Дети железной дороги

           Herflannelpetticoatto-daywaswhite,butitwouldbequiteassoftasaredone.Shetookitoff.

           "Oh,whatusefulthingsflannelpetticoatsare!"shesaid;"themanwhoinventedthemoughttohaveastatuedirectedtohim."Andshesaiditaloud,becauseitseemedthatanyvoice,evenherown,wouldbeacomfortinthatdarkness.

           "WHAToughttobedirected?Whoto?"askedtheboy,suddenlyandveryfeebly.

           "Oh,"saidBobbie,"nowyou’rebetter!Holdyourteethanddon’tletithurttoomuch.Now!"

           Shehadfoldedthepetticoat,andliftinghisleglaiditonthecushionoffoldedflannel.

           "Don’tfaintagain,PLEASEdon’t,"saidBobbie,ashegroaned.Shehastilywettedherhandkerchiefwithmilkandspreaditoverthepoorleg.

           "Oh,thathurts,"criedtheboy,shrinking."Oh—no,itdoesn’t—it’snice,really."

           "What’syourname?"saidBobbie.

           "Jim."

           "Mine’sBobbie."

           "Butyou’reagirl,aren’tyou?"

           "Yes,mylongname’sRoberta."

           "Isay—Bobbie."

           "Yes?"

           "Wasn’ttheresomemoreofyoujustnow?"

           "Yes,PeterandPhil—that’smybrotherandsister.They’vegonetogetsomeonetocarryyouout."

           "Whatrumnames.Allboys’.