Дети железной дороги
What Bobbie brought home.
"
"Theyoughttotakehimtothevet,"saidMother,withaworriedfrown;"IreallyCAN’Thavealamedoghere."
"He’snotadog,really—he’saboy,"saidBobbie,betweenlaughingandchoking.
"Thenheoughttobetakenhometohismother."
"Hismother’sdead,"saidBobbie,"andhisfather’sinNorthumberland.Oh,Mother,youwillbenicetohim?ItoldhimIwassureyou’dwantustobringhimhome.Youalwayswanttohelpeverybody."
Mothersmiled,butshesighed,too.Itisnicethatyourchildrenshouldbelieveyouwillingtoopenhouseandhearttoanyandeveryonewhoneedshelp.Butitisratherembarrassingsometimes,too,whentheyactontheirbelief.
"Oh,well,"saidMother,"wemustmakethebestofit."
WhenJimwascarriedin,dreadfullywhiteandwithsetlipswhoseredhadfadedtoahorridblueyvioletcolour,Mothersaid:—
"Iamgladyoubroughthimhere.Now,Jim,let’sgetyoucomfortableinbedbeforetheDoctorcomes!"
AndJim,lookingatherkindeyes,feltalittle,warm,comfortingflushofnewcourage.
"It’llhurtrather,won’tit?"hesaid."Idon’tmeantobeacoward.Youwon’tthinkI’macowardifIfaintagain,willyou?Ireallyandtrulydon’tdoitonpurpose.AndIdohatetogiveyouallthistrouble."
"Don’tyouworry,"saidMother;"it’syouthathavethetrouble,youpoordear—notus