Chapter 23 - An Accident
Summary
Pollyanna visits Dr. Chilton to retrieve a prescription for Mrs. Snow, where she inadvertently reveals that Mr. Pendleton’s past love was her mother, Jennie, and comments on the doctor's bachelor status before leaving. Later, Pollyanna is struck by an automobile while crossing the road after school and is brought home unconscious. Dr. Warren attends to her in a hushed, somber atmosphere, while a shaken Miss Polly and weeping Nancy wait outside, with Nancy trying to process the event with Old Tom. When Pollyanna regains consciousness, she is unable to feel her legs and is calmed by a nurse named Miss Hunt, who forces her to take medicine and reassures her about recovering for upcoming exams.
Characters
- Pollyanna — Pollyanna visits Dr. Chilton to get a medicine prescription and clarifies that Mr. Pendleton loved her mother, not her aunt. She is later struck by an automobile, brought home unconscious, and upon waking, expresses confusion and an inability to feel her legs before being calmed by a nurse.
- Miss Polly / Aunt Polly — Miss Polly appears white-faced and shaken while Nancy describes her distress to Old Tom. She stands by Pollyanna's bedside, struggles to break the news of the accident, and watches helplessly as Pollyanna is put to sleep by the nurse.
- Nancy — Nancy weeps by Pollyanna's side in the room where Aunt Polly attends to her before Dr. Warren arrives. She then goes to the garden to sob to Old Tom about Miss Polly's visible grief and her fear for Pollyanna, describing the girl's stillness and the severity of the accident.
- Old Tom — Old Tom listens to Nancy's description of the accident and Miss Polly's reaction from the garden, attempting to comfort her with dry wit regarding her use of language before she returns to the kitchen.
- Dr. Chilton — Dr. Chilton writes a prescription for Pollyanna and discusses Mr. Pendleton's past and Pollyanna's home-making philosophy with her. He deflects her questions about his own romantic prospects with evasive humor and anxiety.
- Dr. Warren (the doctor) — Dr. Warren is summoned by telephone and hurries to the Harrington house to attend to Pollyanna. He examines the unconscious girl, notes that there are no broken bones but looks grave about internal injuries, and sends for a trained nurse.
- Mrs. Snow — Mrs. Snow is mentioned by Pollyanna as the reason for her visit to the doctor's office, but she does not appear in the scene.
- Miss Hunt (the nurse) — Miss Hunt arrives as the trained nurse sent for by Dr. Warren. She enters Pollyanna's room, introduces herself cheerfully, and forces the dazed girl to take medicine to help her sleep, dismissing her questions about school.