Діти залізниці
The pride of Perks.
Perkscamedown,buttoningherbodice.Herhairwasbrushedverysmoothandtight,andherfaceshonewithsoapandwater.
"I’mabitlatechanging,Miss,"shesaidtoBobbie,"owingtomehavinghadaextryclean-upto-day,alongo’Perkshappeningtonameitsbeinghisbirthday.Idon’tknowwhatputitintohisheadtothinkofsuchathing.Wekeepsthechildren’sbirthdays,ofcourse;buthimandme—we’retoooldforsuchlike,asageneralrule."
"Weknewitwashisbirthday,"saidPeter,"andwe’vegotsomepresentsforhimoutsideintheperambulator.
Asthepresentswerebeingunpacked,Mrs.Perksgasped.Whentheywereallunpacked,shesurprisedandhorrifiedthechildrenbysittingsuddenlydownonawoodenchairandburstingintotears.
"Oh,don’t!"saideverybody;"oh,pleasedon’t!"AndPeteradded,perhapsalittleimpatiently:"Whatonearthisthematter?Youdon’tmeantosayyoudon’tlikeit?"
Mrs.Perksonlysobbed.ThePerkschildren,nowasshiny-facedasanyonecouldwish,stoodatthewash-housedoor,andscowledattheintruders.Therewasasilence,anawkwardsilence.
"DON’Tyoulikeit?"saidPeter,again,whilehissisterspattedMrs.Perksontheback.
Shestoppedcryingassuddenlyasshehadbegun.
"There,there,don’tyoumindme.I’Mallright!"shesaid.
