"See here, didn't I say--" began an angry voice. "Oh, it's you!"
it broke off not very graciously, as Pollyanna advanced toward
the bed.

"Yes, sir," smiled Pollyanna. "Oh, I'm so glad they let me in!
You see, at first the lady 'most took my jelly, and I was so
afraid I wasn't going to see you at all. Then the doctor came,
and he said I might. Wasn't he lovely to let me see you?"

In spite of himself the man's lips twitched into a smile; but all
he said was "Humph!"

"And I've brought you some jelly," resumed Pollyanna;
"--calf's-foot. I hope you like it?" There was a rising
inflection in her voice.

"Never ate it." The fleeting smile had gone, and the scowl had
come back to the man's face.

For a brief instant Pollyanna's countenance showed
disappointment; but it cleared as she set the bowl of jelly down.

"Didn't you? Well, if you didn't, then you can't know you DON'T
like it, anyhow, can you? So I reckon I'm glad you haven't, after
all. Now, if you knew--"

"Yes, yes; well, there's one thing I know all right, and that is
that I'm flat on my back right here this minute, and that I'm
liable to stay here--till doomsday, I guess."