Дети железной дороги
Prisoners and captives.
WhenBobbieandtheDoctorgottoThreeChimneys,theRussianwassittinginthearm-chairthathadbeenFather’s,stretchinghisfeettotheblazeofabrightwoodfire,andsippingtheteaMotherhadmadehim.
"Themanseemswornout,mindandbody,"waswhattheDoctorsaid;"thecough’sbad,butthere’snothingthatcan’tbecured.Heoughttogostraighttobed,though—andlethimhaveafireatnight."
"I’llmakeoneinmyroom;it’stheonlyonewithafireplace,"saidMother.Shedid,andpresentlytheDoctorhelpedthestrangertobed.
TherewasabigblacktrunkinMother’sroomthatnoneofthechildrenhadeverseenunlocked.Now,whenshehadlightedthefire,sheunlockeditandtooksomeclothesout—men’sclothes—andsetthemtoairbythenewlylightedfire.Bobbie,cominginwithmorewoodforthefire,sawthemarkonthenight-shirt,andlookedovertotheopentrunk.Allthethingsshecouldseeweremen’sclothes.AndthenamemarkedontheshirtwasFather’sname.ThenFatherhadn’ttakenhisclotheswithhim.Andthatnight-shirtwasoneofFather’snewones.Bobbieremembereditsbeingmade,justbeforePeter’sbirthday.Whyhadn’tFathertakenhisclothes?Bobbieslippedfromtheroom.Asshewentsheheardthekeyturnedinthelockofthetrunk.Herheartwasbeatinghorribly.
