Дети железной дороги
The beginning of things.
"IwishweHADgotamoatanddrawbridge,"saidRoberta;"then,whenwedidn’twantpeople,wecouldjustpullupthedrawbridgeandnooneelsecouldgetin.IexpectFatherwillhaveforgottenaboutwhenhewasaboyiftheystaymuchlonger."
MothertriedtomakethetimepassbytellingthemanewfairystoryaboutaPrincesswithgreeneyes,butitwasdifficultbecausetheycouldhearthevoicesofFatherandthegentlemenintheLibrary,andFather’svoicesoundedlouderanddifferenttothevoicehegenerallyusedtopeoplewhocameabouttestimonialsandholidayfunds.
ThentheLibrarybellrang,andeveryoneheavedabreathofrelief.
"They’regoingnow,"saidPhyllis;"he’srungtohavethemshownout."
Butinsteadofshowinganybodyout,Ruthshowedherselfin,andshelookedqueer,thechildrenthought.
"Please’m,"shesaid,"theMasterwantsyoutojuststepintothestudy.Helookslikethedead,mum;Ithinkhe’shadbadnews.You’dbestprepareyourselffortheworst,‘m—p’rapsit’sadeathinthefamilyorabankbustedor—"
"That’lldo,Ruth,"saidMothergently;"youcango."
ThenMotherwentintotheLibrary.Therewasmoretalking.Thenthebellrangagain,andRuthfetchedacab.Thechildrenheardbootsgooutanddownthesteps.Thecabdroveaway,andthefrontdoorshut.ThenMothercamein.
