Дети железной дороги

           "Isay,Bobbie,"saidavoicethroughtheblackness,"aren’tyouafraidofthedark?"

           "Not—notvery,thatis—"

           "Let’sholdhands,"saidtheboy,anditwasreallyrathergoodofhim,becausehewaslikemostboysofhisageandhatedallmaterialtokensofaffection,suchaskissingandholdingofhands.Hecalledallsuchthings"pawings,"anddetestedthem.

           ThedarknesswasmorebearabletoBobbienowthatherhandwasheldinthelargeroughhandofthered-jerseyedsufferer;andhe,holdingherlittlesmoothhotpaw,wassurprisedtofindthathedidnotminditsomuchasheexpected.Shetriedtotalk,toamusehim,and"takehismindoff"hissufferings,butitisverydifficulttogoontalkinginthedark,andpresentlytheyfoundthemselvesinasilence,onlybrokennowandthenbya—

           "Youallright,Bobbie?"

           oran—

           "I’mafraidit’shurtingyoumostawfully,Jim.IAMsosorry."

           Anditwasverycold.

           ***

           PeterandPhyllistrampeddownthelongwayofthetunneltowardsdaylight,thecandle-greasedrippingoverPeter’sfingers.TherewerenoaccidentsunlessyoucountPhyllis’scatchingherfrockonawire,andtearingalong,jaggedslitinit,andtrippingoverherbootlacewhenitcameundone,orgoingdownonherhandsandknees,allfourofwhichweregrazed.