Дети железной дороги

           DoyouthinkI’vekeptrespectableandouterdebtonwhatIgets,andherhavingtotakeinwashing,tobegiveawayforalaughing-stocktoalltheneighbours?"

           "Laughing?"saidPeter;"youdon’tknow."

           "You’reaveryhastygentleman,"whinedPhyllis;"youknowyouwerewrongoncebefore,aboutusnottellingyouthesecretabouttheRussian.DoletBobbietellyouaboutthelabels!"

           "Well.Goahead!"saidPerks,grudgingly.

           "Well,then,"saidBobbie,fumblingmiserably,yetnotwithouthope,inhertightlystuffedpocket,"wewrotedownallthethingseverybodysaidwhentheygaveusthethings,withthepeople’snames,becauseMothersaidweoughttobecareful—because—butIwrotedownwhatshesaid—andyou’llsee."

           ButBobbiecouldnotreadthelabelsjustatonce.Shehadtoswallowonceortwicebeforeshecouldbegin.

           Mrs.Perkshadbeencryingsteadilyeversinceherhusbandhadopenedthewash-housedoor.Nowshecaughtherbreath,choked,andsaid:—

           "Don’tyouupsetyourself,Missy.Iknowyoumeantitkindifhedoesn’t."

           "MayIreadthelabels?"saidBobbie,cryingontotheslipsasshetriedtosortthem."Mother’sfirst.Itsays:—

           "‘LittleClothesforMrs.Perks’schildren.’Mothersaid,‘I’llfindsomeofPhyllis’sthingsthatshe’sgrownoutofifyou’requitesureMr.Perkswouldn’tbeoffendedandthinkit’smeantforcharity.