Дети железной дороги
The terrible secret.
"There!"hesaid."I’lljustslipabitofstringandabitofpaperround’em."
Hepulledanoldnewspaperfromthepileandspreaditonthetable,andmadeaneatparcelofit.
"There,"saidhe,"there’slotsofpictures,andifhelikestomess’emaboutwithhispaint-box,orcolouredchalksorwhatnot,why,lethim.Idon’twant’em."
"You’readear,"saidBobbie,tooktheparcel,andstarted.Thepaperswereheavy,andwhenshehadtowaitatthelevel-crossingwhileatrainwentby,sherestedtheparcelonthetopofthegate.Andidlyshelookedattheprintingonthepaperthattheparcelwaswrappedin.
Suddenlysheclutchedtheparceltighterandbentherheadoverit.Itseemedlikesomehorribledream.Shereadon—thebottomofthecolumnwastornoff—shecouldreadnofarther.
Sheneverrememberedhowshegothome.Butshewentontiptoetoherroomandlockedthedoor.Thensheundidtheparcelandreadthatprintedcolumnagain,sittingontheedgeofherbed,herhandsandfeeticycoldandherfaceburning.Whenshehadreadalltherewas,shedrewalong,unevenbreath.
"SonowIknow,"shesaid.
Whatshehadreadwasheaded,‘EndoftheTrial.Verdict.Sentence.’
ThenameofthemanwhohadbeentriedwasthenameofherFather.Theverdictwas‘Guilty.’Andthesentencewas‘Fiveyears’PenalServitude
