Дети железной дороги

           "

           "Well,"saidPeterunexpectedly,"perhapsIam.YoudidsayIwasn’tacoward,evenwhenyouwereinsuchawax.Theonlythingis—don’tyoubeaprig,that’sall.Youkeepyoureyesopenandifyoufeelpriggishnesscomingonjuststopintime.See?"

           "Yes,"saidBobbie,"Isee."

           "Thenlet’scallitPax,"saidPeter,magnanimously:"burythehatchetinthefathomsofthepast.Shakehandsonit.Isay,Bobbie,oldchap,Iamtired."

           Hewastiredformanydaysafterthat,andthesettleseemedhardanduncomfortableinspiteofallthepillowsandbolstersandsoftfoldedrugs.Itwasterriblenottobeabletogoout.Theymovedthesettletothewindow,andfromtherePetercouldseethesmokeofthetrainswindingalongthevalley.Buthecouldnotseethetrains.

           AtfirstBobbiefounditquitehardtobeasnicetohimasshewantedtobe,forfearheshouldthinkherpriggish.Butthatsoonworeoff,andbothsheandPhylliswere,asheobserved,jollygoodsorts.Mothersatwithhimwhenhissisterswereout.Andthewords,"he’snotacoward,"madePeterdeterminednottomakeanyfussaboutthepaininhisfoot,thoughitwasratherbad,especiallyatnight.

           Praisehelpspeopleverymuch,sometimes.

           Therewerevisitors,too.Mrs.Perkscameuptoaskhowhewas,andsodidtheStationMaster,andseveralofthevillagepeople.Butthetimewentslowly,slowly.