Дети железной дороги

           We’dgowithoutthewatches,even,ifyoucouldsellthemandfindhiswifewiththemoney."

           Andtheotherssaidso,too,thoughnotwithsomuchenthusiasm.

           "Hum,"saidtheoldgentleman,pullingdownthewhitewaistcoatthathadthebiggiltbuttonsonit,"whatdidyousaythenamewas—Fryingpansky?"

           "No,no,"saidBobbieearnestly."I’llwriteitdownforyou.Itdoesn’treallylookatalllikethatexceptwhenyousayit.Haveyouabitofpencilandthebackofanenvelope?"sheasked.

           Theoldgentlemangotoutagoldpencil-caseandabeautiful,sweet-smelling,greenRussianleathernote-bookandopeneditatanewpage.

           "Here,"hesaid,"writehere."

           Shewrotedown"Szezcpansky,"andsaid:—

           "That’showyouwriteit.YouCALLitShepansky."

           Theoldgentlemantookoutapairofgold-rimmedspectaclesandfittedthemonhisnose.Whenhehadreadthename,helookedquitedifferent.

           "THATman?Blessmysoul!"hesaid."Why,I’vereadhisbook!It’stranslatedintoeveryEuropeanlanguage.Afinebook—anoblebook.Andsoyourmothertookhimin—likethegoodSamaritan.Well,well.I’lltellyouwhat,youngsters—yourmothermustbeaverygoodwoman."

           "Ofcoursesheis,"saidPhyllis,inastonishment.

           "Andyou’reaverygoodman,"saidBobbie,veryshy,butfirmlyresolvedtobepolite.