CHAPTER XII. BEFORE THE LADIES' AID
Dinner, which came at noon in the Harrington homestead, was a silent meal on the day of the Ladies' Aid meeting. Pollyanna, it is true, tried to talk; but she did not make a success of it, chiefly because four times she was obliged to break off a “glad” in the middle of it, much to her blushing discomfort. The fifth time it happened, Miss Polly moved her head wearily.
“ There, there, child, say it, if you want to,” she sighed. “I'm sure I'd rather you did than not if it's going to make all this fuss.”
Pollyanna's puckered little face cleared.
“ Oh, thank you. I'm afraid it would be pretty hard—not to say it. You see I've played it so long.”
“ You've—what?” demanded Aunt Polly.
“ Played it—the game, you know, that father—” Pollyanna stopped wi
