Діти залізниці
The hound’s grandfather.
Motherwassittinginthewindow-seat,andintheleather-coveredarmchairthatFatheralwaysusedtositinattheotherhousesat—
THEIROWNOLDGENTLEMAN!
"Well,Ineverdid,"saidPeter,evenbeforehesaid,"Howdoyoudo?"Hewas,asheexplainedafterwards,toosurprisedeventorememberthattherewassuchathingaspoliteness—muchlesstopractiseit.
"It’sourownoldgentleman!"saidPhyllis.
"Oh,it’syou!"saidBobbie.Andthentheyrememberedthemselvesandtheirmannersandsaid,"Howdoyoudo?"verynicely.
"ThisisJim’sgrandfather,Mr.—"saidMother,namingtheoldgentleman’sname.
"Howsplendid!"saidPeter;"that’sjustexactlylikeabook,isn’tit,Mother?"
"Itis,rather,"saidMother,smiling;"thingsdohappeninreallifethatareratherlikebooks,sometimes."
"IamsoawfullygladitISyou,"saidPhyllis;"whenyouthinkofthetonsofoldgentlementhereareintheworld—itmighthavebeenalmostanyone."
"Isay,though,"saidPeter,"you’renotgoingtotakeJimaway,though,areyou?"
"Notatpresent,"saidtheoldgentleman."YourMotherhasmostkindlyconsentedtolethimstayhere.Ithoughtofsendinganurse,butyourMotherisgoodenoughtosaythatshewillnursehimherself."
"Butwhataboutherwriting?"saidPeter,beforeanyonecouldstophim.
