Дети железной дороги
Prisoners and captives.
"
Idonotknowwhetherthemanunderstoodherwords,butheunderstoodthetouchofthehandshethrustintohis,andthekindnessoftheotherhandthatstrokedhisshabbysleeve.
ShepulledhimgentlytowardstheinmostsanctuaryoftheStationMaster.Theotherchildrenfollowed,andtheStationMastershutthedoorinthefaceofthecrowd,whichstoodalittlewhileinthebookingofficetalkingandlookingatthefastclosedyellowdoor,andthenbyonesandtwoswentitsway,grumbling.
InsidetheStationMaster’sroomBobbiestillheldthestranger’shandandstrokedhissleeve.
"Here’sago,"saidtheStationMaster;"noticket—doesn’tevenknowwherehewantstogo.I’mnotsurenowbutwhatIoughttosendforthepolice."
"Oh,DON’T!"allthechildrenpleadedatonce.AndsuddenlyBobbiegotbetweentheothersandthestranger,forshehadseenthathewascrying.
Byamostunusualpieceofgoodfortuneshehadahandkerchiefinherpocket.Byastillmoreuncommonaccidentthehandkerchiefwasmoderatelyclean.Standinginfrontofthestranger,shegotoutthehandkerchiefandpassedittohimsothattheothersdidnotsee.
"WaittillMothercomes,"Phylliswassaying;"shedoesspeakFrenchbeautifully.You’djustlovetohearher."
"I’msurehehasn’tdoneanythinglikeyou’resenttoprisonfor,"saidPeter.
