Дети железной дороги

           "

           "Theyoughttotakehimtothevet,"saidMother,withaworriedfrown;"IreallyCAN’Thavealamedoghere."

           "He’snotadog,really—he’saboy,"saidBobbie,betweenlaughingandchoking.

           "Thenheoughttobetakenhometohismother."

           "Hismother’sdead,"saidBobbie,"andhisfather’sinNorthumberland.Oh,Mother,youwillbenicetohim?ItoldhimIwassureyou’dwantustobringhimhome.Youalwayswanttohelpeverybody."

           Mothersmiled,butshesighed,too.Itisnicethatyourchildrenshouldbelieveyouwillingtoopenhouseandhearttoanyandeveryonewhoneedshelp.Butitisratherembarrassingsometimes,too,whentheyactontheirbelief.

           "Oh,well,"saidMother,"wemustmakethebestofit."

           WhenJimwascarriedin,dreadfullywhiteandwithsetlipswhoseredhadfadedtoahorridblueyvioletcolour,Mothersaid:—

           "Iamgladyoubroughthimhere.Now,Jim,let’sgetyoucomfortableinbedbeforetheDoctorcomes!"

           AndJim,lookingatherkindeyes,feltalittle,warm,comfortingflushofnewcourage.

           "It’llhurtrather,won’tit?"hesaid."Idon’tmeantobeacoward.Youwon’tthinkI’macowardifIfaintagain,willyou?Ireallyandtrulydon’tdoitonpurpose.AndIdohatetogiveyouallthistrouble."

           "Don’tyouworry,"saidMother;"it’syouthathavethetrouble,youpoordear—notus