Дети железной дороги

           AndIsays,saysI,‘CauseIthoughtshe’dlookfust-rate,’saysI,‘andIthinksostill.’An’hesays,‘DEWyer?Thenyecanjustpayforthebloomin’paintyerself,’sayshe.An’I‘adto,too."Amurmurofsympathyranroundtheroom.BreakingnoisilyinonitcameBobbie.Sheburstopentheswingdoor—cryingbreathlessly:—

           "Bill!IwantBilltheBargeman."

           Therewasastupefiedsilence.Potsofbeerwereheldinmid-air,paralysedontheirwaytothirstymouths.

           "Oh,"saidBobbie,seeingthebargewomanandmakingforher."Yourbargecabin’sonfire.Goquickly."

           Thewomanstartedtoherfeet,andputabigredhandtoherwaist,ontheleftside,whereyourheartseemstobewhenyouarefrightenedormiserable.

           "ReginaldHorace!"shecriedinaterriblevoice;"myReginaldHorace!"

           "Allright,"saidBobbie,"ifyoumeanthebaby;gothimoutsafe.Dog,too."Shehadnobreathformore,except,"Goon—it’sallalight."

           Thenshesankontheale-housebenchandtriedtogetthatbreathofreliefafterrunningwhichpeoplecallthe‘secondwind.’Butshefeltasthoughshewouldneverbreatheagain.

           BilltheBargeeroseslowlyandheavily.Buthiswifewasahundredyardsuptheroadbeforehehadquiteunderstoodwhatwasthematter.