Дети железной дороги
The beginning of things.
"You’llpromisethis,too,won’tyou?"saidMother.
"IdidaskRuth,"saidPeter,suddenly."I’mverysorry,butIdid."
"Andwhatdidshesay?"
"ShesaidIshouldknowsoonenough."
"Itisn’tnecessaryforyoutoknowanythingaboutit,"saidMother;"it’saboutbusiness,andyouneverdounderstandbusiness,doyou?"
"No,"saidRoberta;"isitsomethingtodowithGovernment?"ForFatherwasinaGovernmentOffice.
"Yes,"saidMother."Nowit’sbed-time,mydarlings.Anddon’tYOUworry.It’llallcomerightintheend."
"Thendon’tYOUworryeither,Mother,"saidPhyllis,"andwe’llallbeasgoodasgold."
Mothersighedandkissedthem.
"We’llbeginbeinggoodthefirstthingtomorrowmorning,"saidPeter,astheywentupstairs.
"WhynotNOW?"saidRoberta.
"There’snothingtobegoodABOUTnow,silly,"saidPeter.
"WemightbegintotrytoFEELgood,"saidPhyllis,"andnotcallnames."
"Who’scallingnames?"saidPeter."BobbieknowsrightenoughthatwhenIsay‘silly’,it’sjustthesameasifIsaidBobbie."
"WELL,"saidRoberta.
"No,Idon’tmeanwhatyoumean.Imeanit’sjusta—whatisitFathercallsit?—agermofendearment!Goodnight.
