Pollyanna is relieved that Aunt Polly will stay home from the Ladies’ Aid meeting due to a headache, as she does not want her aunt to see the petition she will make on behalf of Jimmy Bean. She finds the Ladies’ Aid meeting half a mile from home and interrupts a group of chattering ladies with her proposition that one of them should adopt Jimmy Bean and give him a real home. The astonished ladies discuss it amongst themselves but reach the conclusion that their money would be better spend on a Hindu mission where they can help little boys in India. Pollyanna cannot help noting their concern that their society “headed the list” of donors for this illustrious mission (88). Pollyanna is disappointed by the ladies’ small mindedness and dreads telling Jimmy that his need has been passed over in favor of a mission that serves their vanity.

Pollyanna decides she has time to go exploring around Pendleton Hill. She is in Pendleton Woods when she spots a dog who seems to demand her attention. She follows the dog to where it wants to take her and finds Mr. Pendleton lying motionless at the foot of a steep.