"Yes. I wanted to adopt her--legally, you understand; making her
my heir, of course."
The woman in the opposite chair relaxed a little. It came to her,
suddenly, what a brilliant future it would have meant for
Pollyanna--this adoption; and she wondered if Pollyanna were old
enough and mercenary enough--to be tempted by this man's money
and position.
"I am very fond of Pollyanna," the man was continuing. "I am fond
of her both for her own sake, and for--her mother's. I stood
ready to give Pollyanna the love that had been twenty-five years
in storage."
"LOVE." Miss Polly remembered suddenly why SHE had taken this
child in the first place--and with the recollection came the
remembrance of Pollyanna's own words uttered that very morning:
"I love to be called 'dear' by folks that belong to you!" And it
was this love-hungry little girl that had been offered the
stored-up affection of twenty-five years:--and she was old enough
to be tempted by love! With a sinking heart Miss Polly realized
that.
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