Дети железной дороги

           ‘AffairsofState,Perks,’sayshe.ButIdidthinkoneo’youwould‘a’nippeddowntotellme—you’reheresharpenoughwhenyouwanttogetanythingoutofoldPerks"—Phyllisflushedpurpleasshethoughtofthestrawberries—"informationaboutlocomotivesorsignalsorthelikes,"saidPerks.

           "Wedidn’tknowyoudidn’tknow."

           "WethoughtMotherhadtoldyou."

           "Wewantedtotellyouonlywethoughtitwouldbestalenews."

           Thethreespokeallatonce.

           Perkssaiditwasallverywell,andstillheldupthepaper.ThenPhyllissuddenlysnatcheditaway,andthrewherarmsroundhisneck.

           "Oh,let’skissandbefriends,"shesaid;"we’llsaywe’resorryfirst,ifyoulike,butwedidn’treallyknowthatyoudidn’tknow."

           "Wearesosorry,"saidtheothers.

           AndPerksatlastconsentedtoaccepttheirapologies.

           ThentheygothimtocomeoutandsitinthesunonthegreenRailwayBank,wherethegrasswasquitehottotouch,andthere,sometimesspeakingoneatatime,andsometimesalltogether,theytoldthePorterthestoryoftheRussianPrisoner.

           "Well,Imustsay,"saidPerks;buthedidnotsayit—whateveritwas.

           "Yes,itisprettyawful,isn’tit?"saidPeter,"andIdon’twonderyouwerecuriousaboutwhotheRussianwas."

           "Iwasn’tcurious,notsomuchasinterested,"saidthePorter.