["\\\"It\tain't\twhat\tyou\tmeans\tso\tmuch\tas\twhat\tyou\tdoes,\\\"\tsaid\tPerks. \\\"Oh,\tDON'T!\\\"\tcried\tBobbie,\ttrying\thard\tto\tbe\tbraver\tthan\tPhyllis,\tand\tto\tfind more\twords\tthan\tPeter\thad\tdone\tfor\texplaining\tin.\t\\\"We\tthought\tyou'd\tlove\tit. We\talways\thave\tthings\ton\tour\tbirthdays.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tyes,\\\"\tsaid\tPerks,\t\\\"your\town\trelations;\tthat's\tdifferent.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tno,\\\"\tBobbie\tanswered.\t\\\"NOT\tour\town\trelations.\tAll\tthe\tservants\talways gave\tus\tthings\tat\thome,\tand\tus\tto\tthem\twhen\tit\twas\ttheir\tbirthdays.\tAnd\twhen it\twas\tmine,\tand\tMother\tgave\tme\tthe\tbrooch\tlike\ta\tbuttercup,\tMrs.\tViney\tgave me\ttwo\tlovely\tglass\tpots,\tand\tnobody\tthought\tshe\twas\tcoming\tthe\tcharity\tlay over\tus.\\\" \\\"If\t it\t had\t been\t glass\t pots\t here,\\\"\t said\t Perks,\t \\\"I\t wouldn't\t ha'\t said\t so\t much.\t It's there\t being\t all\t this\t heaps\t and\t heaps\t of\t things\t I\t can't\t stand.\t No\u2014nor\t won't, neither.\\\" \\\"But\tthey're\tnot\tall\tfrom\tus\u2014\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"only\twe\tforgot\tto\tput\tthe\tlabels\ton. They're\tfrom\tall\tsorts\tof\tpeople\tin\tthe\tvillage.\\\" \\\"Who\tput\t'em\tup\tto\tit,\tI'd\tlike\tto\tknow?\\\"\tasked\tPerks. \\\"Why,\twe\tdid,\\\"\tsniffed\tPhyllis. Perks\t sat\t down\t heavily\t in\t the\t elbow-chair\t and\t looked\t at\t them\t with\t what Bobbie\tafterwards\tdescribed\tas\twithering\tglances\tof\tgloomy\tdespair. \\\"So\t you've\t been\t round\t telling\t the\t neighbours\t we\t can't\t make\t both\t ends\t meet? Well,\tnow\tyou've\tdisgraced\tus\tas\tdeep\tas\tyou\tcan\tin\tthe\tneighbourhood,\tyou can\t just\t take\t the\t whole\t bag\t of\t tricks\t back\t w'ere\t it\t come\t from.\t Very\t much obliged,\t I'm\t sure.\t I\t don't\t doubt\t but\t what\t you\t meant\t it\t kind,\t but\t I'd\t rather\t not be\tacquainted\twith\tyou\tany\tlonger\tif\tit's\tall\tthe\tsame\tto\tyou.\\\"\tHe\tdeliberately turned\tthe\tchair\tround\tso\tthat\this\tback\twas\tturned\tto\tthe\tchildren.\tThe\tlegs\tof the\tchair\tgrated\ton\tthe\tbrick\tfloor,\tand\tthat\twas\tthe\tonly\tsound\tthat\tbroke\tthe silence. Then\tsuddenly\tBobbie\tspoke. \\\"Look\there,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\t\\\"this\tis\tmost\tawful.\\\" \\\"That's\twhat\tI\tsays,\\\"\tsaid\tPerks,\tnot\tturning\tround. \\\"Look\there,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tdesperately,\t\\\"we'll\tgo\tif\tyou\tlike\u2014and\tyou\tneedn't be\tfriends\twith\tus\tany\tmore\tif\tyou\tdon't\twant,\tbut\u2014\\\" \\\"WE\tshall\talways\tbe\tfriends\twith\tYOU,\thowever\tnasty\tyou\tare\tto\tus,\\\"\tsniffed","Phyllis,\twildly. \\\"Be\tquiet,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tin\ta\tfierce\taside. \\\"But\t before\t we\t go,\\\"\t Bobbie\t went\t on\t desperately,\t \\\"do\t let\t us\t show\t you\t the labels\twe\twrote\tto\tput\ton\tthe\tthings.\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\twant\tto\tsee\tno\tlabels,\\\"\tsaid\tPerks,\t\\\"except\tproper\tluggage\tones\tin\tmy own\twalk\tof\tlife.\tDo\tyou\tthink\tI've\tkept\trespectable\tand\touter\tdebt\ton\twhat\tI gets,\tand\ther\thaving\tto\ttake\tin\twashing,\tto\tbe\tgive\taway\tfor\ta\tlaughing-stock to\tall\tthe\tneighbours?\\\" \\\"Laughing?\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"you\tdon't\tknow.\\\" \\\"You're\ta\tvery\thasty\tgentleman,\\\"\twhined\tPhyllis;\t\\\"you\tknow\tyou\twere\twrong once\t before,\t about\t us\t not\t telling\t you\t the\t secret\t about\t the\t Russian.\t Do\t let Bobbie\ttell\tyou\tabout\tthe\tlabels!\\\" \\\"Well.\tGo\tahead!\\\"\tsaid\tPerks,\tgrudgingly. \\\"Well,\t then,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t fumbling\t miserably,\t yet\t not\t without\t hope,\t in\t her tightly\t stuffed\t pocket,\t \\\"we\t wrote\t down\t all\t the\t things\t everybody\t said\t when they\t gave\t us\t the\t things,\t with\t the\t people's\t names,\t because\t Mother\t said\t we ought\t to\t be\t careful\u2014because\u2014but\t I\t wrote\t down\t what\t she\t said\u2014and\t you'll see.\\\" But\tBobbie\tcould\tnot\tread\tthe\tlabels\tjust\tat\tonce.\tShe\thad\tto\tswallow\tonce\tor twice\tbefore\tshe\tcould\tbegin. Mrs.\t Perks\t had\t been\t crying\t steadily\t ever\t since\t her\t husband\t had\t opened\t the wash-house\tdoor.\tNow\tshe\tcaught\ther\tbreath,\tchoked,\tand\tsaid:\u2014 \\\"Don't\tyou\tupset\tyourself,\tMissy.\tI\tknow\tyou\tmeant\tit\tkind\tif\the\tdoesn't.\\\" \\\"May\tI\tread\tthe\tlabels?\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tcrying\ton\tto\tthe\tslips\tas\tshe\ttried\tto\tsort them.\t\\\"Mother's\tfirst.\tIt\tsays:\u2014 \\\"'Little\t Clothes\t for\t Mrs.\t Perks's\t children.'\t Mother\t said,\t 'I'll\t find\t some\t of Phyllis's\tthings\tthat\tshe's\tgrown\tout\tof\tif\tyou're\tquite\tsure\tMr.\tPerks\twouldn't be\toffended\tand\tthink\tit's\tmeant\tfor\tcharity.\tI'd\tlike\tto\tdo\tsome\tlittle\tthing\tfor him,\t because\t he's\t so\t kind\t to\t you.\t I\t can't\t do\t much\t because\t we're\t poor ourselves.'\\\" Bobbie\tpaused. \\\"That's\t all\t right,\\\"\t said\t Perks,\t \\\"your\t Ma's\t a\t born\t lady.\t We'll\t keep\t the\t little frocks,\tand\twhat\tnot,\tNell.\\\"","\\\"Then\t there's\t the\t perambulator\t and\t the\t gooseberries,\t and\t the\t sweets,\\\"\t said Bobbie,\t\\\"they're\tfrom\tMrs.\tRansome.\tShe\tsaid:\t'I\tdare\tsay\tMr.\tPerks's\tchildren would\tlike\tthe\tsweets.\tAnd\tthe\tperambulator\twas\tgot\tfor\tmy\tEmmie's\tfirst\u2014it didn't\tlive\tbut\tsix\tmonths,\tand\tshe's\tnever\thad\tbut\tthat\tone.\tI'd\tlike\tMrs.\tPerks to\thave\tit.\tIt\twould\tbe\ta\thelp\twith\ther\tfine\tboy.\tI'd\thave\tgiven\tit\tbefore\tif\tI'd been\tsure\tshe'd\taccept\tof\tit\tfrom\tme.'\tShe\ttold\tme\tto\ttell\tyou,\\\"\tBobbie\tadded, \\\"that\tit\twas\ther\tEmmie's\tlittle\tone's\tpram.\\\" \\\"I\t can't\t send\t that\t pram\t back,\t Bert,\\\"\t said\t Mrs\t Perks,\t firmly,\t \\\"and\t I\t won't.\t So don't\tyou\task\tme\u2014\\\" \\\"I'm\tnot\ta-asking\tanything,\\\"\tsaid\tPerks,\tgruffly. \\\"Then\t the\t shovel,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie.\t \\\"Mr.\t James\t made\t it\t for\t you\t himself.\t And\t he said\u2014where\tis\tit?\tOh,\tyes,\there!\tHe\tsaid,\t'You\ttell\tMr.\tPerks\tit's\ta\tpleasure\tto make\t a\t little\t trifle\t for\t a\t man\t as\t is\t so\t much\t respected,'\t and\t then\t he\t said\t he wished\t he\t could\t shoe\t your\t children\t and\t his\t own\t children,\t like\t they\t do\t the horses,\tbecause,\twell,\the\tknew\twhat\tshoe\tleather\twas.\\\" \\\"James\tis\ta\tgood\tenough\tchap,\\\"\tsaid\tPerks. \\\"Then\t the\t honey,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t in\t haste,\t \\\"and\t the\t boot-laces.\t HE\t said\t he respected\ta\tman\tthat\tpaid\this\tway\u2014and\tthe\tbutcher\tsaid\tthe\tsame.\tAnd\tthe\told turnpike\twoman\tsaid\tmany\twas\tthe\ttime\tyou'd\tlent\ther\ta\thand\twith\ther\tgarden when\tyou\twere\ta\tlad\u2014and\tthings\tlike\tthat\tcame\thome\tto\troost\u2014I\tdon't\tknow what\tshe\tmeant.\tAnd\teverybody\twho\tgave\tanything\tsaid\tthey\tliked\tyou,\tand\tit was\t a\t very\t good\t idea\t of\t ours;\t and\t nobody\t said\t anything\t about\t charity\t or anything\t horrid\t like\t that.\t And\t the\t old\t gentleman\t gave\t Peter\t a\t gold\t pound\t for you,\t and\t said\t you\t were\t a\t man\t who\t knew\t your\t work.\t And\t I\t thought\t you'd LOVE\t to\t know\t how\t fond\t people\t are\t of\t you,\t and\t I\t never\t was\t so\t unhappy\t in my\tlife.\tGood-bye.\tI\thope\tyou'll\tforgive\tus\tsome\tday\u2014\\\" She\tcould\tsay\tno\tmore,\tand\tshe\tturned\tto\tgo. \\\"Stop,\\\"\t said\t Perks,\t still\t with\t his\t back\t to\t them;\t \\\"I\t take\t back\t every\t word\t I've said\tcontrary\tto\twhat\tyou'd\twish.\tNell,\tset\ton\tthe\tkettle.\\\" \\\"We'll\t take\t the\t things\t away\t if\t you're\t unhappy\t about\t them,\\\"\t said\t Peter;\t \\\"but\t I think\teverybody'll\tbe\tmost\tawfully\tdisappointed,\tas\twell\tas\tus.\\\" \\\"I'm\tnot\tunhappy\tabout\tthem,\\\"\tsaid\tPerks;\t\\\"I\tdon't\tknow,\\\"\the\tadded,\tsuddenly wheeling\tthe\tchair\tround\tand\tshowing\ta\tvery\todd-looking\tscrewed-up\tface,\t\\\"I don't\t know\t as\t ever\t I\t was\t better\t pleased.\t Not\t so\t much\t with\t the\t presents\u2014 though\t they're\t an\t A1\t collection\u2014but\t the\t kind\t respect\t of\t our\t neighbours. That's\tworth\thaving,\teh,\tNell?\\\"","\\\"I\t think\t it's\t all\t worth\t having,\\\"\t said\t Mrs.\t Perks,\t \\\"and\t you've\t made\t a\t most ridiculous\tfuss\tabout\tnothing,\tBert,\tif\tyou\task\tme.