Дети железной дороги

           Itwouldbenicetoputhisnameonthebunswithpinksugar,wouldn’tit?"

           "Perks,"saidPeter,"it’snotaprettyname."

           "Hisothername’sAlbert,"saidPhyllis;"Iaskedhimonce."

           "WemightputA.P.,"saidMother;"I’llshowyouhowwhenthedaycomes."

           Thiswasallverywellasfarasitwent.ButevenfourteenhalfpennybunswithA.P.ontheminpinksugardonotofthemselvesmakeaverygrandcelebration.

           "Therearealwaysflowers,ofcourse,"saidBobbie,later,whenareallyearnestcouncilwasbeingheldonthesubjectinthehay-loftwherethebrokenchaff-cuttingmachinewas,andtherowofholestodrophaythroughintothehay-racksoverthemangersofthestablesbelow.

           "He’sgotlotsofflowersofhisown,"saidPeter.

           "Butit’salwaysnicetohavethemgivenyou,"saidBobbie,"howevermanyyou’vegotofyourown.Wecanuseflowersfortrimmingstothebirthday.Buttheremustbesomethingtotrimbesidesbuns."

           "Let’sallbequietandthink,"saidPhyllis;"noone’stospeakuntilit’sthoughtofsomething."

           Sotheywereallquietandsoverystillthatabrownratthoughtthattherewasnooneintheloftandcameoutveryboldly.WhenBobbiesneezed,theratwasquiteshockedandhurriedaway,forhesawthatahay-loftwheresuchthingscouldhappenwasnoplaceforarespectablemiddle-agedratthatlikedaquietlife.