Дети железной дороги

           NowsuddenlyBobbieslippedthroughtherailingsandrusheddownthebanktowardsPeter,soimpetuouslythatPhyllis,followingmoretemperately,feltcertainthathersister’sdescentwouldendinthewatersofthecanal.AndsoitwouldhavedoneiftheBargeehadn’tletgoofPeter’sear—andcaughtherinhisjerseyedarm.

           "Whoareyoua-shovingof?"hesaid,settingheronherfeet.

           "Oh,"saidBobbie,breathless,"I’mnotshovinganybody.Atleast,notonpurpose.Pleasedon’tbecrosswithPeter.Ofcourse,ifit’syourcanal,we’resorryandwewon’tanymore.Butwedidn’tknowitwasyours."

           "Goalongwithyou,"saidtheBargee.

           "Yes,wewill;indeedwewill,"saidBobbie,earnestly;"butwedobegyourpardon—andreallywehaven’tcaughtasinglefish.I’dtellyoudirectlyifwehad,honourbrightIwould."

           SheheldoutherhandsandPhyllisturnedoutherlittleemptypockettoshowthatreallytheyhadn’tanyfishconcealedaboutthem.

           "Well,"saidtheBargee,moregently,"cutalong,then,anddon’tyoudoitagain,that’sall."

           Thechildrenhurriedupthebank.

           "Chuckusacoat,M’ria,"shoutedtheman.Andared-hairedwomaninagreenplaidshawlcameoutfromthecabindoorwithababyinherarmsandthrewacoattohim.Heputiton,climbedthebank,andslouchedalongacrossthebridgetowardsthevillage.