Дети железной дороги
For valour.
ThenMotherturnedtotheoldgentlemanandsaid:—
"Idon’tknowhowtothankyouforEVERYTHING.Ithasbeenarealpleasuretometoseeyou.Butweliveveryquietly.IamsosorrythatIcan’taskyoutocomeandseeusagain."
Thechildrenthoughtthisveryhard.WhentheyHADmadeafriend—andsuchafriend—theywoulddearlyhavelikedhimtocomeandseethemagain.
Whattheoldgentlemanthoughttheycouldn’ttell.Heonlysaid:—
"Iconsidermyselfveryfortunate,Madam,tohavebeenreceivedonceatyourhouse."
"Ah,"saidMother,"IknowImustseemsurlyandungrateful—but—"
"Youcouldneverseemanythingbutamostcharmingandgraciouslady,"saidtheoldgentleman,withanotherofhisbows.
Andastheyturnedtogoupthehill,BobbiesawherMother’sface.
"Howtiredyoulook,Mammy,"shesaid;"leanonme."
"It’smyplacetogiveMothermyarm,"saidPeter."I’mtheheadmanofthefamilywhenFather’saway."
Mothertookanarmofeach.
"Howawfullynice,"saidPhyllis,skippingjoyfully,"tothinkofthedearRussianembracinghislong-lostwife.Thebabymusthavegrownalotsincehesawit."
"Yes,"saidMother.
"IwonderwhetherFatherwillthinkI’VEgrown,"Phylliswenton,skippingstillmoregaily