\\\" \\\"No,\t I\t ain't,\\\"\t said\t Perks,\t firmly;\t \\\"if\t a\t man\t didn't\t respect\t hisself,\t no\t one wouldn't\tdo\tit\tfor\thim.\\\" \\\"But\teveryone\trespects\tyou,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie;\t\\\"they\tall\tsaid\tso.\\\" \\\"I\tknew\tyou'd\tlike\tit\twhen\tyou\treally\tunderstood,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\tbrightly. \\\"Humph!\tYou'll\tstay\tto\ttea?\\\"\tsaid\tMr.\tPerks. Later\t on\t Peter\t proposed\t Mr.\t Perks's\t health.\t And\t Mr.\t Perks\t proposed\t a\t toast, also\thonoured\tin\ttea,\tand\tthe\ttoast\twas,\t\\\"May\tthe\tgarland\tof\tfriendship\tbe\tever green,\\\"\twhich\twas\tmuch\tmore\tpoetical\tthan\tanyone\thad\texpected\tfrom\thim. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \\\"Jolly\tgood\tlittle\tkids,\tthose,\\\"\tsaid\tMr.\tPerks\tto\this\twife\tas\tthey\twent\tto\tbed. \\\"Oh,\t they're\t all\t right,\t bless\t their\t hearts,\\\"\t said\t his\t wife;\t \\\"it's\t you\t that's\t the aggravatingest\told\tthing\tthat\tever\twas.\tI\twas\tashamed\tof\tyou\u2014I\ttell\tyou\u2014\\\" \\\"You\t didn't\t need\t to\t be,\t old\t gal.\t I\t climbed\t down\t handsome\t soon\t as\t I understood\t it\t wasn't\t charity.\t But\t charity's\t what\t I\t never\t did\t abide,\t and\t won't neither.\\\" \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t All\t sorts\t of\t people\t were\t made\t happy\t by\t that\t birthday\t party.\t Mr.\t Perks\t and Mrs.\tPerks\tand\tthe\tlittle\tPerkses\tby\tall\tthe\tnice\tthings\tand\tby\tthe\tkind\tthoughts of\t their\t neighbours;\t the\t Three\t Chimneys\t children\t by\t the\t success,\t undoubted though\tunexpectedly\tdelayed,\tof\ttheir\tplan;\tand\tMrs.\tRansome\tevery\ttime\tshe saw\tthe\tfat\tPerks\tbaby\tin\tthe\tperambulator.\tMrs.\tPerks\tmade\tquite\ta\tround\tof visits\tto\tthank\tpeople\tfor\ttheir\tkind\tbirthday\tpresents,\tand\tafter\teach\tvisit\tfelt that\tshe\thad\ta\tbetter\tfriend\tthan\tshe\thad\tthought. \\\"Yes,\\\"\t said\t Perks,\t reflectively,\t \\\"it's\t not\t so\t much\t what\t you\t does\t as\t what\t you means;\tthat's\twhat\tI\tsay.\tNow\tif\tit\thad\tbeen\tcharity\u2014\\\" \\\"Oh,\t drat\t charity,\\\"\t said\t Mrs.\t Perks;\t \\\"nobody\t won't\t offer\t you\t charity,\t Bert, however\tmuch\tyou\twas\tto\twant\tit,\tI\tlay.\tThat\twas\tjust\tfriendliness\tthat\twas.\\\" When\tthe\tclergyman\tcalled\ton\tMrs.\tPerks,\tshe\ttold\thim\tall\tabout\tit.\t\\\"It\tWAS friendliness,\twasn't\tit,\tSir?\\\"\tsaid\tshe. \\\"I\t think,\\\"\t said\t the\t clergyman,\t \\\"it\t was\t what\t is\t sometimes\t called\t loving-","kindness.\\\" So\tyou\tsee\tit\twas\tall\tright\tin\tthe\tend.\tBut\tif\tone\tdoes\tthat\tsort\tof\tthing,\tone\thas to\tbe\tcareful\tto\tdo\tit\tin\tthe\tright\tway.\tFor,\tas\tMr.\tPerks\tsaid,\twhen\the\thad\ttime to\tthink\tit\tover,\tit's\tnot\tso\tmuch\twhat\tyou\tdo,\tas\twhat\tyou\tmean. \t \t Chapter\tX.\tThe\tterrible\tsecret. \t When\t they\t first\t went\t to\t live\t at\t Three\t Chimneys,\t the\t children\t had\t talked\t a great\tdeal\tabout\ttheir\tFather,\tand\thad\tasked\ta\tgreat\tmany\tquestions\tabout\thim, and\t what\t he\t was\t doing\t and\t where\t he\t was\t and\t when\t he\t would\t come\t home. Mother\talways\tanswered\ttheir\tquestions\tas\twell\tas\tshe\tcould.\tBut\tas\tthe\ttime went\ton\tthey\tgrew\tto\tspeak\tless\tof\thim.\tBobbie\thad\tfelt\talmost\tfrom\tthe\tfirst that\tfor\tsome\tstrange\tmiserable\treason\tthese\tquestions\thurt\tMother\tand\tmade her\t sad.\t And\t little\t by\t little\t the\t others\t came\t to\t have\t this\t feeling,\t too,\t though they\tcould\tnot\thave\tput\tit\tinto\twords. One\tday,\twhen\tMother\twas\tworking\tso\thard\tthat\tshe\tcould\tnot\tleave\toff\teven for\tten\tminutes,\tBobbie\tcarried\tup\ther\ttea\tto\tthe\tbig\tbare\troom\tthat\tthey\tcalled Mother's\tworkshop.\tIt\thad\thardly\tany\tfurniture.\tJust\ta\ttable\tand\ta\tchair\tand\ta rug.\t But\t always\t big\t pots\t of\t flowers\t on\t the\t window-sills\t and\t on\t the mantelpiece.\t The\t children\t saw\t to\t that.\t And\t from\t the\t three\t long\t uncurtained windows\t the\t beautiful\t stretch\t of\t meadow\t and\t moorland,\t the\t far\t violet\t of\t the hills,\tand\tthe\tunchanging\tchangefulness\tof\tcloud\tand\tsky. \\\"Here's\tyour\ttea,\tMother-love,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie;\t\\\"do\tdrink\tit\twhile\tit's\thot.\\\" Mother\t laid\t down\t her\t pen\t among\t the\t pages\t that\t were\t scattered\t all\t over\t the table,\tpages\tcovered\twith\ther\twriting,\twhich\twas\talmost\tas\tplain\tas\tprint,\tand much\t prettier.\t She\t ran\t her\t hands\t into\t her\t hair,\t as\t if\t she\t were\t going\t to\t pull\t it out\tby\thandfuls. \\\"Poor\tdear\thead,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\t\\\"does\tit\tache?\\\" \\\"No\u2014yes\u2014not\tmuch,\\\"\tsaid\tMother.\t\\\"Bobbie,\tdo\tyou\tthink\tPeter\tand\tPhil\tare FORGETTING\tFather?\\\" \\\"NO,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tindignantly.\t\\\"Why?\\\" \\\"You\tnone\tof\tyou\tever\tspeak\tof\thim\tnow.\\\" Bobbie\tstood\tfirst\ton\tone\tleg\tand\tthen\ton\tthe\tother. \\\"We\toften\ttalk\tabout\thim\twhen\twe're\tby\tourselves,\\\"\tshe\tsaid.","\\\"But\tnot\tto\tme,\\\"\tsaid\tMother.\t\\\"Why?\\\" Bobbie\tdid\tnot\tfind\tit\teasy\tto\tsay\twhy. \\\"I\u2014you\u2014\\\"\t she\t said\t and\t stopped.\t She\t went\t over\t to\t the\t window\t and\t looked out. \\\"Bobbie,\tcome\there,\\\"\tsaid\ther\tMother,\tand\tBobbie\tcame. \\\"Now,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\tputting\ther\tarm\tround\tBobbie\tand\tlaying\ther\truffled\thead against\tBobbie's\tshoulder,\t\\\"try\tto\ttell\tme,\tdear.\\\" Bobbie\tfidgeted. \\\"Tell\tMother.\\\" \\\"Well,\t then,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t \\\"I\t thought\t you\t were\t so\t unhappy\t about\t Daddy\t not being\there,\tit\tmade\tyou\tworse\twhen\tI\ttalked\tabout\thim.\tSo\tI\tstopped\tdoing\tit.\\\" \\\"And\tthe\tothers?\\\" \\\"I\t don't\t know\t about\t the\t others,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie.\t \\\"I\t never\t said\t anything\t about THAT\tto\tthem.\tBut\tI\texpect\tthey\tfelt\tthe\tsame\tabout\tit\tas\tme.\\\" \\\"Bobbie\t dear,\\\"\t said\t Mother,\t still\t leaning\t her\t head\t against\t her,\t \\\"I'll\t tell\t you. Besides\tparting\tfrom\tFather,\the\tand\tI\thave\thad\ta\tgreat\tsorrow\u2014oh,\tterrible\u2014 worse\t than\t anything\t you\t can\t think\t of,\t and\t at\t first\t it\t did\t hurt\t to\t hear\t you\t all talking\tof\thim\tas\tif\teverything\twere\tjust\tthe\tsame.\tBut\tit\twould\tbe\tmuch\tmore terrible\tif\tyou\twere\tto\tforget\thim.\tThat\twould\tbe\tworse\tthan\tanything.\\\" \\\"The\t trouble,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t in\t a\t very\t little\t voice\u2014\\\"I\t promised\t I\t would\t never ask\t you\t any\t questions,\t and\t I\t never\t have,\t have\t I?\t But\u2014the\t trouble\u2014it\t won't last\talways?\\\" \\\"No,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\t\\\"the\tworst\twill\tbe\tover\twhen\tFather\tcomes\thome\tto\tus.\\\" \\\"I\twish\tI\tcould\tcomfort\tyou,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Oh,\tmy\tdear,\tdo\tyou\tsuppose\tyou\tdon't?\tDo\tyou\tthink\tI\thaven't\tnoticed\thow good\t you've\t all\t been,\t not\t quarrelling\t nearly\t as\t much\t as\t you\t used\t to\u2014and\t all the\tlittle\tkind\tthings\tyou\tdo\tfor\tme\u2014the\tflowers,\tand\tcleaning\tmy\tshoes,\tand tearing\tup\tto\tmake\tmy\tbed\tbefore\tI\tget\ttime\tto\tdo\tit\tmyself?\\\" Bobbie\tHAD\tsometimes\twondered\twhether\tMother\tnoticed\tthese\tthings. \\\"That's\tnothing,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\t\\\"to\twhat\u2014\\\" \\\"I\tMUST\tget\ton\twith\tmy\twork,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\tgiving\tBobbie\tone\tlast\tsqueeze. \\\"Don't\tsay\tanything\tto\tthe\tothers.\\\"","That\t evening\t in\t the\t hour\t before\t bed-time\t instead\t of\t reading\t to\t the\t children Mother\ttold\tthem\tstories\tof\tthe\tgames\tshe\tand\tFather\tused\tto\thave\twhen\tthey were\tchildren\tand\tlived\tnear\teach\tother\tin\tthe\tcountry\u2014tales\tof\tthe\tadventures of\tFather\twith\tMother's\tbrothers\twhen\tthey\twere\tall\tboys\ttogether.\tVery\tfunny stories\tthey\twere,\tand\tthe\tchildren\tlaughed\tas\tthey\tlistened. \\\"Uncle\t Edward\t died\t before\t he\t was\t grown\t up,\t didn't\t he?\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t as Mother\tlighted\tthe\tbedroom\tcandles. \\\"Yes,\t dear,\\\"\t said\t Mother,\t \\\"you\t would\t have\t loved\t him.\t He\t was\t such\t a\t brave boy,\tand\tso\tadventurous.