Дети железной дороги
The old gentleman.
Mysister’seldest—shetookachillanditwenttoherinside,twoyearsagocomeChristmas,andshe’sneverbeenthesamegellsince."
Motherwouldn’tatfirst,butintheeveningshefeltsomuchworsethatPeterwassenttothehouseinthevillagethathadthreelaburnumtreesbythegate,andonthegateabrassplatewithW.W.Forrest,M.D.,onit.
W.W.Forrest,M.D.,cameatonce.HetalkedtoPeteronthewayback.Heseemedamostcharmingandsensibleman,interestedinrailways,andrabbits,andreallyimportantthings.
WhenhehadseenMother,hesaiditwasinfluenza.
"Now,LadyGrave-airs,"hesaidinthehalltoBobbie,"Isupposeyou’llwanttobehead-nurse."
"Ofcourse,"saidshe.
"Well,then,I’llsenddownsomemedicine.Keepupagoodfire.Havesomestrongbeefteamadereadytogiveherassoonasthefevergoesdown.Shecanhavegrapesnow,andbeefessence—andsoda-waterandmilk,andyou’dbettergetinabottleofbrandy.Thebestbrandy.Cheapbrandyisworsethanpoison."
Sheaskedhimtowriteitalldown,andhedid.
WhenBobbieshowedMotherthelisthehadwritten,Motherlaughed.ItWASalaugh,Bobbiedecided,thoughitwasratheroddandfeeble.
"Nonsense,"saidMother,layinginbedwitheyesasbrightasbeads."Ican’taffordallthatrubbish.TellMrs.