Дети железной дороги

           "Bobbie,doyouthinkPeterandPhilareFORGETTINGFather?"

           "NO,"saidBobbie,indignantly."Why?"

           "Younoneofyoueverspeakofhimnow."

           Bobbiestoodfirstononelegandthenontheother.

           "Weoftentalkabouthimwhenwe’rebyourselves,"shesaid.

           "Butnottome,"saidMother."Why?"

           Bobbiedidnotfinditeasytosaywhy.

           "I—you—"shesaidandstopped.Shewentovertothewindowandlookedout.

           "Bobbie,comehere,"saidherMother,andBobbiecame.

           "Now,"saidMother,puttingherarmroundBobbieandlayingherruffledheadagainstBobbie’sshoulder,"trytotellme,dear."

           Bobbiefidgeted.

           "TellMother."

           "Well,then,"saidBobbie,"IthoughtyouweresounhappyaboutDaddynotbeinghere,itmadeyouworsewhenItalkedabouthim.SoIstoppeddoingit."

           "Andtheothers?"

           "Idon’tknowabouttheothers,"saidBobbie."IneversaidanythingaboutTHATtothem.ButIexpecttheyfeltthesameaboutitasme."

           "Bobbiedear,"saidMother,stillleaningherheadagainsther,"I’lltellyou.BesidespartingfromFather,heandIhavehadagreatsorrow—oh,terrible—worsethananythingyoucanthinkof,andatfirstitdidhurttohearyoualltalkingofhimasifeverythingwerejustthesame.Butitwouldbemuchmoreterribleifyouweretoforgethim.