Chapter 3 - The Coming of Pollyanna

Summary

Miss Polly inspects the hot, bare attic room prepared for her niece and strictly instructs Nancy to meet the child at the station, providing only physical descriptions for identification. At the station, Nancy and Timothy Durgin wait for the train, and Nancy is shocked to be embraced by Pollyanna, who mistakes the maid for Aunt Polly due to the name on the letter. Pollyanna explains her red gingham dress and her father's dying wish for her to be glad, revealing her orphan status and cheerful disposition despite her loss. On the ride home, Pollyanna talks incessantly about her past and her excitement for her new home, while Nancy and Timothy bond over the unpredictability of living with such a vibrant child, with Nancy vowing to be a refuge for Pollyanna from Miss Polly's sternness.

Characters

• Miss Polly (Aunt Polly) — Miss Polly reads the telegram, inspects the sweltering attic room, kills a fly, and curtly orders Nancy to meet the niece at the station, refusing to go herself. She provides only the description 'light hair, red-checked gingham dress, and straw hat' for Nancy to identify the child.
• Nancy — Nancy reacts with shock and confusion when Pollyanna mistakes her for Aunt Polly, quickly correcting the child. She listens to Pollyanna's stream of consciousness during the buggy ride, feeling a mix of sympathy and apprehension, and later vows to Timothy that she will serve as a refuge for the child.
• Timothy / Timothy Durgin (Old Tom's son) — Timothy drives Nancy to the station in the open buggy and joins them in the ride back. He chuckles at the name mix-up and expresses his own delight regarding the arrival of the lively child, confirming he has no intention of leaving the house.
• Pollyanna (the little girl, the child, Miss Pollyanna) — Pollyanna arrives in Beldingsville, mistaken for Aunt Polly by Nancy. She cheerfully explains her red gingham dress and her father's instruction to be glad, despite her grief over his death. She talks continuously about her past, her love for carpets and pictures, and her excitement about her new aunt and home.