Діти залізниці
The pride of Perks.
DoyouthinkI’vekeptrespectableandouterdebtonwhatIgets,andherhavingtotakeinwashing,tobegiveawayforalaughing-stocktoalltheneighbours?"
"Laughing?"saidPeter;"youdon’tknow."
"You’reaveryhastygentleman,"whinedPhyllis;"youknowyouwerewrongoncebefore,aboutusnottellingyouthesecretabouttheRussian.DoletBobbietellyouaboutthelabels!"
"Well.Goahead!"saidPerks,grudgingly.
"Well,then,"saidBobbie,fumblingmiserably,yetnotwithouthope,inhertightlystuffedpocket,"wewrotedownallthethingseverybodysaidwhentheygaveusthethings,withthepeople’snames,becauseMothersaidweoughttobecareful—because—butIwrotedownwhatshesaid—andyou’llsee."
ButBobbiecouldnotreadthelabelsjustatonce.Shehadtoswallowonceortwicebeforeshecouldbegin.
Mrs.Perkshadbeencryingsteadilyeversinceherhusbandhadopenedthewash-housedoor.Nowshecaughtherbreath,choked,andsaid:—
"Don’tyouupsetyourself,Missy.Iknowyoumeantitkindifhedoesn’t."
"MayIreadthelabels?"saidBobbie,cryingontotheslipsasshetriedtosortthem."Mother’sfirst.Itsays:—
"‘LittleClothesforMrs.Perks’schildren.’Mothersaid,‘I’llfindsomeofPhyllis’sthingsthatshe’sgrownoutofifyou’requitesureMr.Perkswouldn’tbeoffendedandthinkit’smeantforcharity.
