"And EVERYBODY says he's mysterious," she went on. "Some years he
jest travels, week in and week out, and it's always in heathen
countries--Egypt and Asia and the Desert of Sarah, you know."

"Oh, a missionary," nodded Pollyanna.

Nancy laughed oddly.

"Well, I didn't say that, Miss Pollyanna. When he comes back he
writes books--queer, odd books, they say, about some gimcrack
he's found in them heathen countries. But he don't never seem ter
want ter spend no money here--leastways, not for jest livin'."

"Of course not--if he's saving it for the heathen," declared
Pollyanna. "But he is a funny man, and he's different, too, just
like Mrs. Snow, only he's a different different."

"Well, I guess he is--rather," chuckled Nancy.

"I'm gladder'n ever now, anyhow, that he speaks to me," sighed
Pollyanna contentedly.



CHAPTER X. A SURPRISE FOR MRS. SNOW

The next time Pollyanna went to see Mrs. Snow, she found that
lady, as at first, in a darkened room.