Дети железной дороги
The beginning of things.
"Oh,Mother,"shewhisperedalltoherselfasshegotintobed,"howbraveyouare!HowIloveyou!Fancybeingbraveenoughtolaughwhenyou’refeelinglikeTHAT!"
Nextdayboxeswerefilled,andboxesandmoreboxes;andthenlateintheafternoonacabcametotakethemtothestation.
AuntEmmasawthemoff.TheyfeltthatTHEYwereseeingHERoff,andtheyweregladofit.
"But,oh,thosepoorlittleforeignchildrenthatshe’sgoingtogoverness!"whisperedPhyllis."Iwouldn’tbethemforanything!"
Atfirsttheyenjoyedlookingoutofthewindow,butwhenitgrewdusktheygrewsleepierandsleepier,andnooneknewhowlongtheyhadbeeninthetrainwhentheywererousedbyMother’sshakingthemgentlyandsaying:—
"Wakeup,dears.We’rethere."
Theywokeup,coldandmelancholy,andstoodshiveringonthedraughtyplatformwhilethebaggagewastakenoutofthetrain.Thentheengine,puffingandblowing,settoworkagain,anddraggedthetrainaway.Thechildrenwatchedthetail-lightsoftheguard’svandisappearintothedarkness.
Thiswasthefirsttrainthechildrensawonthatrailwaywhichwasintimetobecomesoverydeartothem.Theydidnotguessthenhowtheywouldgrowtolovetherailway,andhowsoonitwouldbecomethecentreoftheirnewlife,norwhatwondersandchangesitwouldbringtothem.Theyonlyshiveredandsneezedandhopedthewalktothenewhousewouldnotbelong.
