Дети железной дороги
Peter’s coal-mine.
Thegirlshastily‘tidied’theroom,whichmeantputtingthechairsagainstthewall,andpilingalltheoddsandendsintoacornerandpartlyhidingthemwiththebigleatherarm-chairthatFatherusedtositinafterdinner.
"Bravo!"criedMother,cominginwithatrayfullofthings."Thisissomethinglike!I’lljustgetatableclothandthen—"
Thetableclothwasinaboxwithaproperlockthatwasopenedwithakeyandnotwithashovel,andwhentheclothwasspreadonthetable,arealfeastwaslaidoutonit.
Everyonewasvery,verytired,buteveryonecheeredupatthesightofthefunnyanddelightfulsupper.Therewerebiscuits,theMarieandtheplainkind,sardines,preservedginger,cookingraisins,andcandiedpeelandmarmalade.
"WhatagoodthingAuntEmmapackedupalltheoddsandendsoutoftheStorecupboard,"saidMother."Now,Phil,DON’Tputthemarmaladespooninamongthesardines."
"No,Iwon’t,Mother,"saidPhyllis,andputitdownamongtheMariebiscuits.
"Let’sdrinkAuntEmma’shealth,"saidRoberta,suddenly;"whatshouldwehavedoneifshehadn’tpackedupthesethings?Here’stoAuntEmma!"
Andthetoastwasdrunkingingerwineandwater,outofwillow-patternedtea-cups,becausetheglassescouldn’tbefound.
TheyallfeltthattheyhadbeenalittlehardonAuntEmma.