\tAlways\tin\tmischief,\tand\tyet\tfriends\twith\teverybody in\tspite\tof\tit.\tAnd\tyour\tUncle\tReggie's\tin\tCeylon\u2014yes,\tand\tFather's\taway,\ttoo. But\t I\t think\t they'd\t all\t like\t to\t think\t we'd\t enjoyed\t talking\t about\t the\t things\t they used\tto\tdo.\tDon't\tyou\tthink\tso?\\\" \\\"Not\tUncle\tEdward,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\tin\ta\tshocked\ttone;\t\\\"he's\tin\tHeaven.\\\" \\\"You\t don't\t suppose\t he's\t forgotten\t us\t and\t all\t the\t old\t times,\t because\t God\t has taken\thim,\tany\tmore\tthan\tI\tforget\thim.\tOh,\tno,\the\tremembers.\tHe's\tonly\taway for\ta\tlittle\ttime.\tWe\tshall\tsee\thim\tsome\tday.\\\" \\\"And\tUncle\tReggie\u2014and\tFather,\ttoo?\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tMother.\t\\\"Uncle\tReggie\tand\tFather,\ttoo.\tGood\tnight,\tmy\tdarlings.\\\" \\\"Good\t night,\\\"\t said\t everyone.\t Bobbie\t hugged\t her\t mother\t more\t closely\t even than\tusual,\tand\twhispered\tin\ther\tear,\t\\\"Oh,\tI\tdo\tlove\tyou\tso,\tMummy\u2014I\tdo\u2014I do\u2014\\\" When\tBobbie\tcame\tto\tthink\tit\tall\tover,\tshe\ttried\tnot\tto\twonder\twhat\tthe\tgreat trouble\twas.\tBut\tshe\tcould\tnot\talways\thelp\tit.\tFather\twas\tnot\tdead\u2014like\tpoor Uncle\t Edward\u2014Mother\t had\t said\t so.\t And\t he\t was\t not\t ill,\t or\t Mother\t would have\t been\t with\t him.\t Being\t poor\t wasn't\t the\t trouble.\t Bobbie\t knew\t it\t was something\tnearer\tthe\theart\tthan\tmoney\tcould\tbe. \\\"I\t mustn't\t try\t to\t think\t what\t it\t is,\\\"\t she\t told\t herself;\t \\\"no,\t I\t mustn't.\t I\t AM\t glad Mother\tnoticed\tabout\tus\tnot\tquarrelling\tso\tmuch.\tWe'll\tkeep\tthat\tup.\\\" And\talas,\tthat\tvery\tafternoon\tshe\tand\tPeter\thad\twhat\tPeter\tcalled\ta\tfirst-class shindy. They\thad\tnot\tbeen\ta\tweek\tat\tThree\tChimneys\tbefore\tthey\thad\tasked\tMother\tto let\t them\t have\t a\t piece\t of\t garden\t each\t for\t their\t very\t own,\t and\t she\t had\t agreed, and\tthe\tsouth\tborder\tunder\tthe\tpeach\ttrees\thad\tbeen\tdivided\tinto\tthree\tpieces and\tthey\twere\tallowed\tto\tplant\twhatever\tthey\tliked\tthere.","Phyllis\thad\tplanted\tmignonette\tand\tnasturtium\tand\tVirginia\tStock\tin\thers.\tThe seeds\t came\t up,\t and\t though\t they\t looked\t just\t like\t weeds,\t Phyllis\t believed\t that they\twould\tbear\tflowers\tsome\tday.\tThe\tVirginia\tStock\tjustified\ther\tfaith\tquite soon,\t and\t her\t garden\t was\t gay\t with\t a\t band\t of\t bright\t little\t flowers,\t pink\t and white\tand\tred\tand\tmauve. \\\"I\tcan't\tweed\tfor\tfear\tI\tpull\tup\tthe\twrong\tthings,\\\"\tshe\tused\tto\tsay\tcomfortably; \\\"it\tsaves\tsuch\ta\tlot\tof\twork.\\\" Peter\tsowed\tvegetable\tseeds\tin\this\u2014carrots\tand\tonions\tand\tturnips.\tThe\tseed was\tgiven\tto\thim\tby\tthe\tfarmer\twho\tlived\tin\tthe\tnice\tblack-and-white,\twood- and-plaster\t house\t just\t beyond\t the\t bridge.\t He\t kept\t turkeys\t and\t guinea\t fowls, and\t was\t a\t most\t amiable\t man.\t But\t Peter's\t vegetables\t never\t had\t much\t of\t a chance,\tbecause\the\tliked\tto\tuse\tthe\tearth\tof\this\tgarden\tfor\tdigging\tcanals,\tand making\tforts\tand\tearthworks\tfor\this\ttoy\tsoldiers.\tAnd\tthe\tseeds\tof\tvegetables rarely\t come\t to\t much\t in\t a\t soil\t that\t is\t constantly\t disturbed\t for\t the\t purposes\t of war\tand\tirrigation. Bobbie\t planted\t rose-bushes\t in\t her\t garden,\t but\t all\t the\t little\t new\t leaves\t of\t the rose-bushes\t shrivelled\t and\t withered,\t perhaps\t because\t she\t moved\t them\t from the\t other\t part\t of\t the\t garden\t in\t May,\t which\t is\t not\t at\t all\t the\t right\t time\t of\t year for\t moving\t roses.\t But\t she\t would\t not\t own\t that\t they\t were\t dead,\t and\t hoped\t on against\thope,\tuntil\tthe\tday\twhen\tPerks\tcame\tup\tto\tsee\tthe\tgarden,\tand\ttold\ther quite\tplainly\tthat\tall\ther\troses\twere\tas\tdead\tas\tdoornails. \\\"Only\t good\t for\t bonfires,\t Miss,\\\"\t he\t said.\t \\\"You\t just\t dig\t 'em\t up\t and\t burn\t 'em, and\t I'll\t give\t you\t some\t nice\t fresh\t roots\t outer\t my\t garden;\t pansies,\t and\t stocks, and\t sweet\t willies,\t and\t forget-me-nots.\t I'll\t bring\t 'em\t along\t to-morrow\t if\t you get\tthe\tground\tready.\\\" So\tnext\tday\tshe\tset\tto\twork,\tand\tthat\thappened\tto\tbe\tthe\tday\twhen\tMother\thad praised\t her\t and\t the\t others\t about\t not\t quarrelling.\t She\t moved\t the\t rose-bushes and\t carried\t them\t to\t the\t other\t end\t of\t the\t garden,\t where\t the\t rubbish\t heap\t was that\tthey\tmeant\tto\tmake\ta\tbonfire\tof\twhen\tGuy\tFawkes'\tDay\tcame. Meanwhile\tPeter\thad\tdecided\tto\tflatten\tout\tall\this\tforts\tand\tearthworks,\twith\ta view\t to\t making\t a\t model\t of\t the\t railway-tunnel,\t cutting,\t embankment,\t canal, aqueduct,\tbridges,\tand\tall. So\t when\t Bobbie\t came\t back\t from\t her\t last\t thorny\t journey\t with\t the\t dead\t rose- bushes,\the\thad\tgot\tthe\trake\tand\twas\tusing\tit\tbusily. \\\"I\twas\tusing\tthe\trake,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Well,\tI'm\tusing\tit\tnow,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter.","\\\"But\tI\thad\tit\tfirst,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Then\tit's\tmy\tturn\tnow,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter.\tAnd\tthat\twas\thow\tthe\tquarrel\tbegan. \\\"You're\t always\t being\t disagreeable\t about\t nothing,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t after\t some heated\targument. \\\"I\t had\t the\t rake\t first,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t flushed\t and\t defiant,\t holding\t on\t to\t its handle. \\\"Don't\u2014I\ttell\tyou\tI\tsaid\tthis\tmorning\tI\tmeant\tto\thave\tit.\tDidn't\tI,\tPhil?\\\" Phyllis\t said\t she\t didn't\t want\t to\t be\t mixed\t up\t in\t their\t rows.\t And\t instantly,\t of course,\tshe\twas. \\\"If\tyou\tremember,\tyou\tought\tto\tsay.\\\" \\\"Of\tcourse\tshe\tdoesn't\tremember\u2014but\tshe\tmight\tsay\tso.\\\" \\\"I\twish\tI'd\thad\ta\tbrother\tinstead\tof\ttwo\twhiny\tlittle\tkiddy\tsisters,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. This\twas\talways\trecognised\tas\tindicating\tthe\thigh-water\tmark\tof\tPeter's\trage. Bobbie\tmade\tthe\treply\tshe\talways\tmade\tto\tit. \\\"I\t can't\t think\t why\t little\t boys\t were\t ever\t invented,\\\"\t and\t just\t as\t she\t said\t it\t she looked\tup,\tand\tsaw\tthe\tthree\tlong\twindows\tof\tMother's\tworkshop\tflashing\tin the\tred\trays\tof\tthe\tsun.\tThe\tsight\tbrought\tback\tthose\twords\tof\tpraise:\u2014 \\\"You\tdon't\tquarrel\tlike\tyou\tused\tto\tdo.\\\" \\\"OH!\\\"\t cried\t Bobbie,\t just\t as\t if\t she\t had\t been\t hit,\t or\t had\t caught\t her\t finger\t in\t a door,\tor\thad\tfelt\tthe\thideous\tsharp\tbeginnings\tof\ttoothache. \\\"What's\tthe\tmatter?\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis. Bobbie\twanted\tto\tsay:\t\\\"Don't\tlet's\tquarrel.\tMother\thates\tit\tso,\\\"\tbut\tthough\tshe tried\thard,\tshe\tcouldn't.\tPeter\twas\tlooking\ttoo\tdisagreeable\tand\tinsulting. \\\"Take\tthe\thorrid\trake,\tthen,\\\"\twas\tthe\tbest\tshe\tcould\tmanage.\tAnd\tshe\tsuddenly let\t go\t her\t hold\t on\t the\t handle.\t Peter\t had\t been\t holding\t on\t to\t it\t too\t firmly\t and pullingly,\t and\t now\t that\t the\t pull\t the\t other\t way\t was\t suddenly\t stopped,\t he staggered\tand\tfell\tover\tbackward,\tthe\tteeth\tof\tthe\trake\tbetween\this\tfeet. \\\"Serve\tyou\tright,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tbefore\tshe\tcould\tstop\therself. Peter\tlay\tstill\tfor\thalf\ta\tmoment\u2014long\tenough\tto\tfrighten\tBobbie\ta\tlittle.\tThen he\t frightened\t her\t a\t little\t more,\t for\t he\t sat\t up\u2014screamed\t once\u2014turned\t rather pale,\t and\t then\t lay\t back\t and\t began\t to\t shriek,\t faintly\t but\t steadily.\t It\t sounded","exactly\tlike\ta\tpig\tbeing\tkilled\ta\tquarter\tof\ta\tmile\toff. Mother\t put\t her\t head\t out\t of\t the\t window,\t and\t it\t wasn't\t half\t a\t minute\t after\t that she\t was\t in\t the\t garden\t kneeling\t by\t the\t side\t of\t Peter,\t who\t never\t for\t an\t instant ceased\tto\tsqueal. \\\"What\thappened,\tBobbie?\\\"\tMother\tasked. \\\"It\twas\tthe\trake,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis.\t\\\"Peter\twas\tpulling\tat\tit,\tso\twas\tBobbie,\tand\tshe let\tgo\tand\the\twent\tover.\\\" \\\"Stop\tthat\tnoise,\tPeter,\\\"\tsaid\tMother.\t\\\"Come.\tStop\tat\tonce.\\\" Peter\tused\tup\twhat\tbreath\the\thad\tleft\tin\ta\tlast\tsqueal\tand\tstopped. \\\"Now,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\t\\\"are\tyou\thurt?