Діти залізниці

           WHYhadn’tFathertakenhisclothes?WhenMothercameoutoftheroom,Bobbieflungtightlyclaspingarmsroundherwaist,andwhispered:—

           "Mother—Daddyisn’t—isn’tDEAD,ishe?"

           "Mydarling,no!Whatmadeyouthinkofanythingsohorrible?"

           "I—Idon’tknow,"saidBobbie,angrywithherself,butstillclingingtothatresolutionofhers,nottoseeanythingthatMotherdidn’tmeanhertosee.

           Mothergaveherahurriedhug."Daddywasquite,QUITEwellwhenIheardfromhimlast,"shesaid,"andhe’llcomebacktoussomeday.Don’tfancysuchhorriblethings,darling!"

           Lateron,whentheRussianstrangerhadbeenmadecomfortableforthenight,Mothercameintothegirls’room.ShewastosleepthereinPhyllis’sbed,andPhylliswastohaveamattressonthefloor,amostamusingadventureforPhyllis.DirectlyMothercamein,twowhitefiguresstartedup,andtwoeagervoicescalled:—

           "Now,Mother,tellusallabouttheRussiangentleman."

           Awhiteshapehoppedintotheroom.ItwasPeter,dragginghisquiltbehindhimlikethetailofawhitepeacock.

           "Wehavebeenpatient,"hesaid,"andIhadtobitemytonguenottogotosleep,andIjustnearlywenttosleepandIbittoohard,andithurtseverso.DOtellus.Makeanicelongstoryofit."

           "Ican’tmakealongstoryofitto-night,"saidMother;"I’mverytired.