Дети железной дороги
The beginning of things.
Buttheykepthintingthattheycouldtellagreatdealiftheychose—andthiswasnotcomfortable.
OnedaywhenPeterhadmadeaboobytrapoverthebath-roomdoor,andithadactedbeautifullyasRuthpassedthrough,thatred-hairedparlour-maidcaughthimandboxedhisears.
"You’llcometoabadend,"shesaidfuriously,"younastylittlelimb,you!Ifyoudon’tmendyourways,you’llgowhereyourpreciousFather’sgone,soItellyoustraight!"
RobertarepeatedthistoherMother,andnextdayRuthwassentaway.
ThencamethetimewhenMothercamehomeandwenttobedandstayedtheretwodaysandtheDoctorcame,andthechildrencreptwretchedlyaboutthehouseandwonderediftheworldwascomingtoanend.
Mothercamedownonemorningtobreakfast,verypaleandwithlinesonherfacethatusednottobethere.Andshesmiled,aswellasshecould,andsaid:—
"Now,mypets,everythingissettled.We’regoingtoleavethishouse,andgoandliveinthecountry.Suchaduckydearlittlewhitehouse.Iknowyou’llloveit."
Awhirlingweekofpackingfollowed—notjustpackingclothes,likewhenyougototheseaside,butpackingchairsandtables,coveringtheirtopswithsackingandtheirlegswithstraw.
Allsortsofthingswerepackedthatyoudon’tpackwhenyougototheseaside.Crockery,blankets,candlesticks,carpets,bedsteads,saucepans,andevenfendersandfire-irons.
