Дети железной дороги

           "

           "No,Iain’t,"saidPerks,firmly;"ifamandidn’trespecthisself,noonewouldn’tdoitforhim."

           "Buteveryonerespectsyou,"saidBobbie;"theyallsaidso."

           "Iknewyou’dlikeitwhenyoureallyunderstood,"saidPhyllis,brightly.

           "Humph!You’llstaytotea?"saidMr.Perks.

           LateronPeterproposedMr.Perks’shealth.AndMr.Perksproposedatoast,alsohonouredintea,andthetoastwas,"Maythegarlandoffriendshipbeevergreen,"whichwasmuchmorepoeticalthananyonehadexpectedfromhim.

           ***

           "Jollygoodlittlekids,those,"saidMr.Perkstohiswifeastheywenttobed.

           "Oh,they’reallright,blesstheirhearts,"saidhiswife;"it’syouthat’stheaggravatingestoldthingthateverwas.Iwasashamedofyou—Itellyou—"

           "Youdidn’tneedtobe,oldgal.IclimbeddownhandsomesoonasIunderstooditwasn’tcharity.Butcharity’swhatIneverdidabide,andwon’tneither."

           ***

           Allsortsofpeopleweremadehappybythatbirthdayparty.Mr.PerksandMrs.PerksandthelittlePerksesbyallthenicethingsandbythekindthoughtsoftheirneighbours;theThreeChimneyschildrenbythesuccess,undoubtedthoughunexpectedlydelayed,oftheirplan;andMrs.RansomeeverytimeshesawthefatPerksbabyintheperambulator.Mrs