Дети железной дороги
The beginning of things.
"
Thegirlsfoldeduptheirclotheswithmorethanusualneatness—whichwastheonlywayofbeinggoodthattheycouldthinkof.
"Isay,"saidPhyllis,smoothingoutherpinafore,"youusedtosayitwassodull—nothinghappening,likeinbooks.NowsomethingHAShappened."
"IneverwantedthingstohappentomakeMotherunhappy,"saidRoberta."Everything’sperfectlyhorrid."
Everythingcontinuedtobeperfectlyhorridforsomeweeks.
Motherwasnearlyalwaysout.Mealsweredullanddirty.Thebetween-maidwassentaway,andAuntEmmacameonavisit.AuntEmmawasmucholderthanMother.Shewasgoingabroadtobeagoverness.Shewasverybusygettingherclothesready,andtheywereveryugly,dingyclothes,andshehadthemalwayslitteringabout,andthesewing-machineseemedtowhir—onandonalldayandmostofthenight.AuntEmmabelievedinkeepingchildrenintheirproperplaces.Andtheymorethanreturnedthecompliment.TheirideaofAuntEmma’sproperplacewasanywherewheretheywerenot.Sotheysawverylittleofher.Theypreferredthecompanyoftheservants,whoweremoreamusing.Cook,ifinagoodtemper,couldsingcomicsongs,andthehousemaid,ifshehappenednottobeoffendedwithyou,couldimitateahenthathaslaidanegg,abottleofchampagnebeingopened,andcouldmewliketwocatsfighting.TheservantsnevertoldthechildrenwhatthebadnewswasthatthegentlemenhadbroughttoFather.
