Дети железной дороги

           "

           ThechildrenagreedastheywenthometodinnerthatthePorterwasmostdelightfulcompany.

           NextdaywasRoberta’sbirthday.Intheafternoonshewaspolitelybutfirmlyrequestedtogetoutofthewayandkeeptheretilltea-time.

           "Youaren’ttoseewhatwe’regoingtodotillit’sdone;it’saglorioussurprise,"saidPhyllis.

           AndRobertawentoutintothegardenallalone.Shetriedtobegrateful,butshefeltshewouldmuchratherhavehelpedinwhateveritwasthanhavetospendherbirthdayafternoonbyherself,nomatterhowgloriousthesurprisemightbe.

           Nowthatshewasalone,shehadtimetothink,andoneofthethingsshethoughtofmostwaswhatmotherhadsaidinoneofthosefeverishnightswhenherhandsweresohotandhereyessobright.

           Thewordswere:"Oh,whatadoctor’sbillthere’llbeforthis!"

           Shewalkedroundandroundthegardenamongtherose-bushesthathadn’tanyrosesyet,onlybuds,andthelilacbushesandsyringasandAmericancurrants,andthemoreshethoughtofthedoctor’sbill,thelessshelikedthethoughtofit.

           Andpresentlyshemadeuphermind.Shewentoutthroughthesidedoorofthegardenandclimbedupthesteepfieldtowheretheroadrunsalongbythecanal.Shewalkedalonguntilshecametothebridgethatcrossesthecanalandleadstothevillage,andhereshewaited.