Дети железной дороги
The beginning of things.
Butbeforehewenttoschoolhethumpedhissisterbetweentheshouldersandtoldhertocheerup.
Thechildrencamehometooneo’clockdinner,butMotherwasnotthere.Andshewasnotthereattea-time.
Itwasnearlysevenbeforeshecamein,lookingsoillandtiredthatthechildrenfelttheycouldnotaskheranyquestions.Shesankintoanarm-chair.Phyllistookthelongpinsoutofherhat,whileRobertatookoffhergloves,andPeterunfastenedherwalking-shoesandfetchedhersoftvelvetyslippersforher.
Whenshehadhadacupoftea,andRobertahadputeau-de-Cologneonherpoorheadthatached,Mothersaid:—
"Now,mydarlings,Iwanttotellyousomething.Thosemenlastnightdidbringverybadnews,andFatherwillbeawayforsometime.Iamveryworriedaboutit,andIwantyoualltohelpme,andnottomakethingsharderforme."
"Asifwewould!"saidRoberta,holdingMother’shandagainstherface.
"Youcanhelpmeverymuch,"saidMother,"bybeinggoodandhappyandnotquarrellingwhenI’maway"—RobertaandPeterexchangedguiltyglances—"forIshallhavetobeawayagooddeal."
"Wewon’tquarrel.Indeedwewon’t,"saideverybody.Andmeantit,too.
"Then,"Motherwenton,"Iwantyounottoaskmeanyquestionsaboutthistrouble;andnottoaskanybodyelseanyquestions."
Petercringedandshuffledhisbootsonthecarpet.
