Дети железной дороги
The pride of Perks.
"
"No,Iain’t,"saidPerks,firmly;"ifamandidn’trespecthisself,noonewouldn’tdoitforhim."
"Buteveryonerespectsyou,"saidBobbie;"theyallsaidso."
"Iknewyou’dlikeitwhenyoureallyunderstood,"saidPhyllis,brightly.
"Humph!You’llstaytotea?"saidMr.Perks.
LateronPeterproposedMr.Perks’shealth.AndMr.Perksproposedatoast,alsohonouredintea,andthetoastwas,"Maythegarlandoffriendshipbeevergreen,"whichwasmuchmorepoeticalthananyonehadexpectedfromhim.
***
"Jollygoodlittlekids,those,"saidMr.Perkstohiswifeastheywenttobed.
"Oh,they’reallright,blesstheirhearts,"saidhiswife;"it’syouthat’stheaggravatingestoldthingthateverwas.Iwasashamedofyou—Itellyou—"
"Youdidn’tneedtobe,oldgal.IclimbeddownhandsomesoonasIunderstooditwasn’tcharity.Butcharity’swhatIneverdidabide,andwon’tneither."
***
Allsortsofpeopleweremadehappybythatbirthdayparty.Mr.PerksandMrs.PerksandthelittlePerksesbyallthenicethingsandbythekindthoughtsoftheirneighbours;theThreeChimneyschildrenbythesuccess,undoubtedthoughunexpectedlydelayed,oftheirplan;andMrs.RansomeeverytimeshesawthefatPerksbabyintheperambulator.Mrs