Дети железной дороги

           AndthenbeforeheknewwhathewasgoingtodoheranaftertheStationMaster,whostoppedwhenheheardPeter’shastybootscrunchingtheroad,andcomingupwithhimverybreathlessandwithhisearsnowquitemagenta-coloured,hesaid:—

           "Idon’twantyoutobepolitetomeifyoudon’tknowmewhenyouseeme."

           "Eh?"saidtheStationMaster.

           "Ithoughtperhapsyoudidn’tknowitwasmethattookthecoals,"Peterwenton,"whenyousaid‘Goodmorning.’Butitwas,andI’msorry.There."

           "Why,"saidtheStationMaster,"Iwasn’tthinkinganythingatallaboutthepreciouscoals.Letbygonesbebygones.Andwherewereyouofftoinsuchahurry?"

           "I’mgoingtobuybunsfortea,"saidPeter.

           "Ithoughtyouwereallsopoor,"saidtheStationMaster.

           "Soweare,"saidPeter,confidentially,"butwealwayshavethreepennyworthofhalfpenniesforteawheneverMothersellsastoryorapoemoranything."

           "Oh,"saidtheStationMaster,"soyourMotherwritesstories,doesshe?"

           "Thebeautifulestyoueverread,"saidPeter.

           "YououghttobeveryproudtohavesuchacleverMother."

           "Yes,"saidPeter,"butsheusedtoplaywithusmorebeforeshehadtobesoclever."

           "Well,"saidtheStationMaster,"Imustbegettingalong.YougiveusalookinattheStationwheneveryoufeelsoinclined.