Дети железной дороги

           "There’snoendtothistunnel,"saidPhyllis—andindeeditdidseemveryverylong.

           "Sticktoit,"saidPeter;"everythinghasanend,andyougettoitifyouonlykeepallon."

           Whichisquitetrue,ifyoucometothinkofit,andausefulthingtorememberinseasonsoftrouble—suchasmeasles,arithmetic,impositions,andthosetimeswhenyouareindisgrace,andfeelasthoughnoonewouldeverloveyouagain,andyoucouldnever—neveragain—loveanybody.

           "Hurray,"saidPeter,suddenly,"there’stheendofthetunnel—looksjustlikeapin-holeinabitofblackpaper,doesn’tit?"

           Thepin-holegotlarger—bluelightslayalongthesidesofthetunnel.Thechildrencouldseethegravelwaythatlayinfrontofthem;theairgrewwarmerandsweeter.Anothertwentystepsandtheywereoutinthegoodgladsunshinewiththegreentreesonbothsides.

           Phyllisdrewalongbreath.

           "I’llnevergointoatunnelagainaslongaseverIlive,"saidshe,"notiftherearetwentyhundredthousandmillionshoundsinsidewithredjerseysandtheirlegsbroken."

           "Don’tbeasillycuckoo,"saidPeter,asusual."You’dHAVEto."

           "Ithinkitwasverybraveandgoodofme,"saidPhyllis.

           "Notit,"saidPeter;"youdidn’tgobecauseyouwerebrave,butbecauseBobbieandIaren’tskunks.