Дети железной дороги

           Sotheytriedotherways,andbroughthimflowerstilltheplacewherehesatwassurroundedbylittlefadingbunchesofcloverandrosesandCanterburybells.

           AndthenPhyllishadanidea.Shebeckonedmysteriouslytotheothersanddrewthemintothebackyard,andthere,inaconcealedspot,betweenthepumpandthewater-butt,shesaid:—

           "YourememberPerkspromisingmetheveryfirststrawberriesoutofhisowngarden?"Perks,youwillrecollect,wasthePorter."Well,Ishouldthinkthey’reripenow.Let’sgodownandsee."

           MotherhadbeendownasshehadpromisedtotelltheStationMasterthestoryoftheRussianPrisoner.Buteventhecharmsoftherailwayhadbeenunabletotearthechildrenawayfromtheneighbourhoodoftheinterestingstranger.Sotheyhadnotbeentothestationforthreedays.

           Theywentnow.

           And,totheirsurpriseanddistress,wereverycoldlyreceivedbyPerks.

           "‘Ighlyhonoured,I’msure,"hesaidwhentheypeepedinatthedoorofthePorters’room.Andhewentonreadinghisnewspaper.

           Therewasanuncomfortablesilence.

           "Oh,dear,"saidBobbie,withasigh,"Idobelieveyou’reCROSS."

           "What,me?Notme!"saidPerksloftily;"itain’tnothingtome."

           "WhatAIN’Tnothingtoyou?"saidPeter,tooanxiousandalarmedtochangetheformofwords.

           "Nothingain’tnothing.