Дети железной дороги

           ThenMotherturnedtotheoldgentlemanandsaid:—

           "Idon’tknowhowtothankyouforEVERYTHING.Ithasbeenarealpleasuretometoseeyou.Butweliveveryquietly.IamsosorrythatIcan’taskyoutocomeandseeusagain."

           Thechildrenthoughtthisveryhard.WhentheyHADmadeafriend—andsuchafriend—theywoulddearlyhavelikedhimtocomeandseethemagain.

           Whattheoldgentlemanthoughttheycouldn’ttell.Heonlysaid:—

           "Iconsidermyselfveryfortunate,Madam,tohavebeenreceivedonceatyourhouse."

           "Ah,"saidMother,"IknowImustseemsurlyandungrateful—but—"

           "Youcouldneverseemanythingbutamostcharmingandgraciouslady,"saidtheoldgentleman,withanotherofhisbows.

           Andastheyturnedtogoupthehill,BobbiesawherMother’sface.

           "Howtiredyoulook,Mammy,"shesaid;"leanonme."

           "It’smyplacetogiveMothermyarm,"saidPeter."I’mtheheadmanofthefamilywhenFather’saway."

           Mothertookanarmofeach.

           "Howawfullynice,"saidPhyllis,skippingjoyfully,"tothinkofthedearRussianembracinghislong-lostwife.Thebabymusthavegrownalotsincehesawit."

           "Yes,"saidMother.

           "IwonderwhetherFatherwillthinkI’VEgrown,"Phylliswenton,skippingstillmoregaily