Дети железной дороги

           Imaycomeagaintoseetheboy?"

           "Surely,"saidMother,"andIdon’tknowhowtothankyouformakingitpossibleformetonursehim.Dearboy!"

           "HekeptcallingMother,Mother,inthenight,"saidPhyllis."Iwokeuptwiceandheardhim."

           "Hedidn’tmeanme,"saidMother,inalowvoicetotheoldgentleman;"that’swhyIwantedsomuchtokeephim."

           Theoldgentlemanrose.

           "I’msoglad,"saidPeter,"thatyou’regoingtokeephim,Mother."

           "TakecareofyourMother,mydears,"saidtheoldgentleman."She’sawomaninamillion."

           "Yes,isn’tshe?"whisperedBobbie.

           "Godblessher,"saidtheoldgentleman,takingbothMother’shands,"Godblessher!Ay,andsheshallbeblessed.Dearme,where’smyhat?WillBobbiecomewithmetothegate?"

           Atthegatehestoppedandsaid:—

           "You’reagoodchild,mydear—Igotyourletter.Butitwasn’tneeded.WhenIreadaboutyourFather’scaseinthepapersatthetime,Ihadmydoubts.AndeversinceI’veknownwhoyouwere,I’vebeentryingtofindoutthings.Ihaven’tdoneverymuchyet.ButIhavehopes,mydear—Ihavehopes."

           "Oh!"saidBobbie,chokingalittle.

           "Yes—Imaysaygreathopes.Butkeepyoursecretalittlelonger