Дети железной дороги

           "You’llfindmeupatthe‘RoseandCrown’whenyou’vegotthekidtosleep,"hecalledtoherfromthebridge.

           Whenhewasoutofsightthechildrenslowlyreturned.Peterinsistedonthis.

           "Thecanalmaybelongtohim,"hesaid,"thoughIdon’tbelieveitdoes.Butthebridgeiseverybody’s.DoctorForresttoldmeit’spublicproperty.I’mnotgoingtobebouncedoffthebridgebyhimoranyoneelse,soItellyou."

           Peter’searwasstillsoreandsowerehisfeelings.

           Thegirlsfollowedhimasgallantsoldiersmightfollowtheleaderofaforlornhope.

           "Idowishyouwouldn’t,"wasalltheysaid.

           "Gohomeifyou’reafraid,"saidPeter;"leavemealone.I’Mnotafraid."

           Thesoundoftheman’sfootstepsdiedawayalongthequietroad.Thepeaceoftheeveningwasnotbrokenbythenotesofthesedge-warblersorbythevoiceofthewomaninthebarge,singingherbabytosleep.Itwasasadsongshesang.SomethingaboutBillBaileyandhowshewantedhimtocomehome.

           Thechildrenstoodleaningtheirarmsontheparapetofthebridge;theyweregladtobequietforafewminutesbecauseallthreeheartswerebeatingmuchmorequickly.

           "I’mnotgoingtobedrivenawaybyanyoldbargeman,I’mnot,"saidPeter,thickly.