Дети железной дороги

           Hewassuchabraveboy,andsoadventurous.Alwaysinmischief,andyetfriendswitheverybodyinspiteofit.AndyourUncleReggie’sinCeylon—yes,andFather’saway,too.ButIthinkthey’dallliketothinkwe’denjoyedtalkingaboutthethingstheyusedtodo.Don’tyouthinkso?"

           "NotUncleEdward,"saidPhyllis,inashockedtone;"he’sinHeaven."

           "Youdon’tsupposehe’sforgottenusandalltheoldtimes,becauseGodhastakenhim,anymorethanIforgethim.Oh,no,heremembers.He’sonlyawayforalittletime.Weshallseehimsomeday."

           "AndUncleReggie—andFather,too?"saidPeter.

           "Yes,"saidMother."UncleReggieandFather,too.Goodnight,mydarlings."

           "Goodnight,"saideveryone.Bobbiehuggedhermothermorecloselyeventhanusual,andwhisperedinherear,"Oh,Idoloveyouso,Mummy—Ido—Ido—"

           WhenBobbiecametothinkitallover,shetriednottowonderwhatthegreattroublewas.Butshecouldnotalwayshelpit.Fatherwasnotdead—likepoorUncleEdward—Motherhadsaidso.Andhewasnotill,orMotherwouldhavebeenwithhim.Beingpoorwasn’tthetrouble.Bobbieknewitwassomethingnearertheheartthanmoneycouldbe.

           "Imustn’ttrytothinkwhatitis,"shetoldherself;"no,Imustn’t.IAMgladMothernoticedaboutusnotquarrellingsomuch.We’llkeepthatup.