Дети железной дороги

           Blessus!‘eISearly!"

           Perkshadindeedunlatchedthelatchofthelittlefrontgate.

           "Oh,"whisperedBobbie,"let’shideinthebackkitchen,andYOUtellhimaboutit.Butgivehimthetobaccofirst,becauseyougotitforhim.Andwhenyou’vetoldhim,we’llallcomeinandshout,‘Manyhappyreturns!’"

           Itwasaveryniceplan,butitdidnotquitecomeoff.Tobeginwith,therewasonlyjusttimeforPeterandBobbieandPhyllistorushintothewash-house,pushingtheyoungandopen-mouthedPerkschildreninfrontofthem.Therewasnottimetoshutthedoor,sothat,withoutatallmeaningit,theyhadtolistentowhatwentoninthekitchen.Thewash-housewasatightfitforthePerkschildrenandtheThreeChimneyschildren,aswellasallthewash-house’sproperfurniture,includingthemangleandthecopper.

           "Hullo,oldwoman!"theyheardMr.Perks’svoicesay;"here’saprettyset-out!"

           "It’syourbirthdaytea,Bert,"saidMrs.Perks,"andhere’saounceofyourextryparticular.Igotito’Saturdayalongo’yourhappeningtorememberitwasyourbirthdayto-day."

           "Goodoldgirl!"saidMr.Perks,andtherewasasoundofakiss.

           "Butwhat’sthatpramdoinghere?Andwhat’sallthesebundles?Andwheredidyougetthesweetstuff,and—"

           ThechildrendidnothearwhatMrs.