The beginning of things.

           Theywerenotrailwaychildrentobeginwith.Idon’tsupposetheyhadeverthoughtaboutrailwaysexceptasameansofgettingtoMaskelyneandCook’s,thePantomime,ZoologicalGardens,andMadameTussaud’s.Theywerejustordinarysuburbanchildren,andtheylivedwiththeirFatherandMotherinanordinaryred-brick-frontedvilla,withcolouredglassinthefrontdoor,atiledpassagethatwascalledahall,abath-roomwithhotandcoldwater,electricbells,Frenchwindows,andagooddealofwhitepaint,and‘everymodernconvenience’,asthehouse-agentssay.

           Therewerethreeofthem.Robertawastheeldest.Ofcourse,Mothersneverhavefavourites,butiftheirMotherHADhadafavourite,itmighthavebeenRoberta.NextcamePeter,whowishedtobeanEngineerwhenhegrewup;andtheyoungestwasPhyllis,whomeantextremelywell.

           Motherdidnotspendallhertimeinpayingdullcallstodullladies,andsittingdullyathomewaitingfordullladiestopaycallstoher.Shewasalmostalwaysthere,readytoplaywiththechildren,andreadtothem,andhelpthemtodotheirhome-lessons.Besidesthissheusedtowritestoriesforthemwhiletheywereatschool,andreadthemaloudaftertea,andshealwaysmadeupfunnypiecesofpoetryfortheirbirthdaysandforothergreatoccasions,suchasthechristeningofthenewkittens,ortherefurnishingofthedoll’shouse,orthetimewhentheyweregettingoverthemumps.