\\\" \\\"If\t he\t was\t really\t hurt,\t he\t wouldn't\t make\t such\t a\t fuss,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t still trembling\twith\tfury;\t\\\"he's\tnot\ta\tcoward!\\\" \\\"I\tthink\tmy\tfoot's\tbroken\toff,\tthat's\tall,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\thuffily,\tand\tsat\tup.\tThen\the turned\tquite\twhite.\tMother\tput\ther\tarm\tround\thim. \\\"He\tIS\thurt,\\\"\tshe\tsaid;\t\\\"he's\tfainted.\tHere,\tBobbie,\tsit\tdown\tand\ttake\this\thead on\tyour\tlap.\\\" Then\t Mother\t undid\t Peter's\t boots.\t As\t she\t took\t the\t right\t one\t off,\t something dripped\t from\t his\t foot\t on\t to\t the\t ground.\t It\t was\t red\t blood.\t And\t when\t the stocking\tcame\toff\tthere\twere\tthree\tred\twounds\tin\tPeter's\tfoot\tand\tankle,\twhere the\tteeth\tof\tthe\trake\thad\tbitten\thim,\tand\this\tfoot\twas\tcovered\twith\tred\tsmears. \\\"Run\t for\t water\u2014a\t basinful,\\\"\t said\t Mother,\t and\t Phyllis\t ran.\t She\t upset\t most\t of the\twater\tout\tof\tthe\tbasin\tin\ther\thaste,\tand\thad\tto\tfetch\tmore\tin\ta\tjug. Peter\tdid\tnot\topen\this\teyes\tagain\ttill\tMother\thad\ttied\ther\thandkerchief\tround his\t foot,\t and\t she\t and\t Bobbie\t had\t carried\t him\t in\t and\t laid\t him\t on\t the\t brown wooden\t settle\t in\t the\t dining-room.\t By\t this\t time\t Phyllis\t was\t halfway\t to\t the Doctor's. Mother\t sat\t by\t Peter\t and\t bathed\t his\t foot\t and\t talked\t to\t him,\t and\t Bobbie\t went out\tand\tgot\ttea\tready,\tand\tput\ton\tthe\tkettle. \\\"It's\t all\t I\t can\t do,\\\"\t she\t told\t herself.\t \\\"Oh,\t suppose\t Peter\t should\t die,\t or\t be\t a helpless\t cripple\t for\t life,\t or\t have\t to\t walk\t with\t crutches,\t or\t wear\t a\t boot\t with\t a sole\tlike\ta\tlog\tof\twood!\\\" She\t stood\t by\t the\t back\t door\t reflecting\t on\t these\t gloomy\t possibilities,\t her\t eyes","fixed\ton\tthe\twater-butt. \\\"I\twish\tI'd\tnever\tbeen\tborn,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\tand\tshe\tsaid\tit\tout\tloud. \\\"Why,\t lawk\t a\t mercy,\t what's\t that\t for?\\\"\t asked\t a\t voice,\t and\t Perks\t stood\t before her\twith\ta\twooden\ttrug\tbasket\tfull\tof\tgreen-leaved\tthings\tand\tsoft,\tloose\tearth. \\\"Oh,\tit's\tyou,\\\"\tshe\tsaid.\t\\\"Peter's\thurt\this\tfoot\twith\ta\trake\u2014three\tgreat\tgaping wounds,\tlike\tsoldiers\tget.\tAnd\tit\twas\tpartly\tmy\tfault.\\\" \\\"That\tit\twasn't,\tI'll\tgo\tbail,\\\"\tsaid\tPerks.\t\\\"Doctor\tseen\thim?\\\" \\\"Phyllis\thas\tgone\tfor\tthe\tDoctor.\\\" \\\"He'll\t be\t all\t right;\t you\t see\t if\t he\t isn't,\\\"\t said\t Perks.\t \\\"Why,\t my\t father's\t second cousin\t had\t a\t hay-fork\t run\t into\t him,\t right\t into\t his\t inside,\t and\t he\t was\t right\t as ever\tin\ta\tfew\tweeks,\tall\texcept\this\tbeing\ta\tbit\tweak\tin\tthe\thead\tafterwards,\tand they\tdid\tsay\tthat\tit\twas\talong\tof\this\tgetting\ta\ttouch\tof\tthe\tsun\tin\tthe\thay-field, and\tnot\tthe\tfork\tat\tall.\tI\tremember\thim\twell.\tA\tkind-'earted\tchap,\tbut\tsoft,\tas you\tmight\tsay.\\\" Bobbie\ttried\tto\tlet\therself\tbe\tcheered\tby\tthis\theartening\treminiscence. \\\"Well,\\\"\t said\t Perks,\t \\\"you\t won't\t want\t to\t be\t bothered\t with\t gardening\t just\t this minute,\tI\tdare\tsay.\tYou\tshow\tme\twhere\tyour\tgarden\tis,\tand\tI'll\tpop\tthe\tbits\tof stuff\tin\tfor\tyou.\tAnd\tI'll\thang\tabout,\tif\tI\tmay\tmake\tso\tfree,\tto\tsee\tthe\tDoctor as\the\tcomes\tout\tand\thear\twhat\the\tsays.\tYou\tcheer\tup,\tMissie.\tI\tlay\ta\tpound\the ain't\thurt,\tnot\tto\tspeak\tof.\\\" But\t he\t was.\t The\t Doctor\t came\t and\t looked\t at\t the\t foot\t and\t bandaged\t it beautifully,\tand\tsaid\tthat\tPeter\tmust\tnot\tput\tit\tto\tthe\tground\tfor\tat\tleast\ta\tweek. \\\"He\t won't\t be\t lame,\t or\t have\t to\t wear\t crutches\t or\t a\t lump\t on\t his\t foot,\t will\t he?\\\" whispered\tBobbie,\tbreathlessly,\tat\tthe\tdoor. \\\"My\t aunt!\t No!\\\"\t said\t Dr.\t Forrest;\t \\\"he'll\t be\t as\t nimble\t as\t ever\t on\t his\t pins\t in\t a fortnight.\tDon't\tyou\tworry,\tlittle\tMother\tGoose.\\\" It\t was\t when\t Mother\t had\t gone\t to\t the\t gate\t with\t the\t Doctor\t to\t take\t his\t last instructions\t and\t Phyllis\t was\t filling\t the\t kettle\t for\t tea,\t that\t Peter\t and\t Bobbie found\tthemselves\talone. \\\"He\tsays\tyou\twon't\tbe\tlame\tor\tanything,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Oh,\tcourse\tI\tshan't,\tsilly,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tvery\tmuch\trelieved\tall\tthe\tsame. \\\"Oh,\tPeter,\tI\tAM\tso\tsorry,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tafter\ta\tpause.","\\\"That's\tall\tright,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tgruffly. \\\"It\twas\tALL\tmy\tfault,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Rot,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"If\t we\t hadn't\t quarrelled,\t it\t wouldn't\t have\t happened.\t I\t knew\t it\t was\t wrong\t to quarrel.\tI\twanted\tto\tsay\tso,\tbut\tsomehow\tI\tcouldn't.\\\" \\\"Don't\t drivel,\\\"\t said\t Peter.\t \\\"I\t shouldn't\t have\t stopped\t if\t you\t HAD\t said\t it.\t Not likely.\t And\t besides,\t us\t rowing\t hadn't\t anything\t to\t do\t with\t it.\t I\t might\t have caught\tmy\tfoot\tin\tthe\thoe,\tor\ttaken\toff\tmy\tfingers\tin\tthe\tchaff-cutting\tmachine or\t blown\t my\t nose\t off\t with\t fireworks.\t It\t would\t have\t been\t hurt\t just\t the\t same whether\twe'd\tbeen\trowing\tor\tnot.\\\" \\\"But\t I\t knew\t it\t was\t wrong\t to\t quarrel,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t in\t tears,\t \\\"and\t now\t you're hurt\tand\u2014\\\" \\\"Now\t look\t here,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t firmly,\t \\\"you\t just\t dry\t up.\t If\t you're\t not\t careful, you'll\tturn\tinto\ta\tbeastly\tlittle\tSunday-school\tprig,\tso\tI\ttell\tyou.\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tmean\tto\tbe\ta\tprig.\tBut\tit's\tso\thard\tnot\tto\tbe\twhen\tyou're\treally\ttrying to\tbe\tgood.\\\" (The\tGentle\tReader\tmay\tperhaps\thave\tsuffered\tfrom\tthis\tdifficulty.) \\\"Not\tit,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"it's\ta\tjolly\tgood\tthing\tit\twasn't\tyou\twas\thurt.\tI'm\tglad\tit was\tME.\tThere!\tIf\tit\thad\tbeen\tyou,\tyou'd\thave\tbeen\tlying\ton\tthe\tsofa\tlooking like\ta\tsuffering\tangel\tand\tbeing\tthe\tlight\tof\tthe\tanxious\thousehold\tand\tall\tthat. And\tI\tcouldn't\thave\tstood\tit.\\\" \\\"No,\tI\tshouldn't,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Yes,\tyou\twould,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"I\ttell\tyou\tI\tshouldn't.\\\" \\\"I\ttell\tyou\tyou\twould.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tchildren,\\\"\tsaid\tMother's\tvoice\tat\tthe\tdoor.\t\\\"Quarrelling\tagain?\tAlready?\\\" \\\"We\t aren't\t quarrelling\u2014not\t really,\\\"\t said\t Peter.\t \\\"I\t wish\t you\t wouldn't\t think\t it's rows\t every\t time\t we\t don't\t agree!\\\"\t When\t Mother\t had\t gone\t out\t again,\t Bobbie broke\tout:\u2014 \\\"Peter,\tI\tAM\tsorry\tyou're\thurt.\tBut\tyou\tARE\ta\tbeast\tto\tsay\tI'm\ta\tprig.\\\" \\\"Well,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter\tunexpectedly,\t\\\"perhaps\tI\tam.\tYou\tdid\tsay\tI\twasn't\ta\tcoward,","even\t when\t you\t were\t in\t such\t a\t wax.\t The\t only\t thing\t is\u2014don't\t you\t be\t a\t prig, that's\tall.\tYou\tkeep\tyour\teyes\topen\tand\tif\tyou\tfeel\tpriggishness\tcoming\ton\tjust stop\tin\ttime.\tSee?\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\t\\\"I\tsee.\\\" \\\"Then\t let's\t call\t it\t Pax,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t magnanimously:\t \\\"bury\t the\t hatchet\t in\t the fathoms\tof\tthe\tpast.\tShake\thands\ton\tit.\tI\tsay,\tBobbie,\told\tchap,\tI\tam\ttired.\\\" He\t was\t tired\t for\t many\t days\t after\t that,\t and\t the\t settle\t seemed\t hard\t and uncomfortable\t in\t spite\t of\t all\t the\t pillows\t and\t bolsters\t and\t soft\t folded\t rugs.\t It was\tterrible\tnot\tto\tbe\table\tto\tgo\tout.\tThey\tmoved\tthe\tsettle\tto\tthe\twindow,\tand from\t there\t Peter\t could\t see\t the\t smoke\t of\t the\t trains\t winding\t along\t the\t valley. But\the\tcould\tnot\tsee\tthe\ttrains. At\tfirst\tBobbie\tfound\tit\tquite\thard\tto\tbe\tas\tnice\tto\thim\tas\tshe\twanted\tto\tbe,\tfor fear\t he\t should\t think\t her\t priggish.\t But\t that\t soon\t wore\t off,\t and\t both\t she\t and Phyllis\t were,\t as\t he\t observed,\t jolly\t good\t sorts.\t Mother\t sat\t with\t him\t when\t his sisters\t were\t out.