Chapter 18 - Prisms

Summary

Pollyanna visits John Pendleton and discovers a rainbow cast across his pillow by sunlight hitting a thermometer. She marvels at the colors, prompting Pendleton to have his maid Nora bring a large brass candelabrum and set up a string across the window, allowing Pollyanna to hang its prism pendants to create a full rainbow effect in the room. As Pollyanna hangs the pendants and expresses her desire to share the joy with others, she finally explains the 'just being glad' game to Pendleton, who then tells her that she is the finest prism of all.

Characters

• Pollyanna — Pollyanna visits Pendleton and is delighted by a rainbow on his pillow caused by the sun hitting a thermometer. She helps hang prism pendants in the window to multiply the colors, then explains the 'just being glad' game to him for the first time successfully.
• Pendleton / John (Mr. Pendleton) — Pendleton explains how the rainbow appeared on his pillow and orders his maid to retrieve a candelabrum to create a rainbow effect in the room. He listens to Pollyanna's explanation of her game and tenderly tells her that she is the finest prism of all.
• Nora (the elderly maid) — Nora answers Pendleton's bell, brings a large brass candelabrum from the drawing-room, and hangs a string across the window as instructed.