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WHICH TELLS OF THE MAN this thing right now, once for all," he began testily. "I've got something besides the weather to think of. I don't know whether the sun shines or not."

Pollyanna beamed joyously.

"No, sir; I thought you didn't. That's why I told you."

"Yes; well— Eh? What?" he broke off sharply, in sudden understanding of her words.

"I say, that's why I told you—so you would notice it, you know—that the sun shines, and all that. I knew you'd be glad it did if you only stopped to think of it—and you didn't look a bit as if you were thinking of it!"

"Well, of all the—" ejaculated the man, with an oddly impotent gesture. He started forward again, but after the second step he turned back, still frowning.

"See here, why don't you find some one your own age to talk to?"

"I'd like to, sir, but there aren't any 'round here, Nancy says. Still, I don't mind so very much. I like old folks just as well, maybe better, sometimes—being used to the Ladies' Aid, so."

"Humph! The Ladies' Aid, indeed! Is that what you took me for?" The man's lips were threatening to smile, but the scowl above them was still trying to hold them grimly stern.

Pollyanna laughed gleefully. 79