Дети железной дороги
Prisoners and captives.
"Youwouldn’thurtme,wouldyou?"
Shesmiledathim,andhesmiledback,aqueercrookedsmile.Andthenhecoughedagain.Andtheheavyrattlingswishoftheincomingtrainsweptpast,andtheStationMasterandPeterandPhylliswentouttomeetit.Bobbiewasstillholdingthestranger’shandwhentheycamebackwithMother.
TheRussianroseandbowedveryceremoniously.
ThenMotherspokeinFrench,andhereplied,haltinglyatfirst,butpresentlyinlongerandlongersentences.
Thechildren,watchinghisfaceandMother’s,knewthathewastellingherthingsthatmadeherangryandpitying,andsorryandindignantallatonce.
"Well,Mum,what’sitallabout?"TheStationMastercouldnotrestrainhiscuriosityanylonger.
"Oh,"saidMother,"it’sallright.He’saRussian,andhe’slosthisticket.AndI’mafraidhe’sveryill.Ifyoudon’tmind,I’lltakehimhomewithmenow.He’sreallyquitewornout.I’llrundownandtellyouallabouthimto-morrow."
"Ihopeyouwon’tfindyou’retakinghomeafrozenviper,"saidtheStationMaster,doubtfully.
"Oh,no,"Mothersaidbrightly,andshesmiled;"I’mquitesureI’mnot.Why,he’sagreatmaninhisowncountry,writesbooks—beautifulbooks—I’vereadsomeofthem;butI’lltellyouallaboutitto-morrow.
