Дети железной дороги

           ‘AveIevercomplainedtoyouofbeingshort,asyoucomesthischaritylayoverme?"

           "OH!"saidPhyllis,"Ithoughtyou’dbesopleased;I’llnevertrytobekindtoanyoneelseaslongasIlive.No,Iwon’t,notnever."

           Sheburstintotears.

           "Wedidn’tmeananyharm,"saidPeter.

           "Itain’twhatyoumeanssomuchaswhatyoudoes,"saidPerks.

           "Oh,DON’T!"criedBobbie,tryinghardtobebraverthanPhyllis,andtofindmorewordsthanPeterhaddoneforexplainingin."Wethoughtyou’dloveit.Wealwayshavethingsonourbirthdays."

           "Oh,yes,"saidPerks,"yourownrelations;that’sdifferent."

           "Oh,no,"Bobbieanswered."NOTourownrelations.Alltheservantsalwaysgaveusthingsathome,andustothemwhenitwastheirbirthdays.Andwhenitwasmine,andMothergavemethebroochlikeabuttercup,Mrs.Vineygavemetwolovelyglasspots,andnobodythoughtshewascomingthecharitylayoverus."

           "Ifithadbeenglasspotshere,"saidPerks,"Iwouldn’tha’saidsomuch.It’stherebeingallthisheapsandheapsofthingsIcan’tstand.No—norwon’t,neither."

           "Butthey’renotallfromus—"saidPeter,"onlyweforgottoputthelabelson.They’refromallsortsofpeopleinthevillage."

           "Whoput’emuptoit,I’dliketoknow?"askedPerks.

           "Why,wedid,"sniffedPhyllis.