"Why, mother--the curtain is up!" cried Milly, dividing her
amazed stare between the window and the pink in her mother's
hair.

"Well, what if it is?" snapped the sick woman. "I needn't stay in
the dark all my life, if I am sick, need I?"

"Why, n-no, of course not," rejoined Milly, in hasty
conciliation, as she reached for the medicine bottle. "It's
only--well, you know very well that I've tried to get you to have
a lighter room for ages and you wouldn't."

There was no reply to this. Mrs. Snow was picking at the lace on
her nightgown. At last she spoke fretfully.

"I should think SOMEBODY might give me a new nightdress--instead
of lamb broth, for a change!"

"Why--mother!"

No wonder Milly quite gasped aloud with bewilderment. In the
drawer behind her at that moment lay two new nightdresses that
Milly for months had been vainly urging her mother to wear.



CHAPTER IX. WHICH TELLS OF THE MAN

It rained the next time Pollyanna saw the Man. She greeted him,
however, with a bright smile.