Дети железной дороги
The End.
OnthewayshepassedtheoldladyfromthePost-office,whogaveherakissandahug,but,rathertoBobbie’ssurprise,nowordsexcept:—
"Godblessyou,love—"and,afterapause,"runalong—do."
Thedraper’sboy,whohadsometimesbeenalittlelessthancivilandalittlemorethancontemptuous,nowtouchedhiscap,andutteredtheremarkablewords:—
"‘Morning,Miss,I’msure—"
Theblacksmith,comingalongwithanopennewspaperinhishand,wasevenmorestrangeinhismanner.Hegrinnedbroadly,though,asarule,hewasamannotgiventosmiles,andwavedthenewspaperlongbeforehecameuptoher.Andashepassedher,hesaid,inanswertoher"Goodmorning":—
"Goodmorningtoyou,Missie,andmanyofthem!Iwishyoujoy,thatIdo!"
"Oh!"saidBobbietoherself,andherheartquickeneditsbeats,"somethingISgoingtohappen!Iknowitis—everyoneissoodd,likepeopleareindreams."
TheStationMasterwrungherhandwarmly.Infactheworkeditupanddownlikeapump-handle.Buthegavehernoreasonforthisunusuallyenthusiasticgreeting.Heonlysaid:—
"The11.54’sabitlate,Miss—theextraluggagethisholidaytime,"andwentawayveryquicklyintothatinnerTempleofhisintowhichevenBobbiedarednotfollowhim.
Perkswasnottobeseen,andBobbiesharedthesolitudeoftheplatformwiththeStationCat.