\t And\t the\t words,\t \\\"he's\t not\t a\t coward,\\\"\t made\t Peter\t determined not\t to\t make\t any\t fuss\t about\t the\t pain\t in\t his\t foot,\t though\t it\t was\t rather\t bad, especially\tat\tnight. Praise\thelps\tpeople\tvery\tmuch,\tsometimes. There\twere\tvisitors,\ttoo.\tMrs.\tPerks\tcame\tup\tto\task\thow\the\twas,\tand\tso\tdid\tthe Station\t Master,\t and\t several\t of\t the\t village\t people.\t But\t the\t time\t went\t slowly, slowly. \\\"I\t do\t wish\t there\t was\t something\t to\t read,\\\"\t said\t Peter.\t \\\"I've\t read\t all\t our\t books fifty\ttimes\tover.\\\" \\\"I'll\tgo\tto\tthe\tDoctor's,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis;\t\\\"he's\tsure\tto\thave\tsome.\\\" \\\"Only\t about\t how\t to\t be\t ill,\t and\t about\t people's\t nasty\t insides,\t I\t expect,\\\"\t said Peter. \\\"Perks\thas\ta\twhole\theap\tof\tMagazines\tthat\tcame\tout\tof\ttrains\twhen\tpeople\tare tired\tof\tthem,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\t\\\"I'll\trun\tdown\tand\task\thim.\\\" So\tthe\tgirls\twent\ttheir\ttwo\tways. Bobbie\tfound\tPerks\tbusy\tcleaning\tlamps. \\\"And\thow's\tthe\tyoung\tgent?\\\"\tsaid\the. \\\"Better,\tthanks,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\t\\\"but\the's\tmost\tfrightfully\tbored.\tI\tcame\tto\task\tif you'd\tgot\tany\tMagazines\tyou\tcould\tlend\thim.\\\"","\\\"There,\t now,\\\"\t said\t Perks,\t regretfully,\t rubbing\t his\t ear\t with\t a\t black\t and\t oily lump\tof\tcotton\twaste,\t\\\"why\tdidn't\tI\tthink\tof\tthat,\tnow?\tI\twas\ttrying\tto\tthink\tof something\t as\t 'ud\t amuse\t him\t only\t this\t morning,\t and\t I\t couldn't\t think\t of anything\t better\t than\t a\t guinea-pig.\t And\t a\t young\t chap\t I\t know's\t going\t to\t fetch that\tover\tfor\thim\tthis\ttea-time.\\\" \\\"How\t lovely!\t A\t real\t live\t guinea!\t He\t will\t be\t pleased.\t But\t he'd\t like\t the Magazines\tas\twell.\\\" \\\"That's\t just\t it,\\\"\t said\t Perks.\t \\\"I've\t just\t sent\t the\t pick\t of\t 'em\t to\t Snigson's\t boy\u2014 him\t what's\t just\t getting\t over\t the\t pewmonia.\t But\t I've\t lots\t of\t illustrated\t papers left.\\\" He\t turned\t to\t the\t pile\t of\t papers\t in\t the\t corner\t and\t took\t up\t a\t heap\t six\t inches thick. \\\"There!\\\"\the\tsaid.\t\\\"I'll\tjust\tslip\ta\tbit\tof\tstring\tand\ta\tbit\tof\tpaper\tround\t'em.\\\" He\tpulled\tan\told\tnewspaper\tfrom\tthe\tpile\tand\tspread\tit\ton\tthe\ttable,\tand\tmade a\tneat\tparcel\tof\tit. \\\"There,\\\"\t said\t he,\t \\\"there's\t lots\t of\t pictures,\t and\t if\t he\t likes\t to\t mess\t 'em\t about with\this\tpaint-box,\tor\tcoloured\tchalks\tor\twhat\tnot,\twhy,\tlet\thim.\tI\tdon't\twant 'em.\\\" \\\"You're\t a\t dear,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t took\t the\t parcel,\t and\t started.\t The\t papers\t were heavy,\t and\t when\t she\t had\t to\t wait\t at\t the\t level-crossing\t while\t a\t train\t went\t by, she\trested\tthe\tparcel\ton\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\tgate.\tAnd\tidly\tshe\tlooked\tat\tthe\tprinting on\tthe\tpaper\tthat\tthe\tparcel\twas\twrapped\tin. Suddenly\t she\t clutched\t the\t parcel\t tighter\t and\t bent\t her\t head\t over\t it.\t It\t seemed like\tsome\thorrible\tdream.\tShe\tread\ton\u2014the\tbottom\tof\tthe\tcolumn\twas\ttorn\toff \u2014she\tcould\tread\tno\tfarther. She\tnever\tremembered\thow\tshe\tgot\thome.\tBut\tshe\twent\ton\ttiptoe\tto\ther\troom and\t locked\t the\t door.\t Then\t she\t undid\t the\t parcel\t and\t read\t that\t printed\t column again,\tsitting\ton\tthe\tedge\tof\ther\tbed,\ther\thands\tand\tfeet\ticy\tcold\tand\ther\tface burning.\tWhen\tshe\thad\tread\tall\tthere\twas,\tshe\tdrew\ta\tlong,\tuneven\tbreath. \\\"So\tnow\tI\tknow,\\\"\tshe\tsaid. What\tshe\thad\tread\twas\theaded,\t'End\tof\tthe\tTrial.\tVerdict.\tSentence.' The\t name\t of\t the\t man\t who\t had\t been\t tried\t was\t the\t name\t of\t her\t Father.\t The verdict\twas\t'Guilty.'\tAnd\tthe\tsentence\twas\t'Five\tyears'\tPenal\tServitude.' \\\"Oh,\t Daddy,\\\"\t she\t whispered,\t crushing\t the\t paper\t hard,\t \\\"it's\t not\t true\u2014I\t don't","believe\tit.\tYou\tnever\tdid\tit!\tNever,\tnever,\tnever!\\\" There\twas\ta\thammering\ton\tthe\tdoor. \\\"What\tis\tit?\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"It's\t me,\\\"\t said\t the\t voice\t of\t Phyllis;\t \\\"tea's\t ready,\t and\t a\t boy's\t brought\t Peter\t a guinea-pig.\tCome\talong\tdown.\\\" And\tBobbie\thad\tto. \t \t Chapter\tXI.\tThe\thound\tin\tthe\tred jersey. \t Bobbie\tknew\tthe\tsecret\tnow.\tA\tsheet\tof\told\tnewspaper\twrapped\tround\ta\tparcel \u2014just\ta\tlittle\tchance\tlike\tthat\u2014had\tgiven\tthe\tsecret\tto\ther.\tAnd\tshe\thad\tto\tgo down\t to\t tea\t and\t pretend\t that\t there\t was\t nothing\t the\t matter.\t The\t pretence\t was bravely\tmade,\tbut\tit\twasn't\tvery\tsuccessful. For\t when\t she\t came\t in,\t everyone\t looked\t up\t from\t tea\t and\t saw\t her\t pink-lidded eyes\tand\ther\tpale\tface\twith\tred\ttear-blotches\ton\tit. \\\"My\t darling,\\\"\t cried\t Mother,\t jumping\t up\t from\t the\t tea-tray,\t \\\"whatever\t IS\t the matter?\\\" \\\"My\thead\taches,\trather,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\tAnd\tindeed\tit\tdid. \\\"Has\tanything\tgone\twrong?\\\"\tMother\tasked. \\\"I'm\tall\tright,\treally,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tand\tshe\ttelegraphed\tto\ther\tMother\tfrom\ther swollen\teyes\tthis\tbrief,\timploring\tmessage\u2014\\\"NOT\tbefore\tthe\tothers!\\\" Tea\t was\t not\t a\t cheerful\t meal.\t Peter\t was\t so\t distressed\t by\t the\t obvious\t fact\t that something\t horrid\t had\t happened\t to\t Bobbie\t that\t he\t limited\t his\t speech\t to repeating,\t \\\"More\t bread\t and\t butter,\t please,\\\"\t at\t startlingly\t short\t intervals. Phyllis\t stroked\t her\t sister's\t hand\t under\t the\t table\t to\t express\t sympathy,\t and knocked\t her\t cup\t over\t as\t she\t did\t it.\t Fetching\t a\t cloth\t and\t wiping\t up\t the\t spilt milk\t helped\t Bobbie\t a\t little.\t But\t she\t thought\t that\t tea\t would\t never\t end.\t Yet\t at last\t it\t did\t end,\t as\t all\t things\t do\t at\t last,\t and\t when\t Mother\t took\t out\t the\t tray, Bobbie\tfollowed\ther. \\\"She's\tgone\tto\town\tup,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis\tto\tPeter;\t\\\"I\twonder\twhat\tshe's\tdone.\\\"","\\\"Broken\tsomething,\tI\tsuppose,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"but\tshe\tneedn't\tbe\tso\tsilly\tover\tit. Mother\t never\t rows\t for\t accidents.\t Listen!\t Yes,\t they're\t going\t upstairs.\t She's taking\tMother\tup\tto\tshow\ther\u2014the\twater-jug\twith\tstorks\ton\tit,\tI\texpect\tit\tis.\\\" Bobbie,\tin\tthe\tkitchen,\thad\tcaught\thold\tof\tMother's\thand\tas\tshe\tset\tdown\tthe tea-things. \\\"What\tis\tit?\\\"\tMother\tasked. But\tBobbie\tonly\tsaid,\t\\\"Come\tupstairs,\tcome\tup\twhere\tnobody\tcan\thear\tus.\\\" When\t she\t had\t got\t Mother\t alone\t in\t her\t room\t she\t locked\t the\t door\t and\t then stood\tquite\tstill,\tand\tquite\twithout\twords. All\tthrough\ttea\tshe\thad\tbeen\tthinking\tof\twhat\tto\tsay;\tshe\thad\tdecided\tthat\t\\\"I know\t all,\\\"\t or\t \\\"All\t is\t known\t to\t me,\\\"\t or\t \\\"The\t terrible\t secret\t is\t a\t secret\t no longer,\\\"\twould\tbe\tthe\tproper\tthing.\tBut\tnow\tthat\tshe\tand\ther\tMother\tand\tthat awful\tsheet\tof\tnewspaper\twere\talone\tin\tthe\troom\ttogether,\tshe\tfound\tthat\tshe could\tsay\tnothing. Suddenly\t she\t went\t to\t Mother\t and\t put\t her\t arms\t round\t her\t and\t began\t to\t cry again.\tAnd\tstill\tshe\tcould\tfind\tno\twords,\tonly,\t\\\"Oh,\tMammy,\toh,\tMammy,\toh, Mammy,\\\"\tover\tand\tover\tagain. Mother\theld\ther\tvery\tclose\tand\twaited. Suddenly\t Bobbie\t broke\t away\t from\t her\t and\t went\t to\t her\t bed.\t From\t under\t her mattress\t she\t pulled\t out\t the\t paper\t she\t had\t hidden\t there,\t and\t held\t it\t out, pointing\tto\ther\tFather's\tname\twith\ta\tfinger\tthat\tshook. \\\"Oh,\tBobbie,\\\"\tMother\tcried,\twhen\tone\tlittle\tquick\tlook\thad\tshown\ther\twhat\tit was,\t\\\"you\tdon't\tBELIEVE\tit?\tYou\tdon't\tbelieve\tDaddy\tdid\tit?\\\" \\\"NO,\\\"\tBobbie\talmost\tshouted.\tShe\thad\tstopped\tcrying. \\\"That's\tall\tright,\\\"\tsaid\tMother.\t\\\"It's\tnot\ttrue.\tAnd\tthey've\tshut\thim\tup\tin\tprison, but\t he's\t done\t nothing\t wrong.\t He's\t good\t and\t noble\t and\t honourable,\t and\t he belongs\tto\tus.\tWe\thave\tto\tthink\tof\tthat,\tand\tbe\tproud\tof\thim,\tand\twait.\\\" Again\tBobbie\tclung\tto\ther\tMother,\tand\tagain\tonly\tone\tword\tcame\tto\ther,\tbut now\t that\t word\t was\t \\\"Daddy,\\\"\t and\t \\\"Oh,\t Daddy,\t oh,\t Daddy,\t oh,\t Daddy!