Дети железной дороги

           Itwasn’ttendaysaftertheinterviewinthewaitingroomthatthethreechildrenweresittingonthetopofthebiggestrockinthefieldbelowtheirhousewatchingthe5.15steamawayfromthestationalongthebottomofthevalley.Theysaw,too,thefewpeoplewhohadgotoutatthestationstragglinguptheroadtowardsthevillage—andtheysawonepersonleavetheroadandopenthegatethatledacrossthefieldstoThreeChimneysandtonowhereelse.

           "Whoonearth!"saidPeter,scramblingdown.

           "Let’sgoandsee,"saidPhyllis.

           Sotheydid.Andwhentheygotnearenoughtoseewhothepersonwas,theysawitwastheiroldgentlemanhimself,hisbrassbuttonswinkingintheafternoonsunshine,andhiswhitewaistcoatlookingwhiterthaneveragainstthegreenofthefield.

           "Hullo!"shoutedthechildren,wavingtheirhands.

           "Hullo!"shoutedtheoldgentleman,wavinghishat.

           Thenthethreestartedtorun—andwhentheygottohimtheyhardlyhadbreathlefttosay:—

           "Howdoyoudo?"

           "Goodnews,"saidhe."I’vefoundyourRussianfriend’swifeandchild—andIcouldn’tresistthetemptationofgivingmyselfthepleasureoftellinghim."

           ButashelookedatBobbie’sfacehefeltthatheCOULDresistthattemptation.

           "Here,"hesaidtoher,"yourunonandtellhim.Theothertwowillshowmetheway."

           Bobbieran.