Chapter 19 - Which is Somewhat Surprising

Summary

Pollyanna attends school in September but finds time for her old friends, though John Pendleton complains about their lack of recent contact. During a Saturday visit in his library, Pendleton asks Pollyanna to live with him, confessing that his house has never been a home because he failed to bring the woman he loved there years ago. Misinterpreting his regret as a desire for reconciliation with Aunt Polly, Pollyanna joyfully suggests they both move in, causing Pendleton to panic and urge silence until the doctor arrives.

Characters

• Pollyanna — Pollyanna discusses the 'just being glad' game with John Pendleton before he asks her to live with him. She misunderstands his longing for a past love as a desire for her aunt and excitedly proposes that Aunt Polly and she both move to his house, leaving the doctor to manage Pendleton's shock upon arrival.
• Mr. Pendleton / John Pendleton — Complaining about Pollyanna's absence due to school, Pendleton asks her to live with him and reveals his lifelong regret over not bringing his former love to his house. He becomes terrified when Pollyanna suggests Aunt Polly join them, begging her to say nothing of the matter before the doctor appears and checks his racing pulse.
• Nora (the maid) — Nora enters the library to announce the arrival of the doctor, interrupting the tense conversation between Pollyanna and Mr. Pendleton.
• Thomas Chilton (the doctor) — Dr. Chilton arrives to find Pendleton in a state of high excitement. He checks the patient's galloping pulse and asks what the cause is.