\\\"\t again and\tagain. \\\"Why\tdidn't\tyou\ttell\tme,\tMammy?\\\"\tshe\tasked\tpresently. \\\"Are\tyou\tgoing\tto\ttell\tthe\tothers?\\\"\tMother\tasked.","\\\"No.\\\" \\\"Why?\\\" \\\"Because\u2014\\\" \\\"Exactly,\\\"\tsaid\tMother;\t\\\"so\tyou\tunderstand\twhy\tI\tdidn't\ttell\tyou.\tWe\ttwo\tmust help\teach\tother\tto\tbe\tbrave.\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie;\t\\\"Mother,\twill\tit\tmake\tyou\tmore\tunhappy\tif\tyou\ttell\tme\tall about\tit?\tI\twant\tto\tunderstand.\\\" So\t then,\t sitting\t cuddled\t up\t close\t to\t her\t Mother,\t Bobbie\t heard\t \\\"all\t about\t it.\\\" She\t heard\t how\t those\t men,\t who\t had\t asked\t to\t see\t Father\t on\t that\t remembered last\t night\t when\t the\t Engine\t was\t being\t mended,\t had\t come\t to\t arrest\t him, charging\thim\twith\tselling\tState\tsecrets\tto\tthe\tRussians\u2014with\tbeing,\tin\tfact,\ta spy\t and\t a\t traitor.\t She\t heard\t about\t the\t trial,\t and\t about\t the\t evidence\u2014letters, found\tin\tFather's\tdesk\tat\tthe\toffice,\tletters\tthat\tconvinced\tthe\tjury\tthat\tFather was\tguilty. \\\"Oh,\t how\t could\t they\t look\t at\t him\t and\t believe\t it!\\\"\t cried\t Bobbie;\t \\\"and\t how could\tANY\tone\tdo\tsuch\ta\tthing!\\\" \\\"SOMEONE\t did\t it,\\\"\t said\t Mother,\t \\\"and\t all\t the\t evidence\t was\t against\t Father. Those\tletters\u2014\\\" \\\"Yes.\tHow\tdid\tthe\tletters\tget\tinto\this\tdesk?\\\" \\\"Someone\tput\tthem\tthere.\tAnd\tthe\tperson\twho\tput\tthem\tthere\twas\tthe\tperson who\twas\treally\tguilty.\\\" \\\"HE\tmust\tbe\tfeeling\tpretty\tawful\tall\tthis\ttime,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tthoughtfully. \\\"I\t don't\t believe\t he\t had\t any\t feelings,\\\"\t Mother\t said\t hotly;\t \\\"he\t couldn't\t have done\ta\tthing\tlike\tthat\tif\the\thad.\\\" \\\"Perhaps\the\tjust\tshoved\tthe\tletters\tinto\tthe\tdesk\tto\thide\tthem\twhen\the\tthought he\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\tfound\tout.\tWhy\tdon't\tyou\ttell\tthe\tlawyers,\tor\tsomeone,\tthat it\t must\t have\t been\t that\t person?\t There\t wasn't\t anyone\t that\t would\t have\t hurt Father\ton\tpurpose,\twas\tthere?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tknow\u2014I\tdon't\tknow.\tThe\tman\tunder\thim\twho\tgot\tDaddy's\tplace\twhen he\u2014when\t the\t awful\t thing\t happened\u2014he\t was\t always\t jealous\t of\t your\t Father because\t Daddy\t was\t so\t clever\t and\t everyone\t thought\t such\t a\t lot\t of\t him.\t And Daddy\tnever\tquite\ttrusted\tthat\tman.\\\" \\\"Couldn't\twe\texplain\tall\tthat\tto\tsomeone?\\\"","\\\"Nobody\t will\t listen,\\\"\t said\t Mother,\t very\t bitterly,\t \\\"nobody\t at\t all.\t Do\t you suppose\tI've\tnot\ttried\teverything?\tNo,\tmy\tdearest,\tthere's\tnothing\tto\tbe\tdone. All\t we\t can\t do,\t you\t and\t I\t and\t Daddy,\t is\t to\t be\t brave,\t and\t patient,\t and\u2014\\\"\t she spoke\tvery\tsoftly\u2014\\\"to\tpray,\tBobbie,\tdear.\\\" \\\"Mother,\tyou've\tgot\tvery\tthin,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tabruptly. \\\"A\tlittle,\tperhaps.\\\" \\\"And\t oh,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t \\\"I\t do\t think\t you're\t the\t bravest\t person\t in\t the\t world\t as well\tas\tthe\tnicest!\\\" \\\"We\t won't\t talk\t of\t all\t this\t any\t more,\t will\t we,\t dear?\\\"\t said\t Mother;\t \\\"we\t must bear\tit\tand\tbe\tbrave.\tAnd,\tdarling,\ttry\tnot\tto\tthink\tof\tit.\tTry\tto\tbe\tcheerful,\tand to\tamuse\tyourself\tand\tthe\tothers.\tIt's\tmuch\teasier\tfor\tme\tif\tyou\tcan\tbe\ta\tlittle bit\t happy\t and\t enjoy\t things.\t Wash\t your\t poor\t little\t round\t face,\t and\t let's\t go\t out into\tthe\tgarden\tfor\ta\tbit.\\\" The\tother\ttwo\twere\tvery\tgentle\tand\tkind\tto\tBobbie.\tAnd\tthey\tdid\tnot\task\ther what\t was\t the\t matter.\t This\t was\t Peter's\t idea,\t and\t he\t had\t drilled\t Phyllis,\t who would\thave\tasked\ta\thundred\tquestions\tif\tshe\thad\tbeen\tleft\tto\therself. A\tweek\tlater\tBobbie\tmanaged\tto\tget\taway\talone.\tAnd\tonce\tmore\tshe\twrote\ta letter.\tAnd\tonce\tmore\tit\twas\tto\tthe\told\tgentleman. \\\"My\tdear\tFriend,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\t\\\"you\tsee\twhat\tis\tin\tthis\tpaper.\tIt\tis\tnot\ttrue.\tFather never\t did\t it.\t Mother\t says\t someone\t put\t the\t papers\t in\t Father's\t desk,\t and\t she says\t the\t man\t under\t him\t that\t got\t Father's\t place\t afterwards\t was\t jealous\t of Father,\tand\tFather\tsuspected\thim\ta\tlong\ttime.\tBut\tnobody\tlistens\tto\ta\tword\tshe says,\t but\t you\t are\t so\t good\t and\t clever,\t and\t you\t found\t out\t about\t the\t Russian gentleman's\t wife\t directly.\t Can't\t you\t find\t out\t who\t did\t the\t treason\t because\t he wasn't\tFather\tupon\tmy\thonour;\the\tis\tan\tEnglishman\tand\tuncapable\tto\tdo\tsuch things,\tand\tthen\tthey\twould\tlet\tFather\tout\tof\tprison.\tIt\tis\tdreadful,\tand\tMother is\tgetting\tso\tthin.\tShe\ttold\tus\tonce\tto\tpray\tfor\tall\tprisoners\tand\tcaptives.\tI\tsee now.\tOh,\tdo\thelp\tme\u2014there\tis\tonly\tjust\tMother\tand\tme\tknow,\tand\twe\tcan't\tdo anything.\tPeter\tand\tPhil\tdon't\tknow.\tI'll\tpray\tfor\tyou\ttwice\tevery\tday\tas\tlong as\tI\tlive\tif\tyou'll\tonly\ttry\u2014just\ttry\tto\tfind\tout.\tThink\tif\tit\twas\tYOUR\tDaddy, what\tyou\twould\tfeel.\tOh,\tdo,\tdo,\tDO\thelp\tme.\tWith\tlove \\\"I\tremain\tYour\taffectionately\tlittle\tfriend \t \\\"Roberta. P.S.\tMother\twould\tsend\ther\tkind\tregards\tif\tshe\tknew\tI\tam\twriting\u2014but\tit\tis\tno use\t telling\t her\t I\t am,\t in\t case\t you\t can't\t do\t anything.\t But\t I\t know\t you\t will. Bobbie\twith\tbest\tlove.\\\"","She\tcut\tthe\taccount\tof\ther\tFather's\ttrial\tout\tof\tthe\tnewspaper\twith\tMother's\tbig cutting-out\tscissors,\tand\tput\tit\tin\tthe\tenvelope\twith\ther\tletter. Then\tshe\ttook\tit\tdown\tto\tthe\tstation,\tgoing\tout\tthe\tback\tway\tand\tround\tby\tthe road,\tso\tthat\tthe\tothers\tshould\tnot\tsee\ther\tand\toffer\tto\tcome\twith\ther,\tand\tshe gave\tthe\tletter\tto\tthe\tStation\tMaster\tto\tgive\tto\tthe\told\tgentleman\tnext\tmorning. \\\"Where\tHAVE\tyou\tbeen?\\\"\tshouted\tPeter,\tfrom\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\tyard\twall\twhere he\tand\tPhyllis\twere. \\\"To\tthe\tstation,\tof\tcourse,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie;\t\\\"give\tus\ta\thand,\tPete.\\\" She\tset\ther\tfoot\ton\tthe\tlock\tof\tthe\tyard\tdoor.\tPeter\treached\tdown\ta\thand. \\\"What\ton\tearth?\\\"\tshe\tasked\tas\tshe\treached\tthe\twall-top\u2014for\tPhyllis\tand\tPeter were\tvery\tmuddy.\tA\tlump\tof\twet\tclay\tlay\tbetween\tthem\ton\tthe\twall,\tthey\thad each\ta\tslip\tof\tslate\tin\ta\tvery\tdirty\thand,\tand\tbehind\tPeter,\tout\tof\tthe\treach\tof accidents,\t were\t several\t strange\t rounded\t objects\t rather\t like\t very\t fat\t sausages, hollow,\tbut\tclosed\tup\tat\tone\tend. \\\"It's\t nests,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t \\\"swallows'\t nests.\t We're\t going\t to\t dry\t them\t in\t the\t oven and\thang\tthem\tup\twith\tstring\tunder\tthe\teaves\tof\tthe\tcoach-house.\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis;\t\\\"and\tthen\twe're\tgoing\tto\tsave\tup\tall\tthe\twool\tand\thair\twe can\tget,\tand\tin\tthe\tspring\twe'll\tline\tthem,\tand\tthen\thow\tpleased\tthe\tswallows will\tbe!\\\" \\\"I've\t often\t thought\t people\t don't\t do\t nearly\t enough\t for\t dumb\t animals,\\\"\t said Peter\t with\t an\t air\t of\t virtue.\t \\\"I\t do\t think\t people\t might\t have\t thought\t of\t making nests\tfor\tpoor\tlittle\tswallows\tbefore\tthis.\\\" \\\"Oh,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t vaguely,\t \\\"if\t everybody\t thought\t of\t everything,\t there'd\t be nothing\tleft\tfor\tanybody\telse\tto\tthink\tabout.\\\" \\\"Look\t at\t the\t nests\u2014aren't\t they\t pretty?\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t reaching\t across\t Peter\t to grasp\ta\tnest. \\\"Look\t out,\t Phil,\t you\t goat,\\\"\t said\t her\t brother.\t But\t it\t was\t too\t late;\t her\t strong little\tfingers\thad\tcrushed\tthe\tnest. \\\"There\tnow,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Never\tmind,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"It\tIS\tone\tof\tmy\town,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\t\\\"so\tyou\tneedn't\tjaw,\tPeter.\tYes,\twe've\tput our\tinitial\tnames\ton\tthe\tones\twe've\tdone,\tso\tthat\tthe\tswallows\twill\tknow\twho they've\tgot\tto\tbe\tso\tgrateful\tto\tand\tfond\tof.\\\"","\\\"Swallows\tcan't\tread,\tsilly,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Silly\tyourself,\\\"\tretorted\tPhyllis;\t\\\"how\tdo\tyou\tknow?