized he did not know how a prism worked.
It's so beautiful, she said.
I wish I had one of my own.
Wouldn't it be lovely if we could all have a baby rainbow to call our own?
I wish one for Mrs. Snow, too, and Aunt Polly.
I think I would like it best if Aunt Polly had one.
How could she be anything but glad if she had her own rainbow?
Mr. Pendleton laughed.
From my experience with your aunt.
He said It will take more than a few prisms of light to make her glad.
Oh, I forgot, Pollyanna said.
You don't know about the game.
The game?
Mr. Pendleton asked.
So Pollyanna told him all about the game from beginning to end.
She did not look at him while talking, though.
She could not take her eyes off the baby rainbow.
It shimmered against the wall.
She felt very glad and content, watching the colors and telling Mr. Pendleton about the game.
When she was finished, Mr. Pendleton sighed.
You know, Miss Pollyanna, I think the greatest, most wonderful prism of them all is you.
Oh, but I don't show beautiful red and green and purple when the sun shines through me, she said.
Don't you? the man said, smiling.
Pollyanna wondered why there were tears in his eyes.
No, she said, the sun doesn't shine through me.
The sun doesn't make anything but freckles, at least that's what Aunt Polly says.
The man laughed a little.
Again, Pollyanna looked at him.
The laugh sounded almost like a saw.
