Дети железной дороги
Saviours of the train.
Sotheytriedotherways,andbroughthimflowerstilltheplacewherehesatwassurroundedbylittlefadingbunchesofcloverandrosesandCanterburybells.
AndthenPhyllishadanidea.Shebeckonedmysteriouslytotheothersanddrewthemintothebackyard,andthere,inaconcealedspot,betweenthepumpandthewater-butt,shesaid:—
"YourememberPerkspromisingmetheveryfirststrawberriesoutofhisowngarden?"Perks,youwillrecollect,wasthePorter."Well,Ishouldthinkthey’reripenow.Let’sgodownandsee."
MotherhadbeendownasshehadpromisedtotelltheStationMasterthestoryoftheRussianPrisoner.Buteventhecharmsoftherailwayhadbeenunabletotearthechildrenawayfromtheneighbourhoodoftheinterestingstranger.Sotheyhadnotbeentothestationforthreedays.
Theywentnow.
And,totheirsurpriseanddistress,wereverycoldlyreceivedbyPerks.
"‘Ighlyhonoured,I’msure,"hesaidwhentheypeepedinatthedoorofthePorters’room.Andhewentonreadinghisnewspaper.
Therewasanuncomfortablesilence.
"Oh,dear,"saidBobbie,withasigh,"Idobelieveyou’reCROSS."
"What,me?Notme!"saidPerksloftily;"itain’tnothingtome."
"WhatAIN’Tnothingtoyou?"saidPeter,tooanxiousandalarmedtochangetheformofwords.
"Nothingain’tnothing.