\\\" \\\"Who\tthought\tof\tmaking\tthe\tnests,\tanyhow?\\\"\tshouted\tPeter. \\\"I\tdid,\\\"\tscreamed\tPhyllis. \\\"Nya,\\\"\t rejoined\t Peter,\t \\\"you\t only\t thought\t of\t making\t hay\t ones\t and\t sticking them\tin\tthe\tivy\tfor\tthe\tsparrows,\tand\tthey'd\thave\tbeen\tsopping\tLONG\tbefore egg-laying\ttime.\tIt\twas\tme\tsaid\tclay\tand\tswallows.\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tcare\twhat\tyou\tsaid.\\\" \\\"Look,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t \\\"I've\t made\t the\t nest\t all\t right\t again.\t Give\t me\t the\t bit\t of stick\tto\tmark\tyour\tinitial\tname\ton\tit.\tBut\thow\tcan\tyou?\tYour\tletter\tand\tPeter's are\tthe\tsame.\tP.\tfor\tPeter,\tP.\tfor\tPhyllis.\\\" \\\"I\t put\t F.\t for\t Phyllis,\\\"\t said\t the\t child\t of\t that\t name.\t \\\"That's\t how\t it\t sounds.\t The swallows\twouldn't\tspell\tPhyllis\twith\ta\tP.,\tI'm\tcertain-sure.\\\" \\\"They\tcan't\tspell\tat\tall,\\\"\tPeter\twas\tstill\tinsisting. \\\"Then\t why\t do\t you\t see\t them\t always\t on\t Christmas\t cards\t and\t valentines\t with letters\tround\ttheir\tnecks?\tHow\twould\tthey\tknow\twhere\tto\tgo\tif\tthey\tcouldn't read?\\\" \\\"That's\tonly\tin\tpictures.\tYou\tnever\tsaw\tone\treally\twith\tletters\tround\tits\tneck.\\\" \\\"Well,\t I\t have\t a\t pigeon,\t then;\t at\t least\t Daddy\t told\t me\t they\t did.\t Only\t it\t was under\t their\t wings\t and\t not\t round\t their\t necks,\t but\t it\t comes\t to\t the\t same\t thing, and\u2014\\\" \\\"I\tsay,\\\"\tinterrupted\tBobbie,\t\\\"there's\tto\tbe\ta\tpaperchase\tto-morrow.\\\" \\\"Who?\\\"\tPeter\tasked. \\\"Grammar\tSchool.\tPerks\tthinks\tthe\thare\twill\tgo\talong\tby\tthe\tline\tat\tfirst.\tWe might\tgo\talong\tthe\tcutting.\tYou\tcan\tsee\ta\tlong\tway\tfrom\tthere.\\\" The\tpaperchase\twas\tfound\tto\tbe\ta\tmore\tamusing\tsubject\tof\tconversation\tthan the\t reading\t powers\t of\t swallows.\t Bobbie\t had\t hoped\t it\t might\t be.\t And\t next morning\t Mother\t let\t them\t take\t their\t lunch\t and\t go\t out\t for\t the\t day\t to\t see\t the paperchase. \\\"If\t we\t go\t to\t the\t cutting,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t \\\"we\t shall\t see\t the\t workmen,\t even\t if\t we miss\tthe\tpaperchase.\\\"","Of\tcourse\tit\thad\ttaken\tsome\ttime\tto\tget\tthe\tline\tclear\tfrom\tthe\trocks\tand\tearth and\ttrees\tthat\thad\tfallen\ton\tit\twhen\tthe\tgreat\tlandslip\thappened.\tThat\twas\tthe occasion,\t you\t will\t remember,\t when\t the\t three\t children\t saved\t the\t train\t from being\t wrecked\t by\t waving\t six\t little\t red-flannel-petticoat\t flags.\t It\t is\t always interesting\t to\t watch\t people\t working,\t especially\t when\t they\t work\t with\t such interesting\t things\t as\t spades\t and\t picks\t and\t shovels\t and\t planks\t and\t barrows, when\tthey\thave\tcindery\tred\tfires\tin\tiron\tpots\twith\tround\tholes\tin\tthem,\tand\tred lamps\thanging\tnear\tthe\tworks\tat\tnight.\tOf\tcourse\tthe\tchildren\twere\tnever\tout at\tnight;\tbut\tonce,\tat\tdusk,\twhen\tPeter\thad\tgot\tout\tof\this\tbedroom\tskylight\ton to\t the\t roof,\t he\t had\t seen\t the\t red\t lamp\t shining\t far\t away\t at\t the\t edge\t of\t the cutting.\tThe\tchildren\thad\toften\tbeen\tdown\tto\twatch\tthe\twork,\tand\tthis\tday\tthe interest\t of\t picks\t and\t spades,\t and\t barrows\t being\t wheeled\t along\t planks, completely\t put\t the\t paperchase\t out\t of\t their\t heads,\t so\t that\t they\t quite\t jumped when\ta\tvoice\tjust\tbehind\tthem\tpanted,\t\\\"Let\tme\tpass,\tplease.\\\"\tIt\twas\tthe\thare\u2014 a\t big-boned,\t loose-limbed\t boy,\t with\t dark\t hair\t lying\t flat\t on\t a\t very\t damp forehead.\t The\t bag\t of\t torn\t paper\t under\t his\t arm\t was\t fastened\t across\t one shoulder\tby\ta\tstrap.\tThe\tchildren\tstood\tback.\tThe\thare\tran\talong\tthe\tline,\tand the\t workmen\t leaned\t on\t their\t picks\t to\t watch\t him.\t He\t ran\t on\t steadily\t and disappeared\tinto\tthe\tmouth\tof\tthe\ttunnel. \\\"That's\tagainst\tthe\tby-laws,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tforeman. \\\"Why\tworry?\\\"\tsaid\tthe\toldest\tworkman;\t\\\"live\tand\tlet\tlive's\twhat\tI\talways\tsay. Ain't\tyou\tnever\tbeen\tyoung\tyourself,\tMr.\tBates?\\\" \\\"I\tought\tto\treport\thim,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tforeman. \\\"Why\tspoil\tsport's\twhat\tI\talways\tsay.\\\" \\\"Passengers\t are\t forbidden\t to\t cross\t the\t line\t on\t any\t pretence,\\\"\t murmured\t the foreman,\tdoubtfully. \\\"He\tain't\tno\tpassenger,\\\"\tsaid\tone\tof\tthe\tworkmen. \\\"Nor\t'e\tain't\tcrossed\tthe\tline,\tnot\twhere\twe\tcould\tsee\t'im\tdo\tit,\\\"\tsaid\tanother. \\\"Nor\tyet\t'e\tain't\tmade\tno\tpretences,\\\"\tsaid\ta\tthird. \\\"And,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\toldest\tworkman,\t\\\"'e's\touter\tsight\tnow.\tWhat\tthe\teye\tdon't\tsee the\t'art\tneedn't\ttake\tno\tnotice\tof's\twhat\tI\talways\tsay.\\\" And\tnow,\tfollowing\tthe\ttrack\tof\tthe\thare\tby\tthe\tlittle\twhite\tblots\tof\tscattered paper,\t came\t the\t hounds.\t There\t were\t thirty\t of\t them,\t and\t they\t all\t came\t down the\tsteep,\tladder-like\tsteps\tby\tones\tand\ttwos\tand\tthrees\tand\tsixes\tand\tsevens. Bobbie\tand\tPhyllis\tand\tPeter\tcounted\tthem\tas\tthey\tpassed.\tThe\tforemost\tones hesitated\ta\tmoment\tat\tthe\tfoot\tof\tthe\tladder,\tthen\ttheir\teyes\tcaught\tthe\tgleam","of\tscattered\twhiteness\talong\tthe\tline\tand\tthey\tturned\ttowards\tthe\ttunnel,\tand, by\t ones\t and\t twos\t and\t threes\t and\t sixes\t and\t sevens,\t disappeared\t in\t the\t dark mouth\t of\t it.\t The\t last\t one,\t in\t a\t red\t jersey,\t seemed\t to\t be\t extinguished\t by\t the darkness\tlike\ta\tcandle\tthat\tis\tblown\tout. \\\"They\t don't\t know\t what\t they're\t in\t for,\\\"\t said\t the\t foreman;\t \\\"it\t isn't\t so\t easy running\tin\tthe\tdark.\tThe\ttunnel\ttakes\ttwo\tor\tthree\tturns.\\\" \\\"They'll\ttake\ta\tlong\ttime\tto\tget\tthrough,\tyou\tthink?\\\"\tPeter\tasked. \\\"An\thour\tor\tmore,\tI\tshouldn't\twonder.\\\" \\\"Then\t let's\t cut\t across\t the\t top\t and\t see\t them\t come\t out\t at\t the\t other\t end,\\\"\t said Peter;\t\\\"we\tshall\tget\tthere\tlong\tbefore\tthey\tdo.\\\" The\tcounsel\tseemed\tgood,\tand\tthey\twent. They\t climbed\t the\t steep\t steps\t from\t which\t they\t had\t picked\t the\t wild\t cherry blossom\t for\t the\t grave\t of\t the\t little\t wild\t rabbit,\t and\t reaching\t the\t top\t of\t the cutting,\t set\t their\t faces\t towards\t the\t hill\t through\t which\t the\t tunnel\t was\t cut.\t It was\tstiff\twork. \\\"It's\tlike\tAlps,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tbreathlessly. \\\"Or\tAndes,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"It's\t like\t Himmy\t what's\t its\t names?\\\"\t gasped\t Phyllis.\t \\\"Mount\t Everlasting.\t Do let's\tstop.\\\" \\\"Stick\tto\tit,\\\"\tpanted\tPeter;\t\\\"you'll\tget\tyour\tsecond\twind\tin\ta\tminute.\\\" Phyllis\tconsented\tto\tstick\tto\tit\u2014and\ton\tthey\twent,\trunning\twhen\tthe\tturf\twas smooth\tand\tthe\tslope\teasy,\tclimbing\tover\tstones,\thelping\tthemselves\tup\trocks by\t the\t branches\t of\t trees,\t creeping\t through\t narrow\t openings\t between\t tree trunks\t and\t rocks,\t and\t so\t on\t and\t on,\t up\t and\t up,\t till\t at\t last\t they\t stood\t on\t the very\ttop\tof\tthe\thill\twhere\tthey\thad\tso\toften\twished\tto\tbe. \\\"Halt!\\\"\tcried\tPeter,\tand\tthrew\thimself\tflat\ton\tthe\tgrass.\tFor\tthe\tvery\ttop\tof\tthe hill\t was\t a\t smooth,\t turfed\t table-land,\t dotted\t with\t mossy\t rocks\t and\t little mountain-ash\ttrees. The\tgirls\talso\tthrew\tthemselves\tdown\tflat. \\\"Plenty\tof\ttime,\\\"\tPeter\tpanted;\t\\\"the\trest's\tall\tdown\thill.\\\" When\tthey\twere\trested\tenough\tto\tsit\tup\tand\tlook\tround\tthem,\tBobbie\tcried:\u2014 \\\"Oh,\tlook!\\\"","\\\"What\tat?\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis. \\\"The\tview,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"I\thate\tviews,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\t\\\"don't\tyou,\tPeter?\\\" \\\"Let's\tget\ton,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"But\t this\t isn't\t like\t a\t view\t they\t take\t you\t to\t in\t carriages\t when\t you're\t at\t the seaside,\tall\tsea\tand\tsand\tand\tbare\thills.\tIt's\tlike\tthe\t'coloured\tcounties'\tin\tone of\tMother's\tpoetry\tbooks.\\\" \\\"It's\tnot\tso\tdusty,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"look\tat\tthe\tAqueduct\tstraddling\tslap\tacross\tthe valley\tlike\ta\tgiant\tcentipede,\tand\tthen\tthe\ttowns\tsticking\ttheir\tchurch\tspires\tup out\tof\tthe\ttrees\tlike\tpens\tout\tof\tan\tinkstand.