Дети железной дороги

           "Hecalledmeun-un-ungentlemanly,"sobbedPhyllis."Ididn’tnevercallhimunladylike,notevenwhenhetiedmyClorindatothefirewoodbundleandburnedheratthestakeforamartyr."

           Peterhadindeedperpetratedthisoutrageayearortwobefore.

           "Well,youbegan,youknow,"saidBobbie,honestly,"aboutcoalsandallthat.Don’tyouthinkyou’dbetterbothunsayeverythingsincethewave,andlethonourbesatisfied?"

           "IwillifPeterwill,"saidPhyllis,sniffling.

           "Allright,"saidPeter;"honourissatisfied.Here,usemyhankie,Phil,forgoodness’sake,ifyou’velostyoursasusual.Iwonderwhatyoudowiththem."

           "Youhadmylastone,"saidPhyllis,indignantly,"totieuptherabbit-hutchdoorwith.Butyou’reveryungrateful.It’squiterightwhatitsaysinthepoetrybookaboutsharperthanaserpentitistohaveatoothlesschild—butitmeansungratefulwhenitsaystoothless.MissLowetoldmeso."

           "Allright,"saidPeter,impatiently,"I’msorry.THERE!Nowwillyoucomeon?"

           TheyreachedthestationandspentajoyoustwohourswiththePorter.Hewasaworthymanandseemednevertiredofansweringthequestionsthatbeginwith"Why—"whichmanypeopleinhigherranksoflifeoftenseemwearyof.