Дети железной дороги

           Perksreplied,becausejustthenBobbiegaveastart,putherhandinherpocket,andallherbodygrewstiffwithhorror.

           "Oh!"shewhisperedtotheothers,"whatevershallwedo?Iforgottoputthelabelsonanyofthethings!Hewon’tknowwhat’sfromwho.He’llthinkit’sallUS,andthatwe’retryingtobegrandorcharitableorsomethinghorrid."

           "Hush!"saidPeter.

           AndthentheyheardthevoiceofMr.Perks,loudandratherangry.

           "Idon’tcare,"hesaid;"Iwon’tstandit,andsoItellyoustraight."

           "But,"saidMrs.Perks,"it’sthemchildrenyoumakesuchafussabout—thechildrenfromtheThreeChimneys."

           "Idon’tcare,"saidPerks,firmly,"notifitwasaangelfromHeaven.We’vegotonallrightalltheseyearsandnofavoursasked.I’mnotgoingtobeginthesesortofcharitygoings-onatmytimeoflife,sodon’tyouthinkit,Nell."

           "Oh,hush!"saidpoorMrsPerks;"Bert,shutyoursillytongue,forgoodness’sake.Theallthreeof‘emsinthewash-housea-listeningtoeverywordyouspeaks."

           "ThenI’llgivethemsomethingtolistento,"saidtheangryPerks;"I’vespokemymindtothemaforenow,andI’lldoitagain,"headded,andhetooktwostridestothewash-housedoor,andflungitwideopen—aswide,thatis,asitwouldgo,withthetightlypackedchildrenbehindit.

           "Comeout,"saidPerks,"comeoutandtellmewhatyoumeanbyit.