\tI\tthink\tit's\tmore\tlike \t\t\t\t\t\\\"There\tcould\the\tsee\tthe\tbanners \t\t\t\t\t\tOf\ttwelve\tfair\tcities\tshine.\\\" \\\"I\tlove\tit,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie;\t\\\"it's\tworth\tthe\tclimb.\\\" \\\"The\tpaperchase\tis\tworth\tthe\tclimb,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\t\\\"if\twe\tdon't\tlose\tit.\tLet's\tget on.\tIt's\tall\tdown\thill\tnow.\\\" \\\"I\tsaid\tthat\tten\tminutes\tago,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Well,\tI'VE\tsaid\tit\tnow,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis;\t\\\"come\ton.\\\" \\\"Loads\tof\ttime,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter.\tAnd\tthere\twas.\tFor\twhen\tthey\thad\tgot\tdown\tto\ta level\twith\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\ttunnel's\tmouth\u2014they\twere\ta\tcouple\tof\thundred\tyards out\tof\ttheir\treckoning\tand\thad\tto\tcreep\talong\tthe\tface\tof\tthe\thill\u2014there\twas\tno sign\tof\tthe\thare\tor\tthe\thounds. \\\"They've\t gone\t long\t ago,\t of\t course,\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t as\t they\t leaned\t on\t the\t brick parapet\tabove\tthe\ttunnel. \\\"I\tdon't\tthink\tso,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\t\\\"but\teven\tif\tthey\thad,\tit's\tripping\there,\tand\twe shall\t see\t the\t trains\t come\t out\t of\t the\t tunnel\t like\t dragons\t out\t of\t lairs.\t We've never\tseen\tthat\tfrom\tthe\ttop\tside\tbefore.\\\" \\\"No\tmore\twe\thave,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\tpartially\tappeased. It\twas\treally\ta\tmost\texciting\tplace\tto\tbe\tin.\tThe\ttop\tof\tthe\ttunnel\tseemed\tever so\tmuch\tfarther\tfrom\tthe\tline\tthan\tthey\thad\texpected,\tand\tit\twas\tlike\tbeing\ton a\tbridge,\tbut\ta\tbridge\tovergrown\twith\tbushes\tand\tcreepers\tand\tgrass\tand\twild- flowers.","\\\"I\tKNOW\tthe\tpaperchase\thas\tgone\tlong\tago,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis\tevery\ttwo\tminutes, and\t she\t hardly\t knew\t whether\t she\t was\t pleased\t or\t disappointed\t when\t Peter, leaning\tover\tthe\tparapet,\tsuddenly\tcried:\u2014 \\\"Look\tout.\tHere\the\tcomes!\\\" They\tall\tleaned\tover\tthe\tsun-warmed\tbrick\twall\tin\ttime\tto\tsee\tthe\thare,\tgoing very\tslowly,\tcome\tout\tfrom\tthe\tshadow\tof\tthe\ttunnel. \\\"There,\tnow,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"what\tdid\tI\ttell\tyou?\tNow\tfor\tthe\thounds!\\\" Very\t soon\t came\t the\t hounds\u2014by\t ones\t and\t twos\t and\t threes\t and\t sixes\t and sevens\u2014and\tthey\talso\twere\tgoing\tslowly\tand\tseemed\tvery\ttired.\tTwo\tor\tthree who\tlagged\tfar\tbehind\tcame\tout\tlong\tafter\tthe\tothers. \\\"There,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\t\\\"that's\tall\u2014now\twhat\tshall\twe\tdo?\\\" \\\"Go\t along\t into\t the\t tulgy\t wood\t over\t there\t and\t have\t lunch,\\\"\t said\t Phyllis;\t \\\"we can\tsee\tthem\tfor\tmiles\tfrom\tup\there.\\\" \\\"Not\t yet,\\\"\t said\t Peter.\t \\\"That's\t not\t the\t last.\t There's\t the\t one\t in\t the\t red\t jersey\t to come\tyet.\tLet's\tsee\tthe\tlast\tof\tthem\tcome\tout.\\\" But\t though\t they\t waited\t and\t waited\t and\t waited,\t the\t boy\t in\t the\t red\t jersey\t did not\tappear. \\\"Oh,\tlet's\thave\tlunch,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis;\t\\\"I've\tgot\ta\tpain\tin\tmy\tfront\twith\tbeing\tso hungry.\tYou\tmust\thave\tmissed\tseeing\tthe\tred-jerseyed\tone\twhen\the\tcame\tout with\tthe\tothers\u2014\\\" But\tBobbie\tand\tPeter\tagreed\tthat\the\thad\tnot\tcome\tout\twith\tthe\tothers. \\\"Let's\t get\t down\t to\t the\t tunnel\t mouth,\\\"\t said\t Peter;\t \\\"then\t perhaps\t we\t shall\t see him\t coming\t along\t from\t the\t inside.\t I\t expect\t he\t felt\t spun-chuck,\t and\t rested\t in one\tof\tthe\tmanholes.\tYou\tstay\tup\there\tand\twatch,\tBob,\tand\twhen\tI\tsignal\tfrom below,\tyou\tcome\tdown.\tWe\tmight\tmiss\tseeing\thim\ton\tthe\tway\tdown,\twith\tall these\ttrees.\\\" So\tthe\tothers\tclimbed\tdown\tand\tBobbie\twaited\ttill\tthey\tsignalled\tto\ther\tfrom the\t line\t below.\t And\t then\t she,\t too,\t scrambled\t down\t the\t roundabout\t slippery path\t among\t roots\t and\t moss\t till\t she\t stepped\t out\t between\t two\t dogwood\t trees and\tjoined\tthe\tothers\ton\tthe\tline.\tAnd\tstill\tthere\twas\tno\tsign\tof\tthe\thound\twith the\tred\tjersey. \\\"Oh,\t do,\t DO\t let's\t have\t something\t to\t eat,\\\"\t wailed\t Phyllis.\t \\\"I\t shall\t die\t if\t you don't,\tand\tthen\tyou'll\tbe\tsorry.\\\"","\\\"Give\t her\t the\t sandwiches,\t for\t goodness'\t sake,\t and\t stop\t her\t silly\t mouth,\\\"\t said Peter,\tnot\tquite\tunkindly.\t\\\"Look\there,\\\"\the\tadded,\tturning\tto\tBobbie,\t\\\"perhaps we'd\t better\t have\t one\t each,\t too.\t We\t may\t need\t all\t our\t strength.\t Not\t more\t than one,\tthough.\tThere's\tno\ttime.\\\" \\\"What?\\\"\t asked\t Bobbie,\t her\t mouth\t already\t full,\t for\t she\t was\t just\t as\t hungry\t as Phyllis. \\\"Don't\tyou\tsee,\\\"\treplied\tPeter,\timpressively,\t\\\"that\tred-jerseyed\thound\thas\thad an\t accident\u2014that's\t what\t it\t is.\t Perhaps\t even\t as\t we\t speak\t he's\t lying\t with\t his head\ton\tthe\tmetals,\tan\tunresisting\tprey\tto\tany\tpassing\texpress\u2014\\\" \\\"Oh,\t don't\t try\t to\t talk\t like\t a\t book,\\\"\t cried\t Bobbie,\t bolting\t what\t was\t left\t of\t her sandwich;\t \\\"come\t on.\t Phil,\t keep\t close\t behind\t me,\t and\t if\t a\t train\t comes,\t stand flat\tagainst\tthe\ttunnel\twall\tand\thold\tyour\tpetticoats\tclose\tto\tyou.\\\" \\\"Give\tme\tone\tmore\tsandwich,\\\"\tpleaded\tPhyllis,\t\\\"and\tI\twill.\\\" \\\"I'm\tgoing\tfirst,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"it\twas\tmy\tidea,\\\"\tand\the\twent. Of\t course\t you\t know\t what\t going\t into\t a\t tunnel\t is\t like?\t The\t engine\t gives\t a scream\t and\t then\t suddenly\t the\t noise\t of\t the\t running,\t rattling\t train\t changes\t and grows\t different\t and\t much\t louder.\t Grown-up\t people\t pull\t up\t the\t windows\t and hold\tthem\tby\tthe\tstrap.\tThe\trailway\tcarriage\tsuddenly\tgrows\tlike\tnight\u2014with lamps,\tof\tcourse,\tunless\tyou\tare\tin\ta\tslow\tlocal\ttrain,\tin\twhich\tcase\tlamps\tare not\t always\t provided.\t Then\t by\t and\t by\t the\t darkness\t outside\t the\t carriage window\tis\ttouched\tby\tpuffs\tof\tcloudy\twhiteness,\tthen\tyou\tsee\ta\tblue\tlight\ton the\twalls\tof\tthe\ttunnel,\tthen\tthe\tsound\tof\tthe\tmoving\ttrain\tchanges\tonce\tmore, and\t you\t are\t out\t in\t the\t good\t open\t air\t again,\t and\t grown-ups\t let\t the\t straps\t go. The\t windows,\t all\t dim\t with\t the\t yellow\t breath\t of\t the\t tunnel,\t rattle\t down\t into their\t places,\t and\t you\t see\t once\t more\t the\t dip\t and\t catch\t of\t the\t telegraph\t wires beside\t the\t line,\t and\t the\t straight-cut\t hawthorn\t hedges\t with\t the\t tiny\t baby\t trees growing\tup\tout\tof\tthem\tevery\tthirty\tyards. All\t this,\t of\t course,\t is\t what\t a\t tunnel\t means\t when\t you\t are\t in\t a\t train.\t But everything\t is\t quite\t different\t when\t you\t walk\t into\t a\t tunnel\t on\t your\t own\t feet, and\t tread\t on\t shifting,\t sliding\t stones\t and\t gravel\t on\t a\t path\t that\t curves downwards\t from\t the\t shining\t metals\t to\t the\t wall.\t Then\t you\t see\t slimy,\t oozy trickles\tof\twater\trunning\tdown\tthe\tinside\tof\tthe\ttunnel,\tand\tyou\tnotice\tthat\tthe bricks\tare\tnot\tred\tor\tbrown,\tas\tthey\tare\tat\tthe\ttunnel's\tmouth,\tbut\tdull,\tsticky, sickly\tgreen.\tYour\tvoice,\twhen\tyou\tspeak,\tis\tquite\tchanged\tfrom\twhat\tit\twas out\tin\tthe\tsunshine,\tand\tit\tis\ta\tlong\ttime\tbefore\tthe\ttunnel\tis\tquite\tdark. It\t was\t not\t yet\t quite\t dark\t in\t the\t tunnel\t when\t Phyllis\t caught\t at\t Bobbie's\t skirt, ripping\tout\thalf\ta\tyard\tof\tgathers,\tbut\tno\tone\tnoticed\tthis\tat\tthe\ttime.","\\\"I\twant\tto\tgo\tback,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\t\\\"I\tdon't\tlike\tit.\tIt'll\tbe\tpitch\tdark\tin\ta\tminute.\tI WON'T\tgo\ton\tin\tthe\tdark.\tI\tdon't\tcare\twhat\tyou\tsay,\tI\tWON'T.\\\" \\\"Don't\tbe\ta\tsilly\tcuckoo,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"I've\tgot\ta\tcandle\tend\tand\tmatches,\tand \u2014what's\tthat?\\\" \\\"That\\\"\twas\ta\tlow,\thumming\tsound\ton\tthe\trailway\tline,\ta\ttrembling\tof\tthe\twires beside\t it,\t a\t buzzing,\t humming\t sound\t that\t grew\t louder\t and\t louder\t as\t they listened. \\\"It's\ta\ttrain,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Which\tline?\\\" \\\"Let\t me\t go\t back,\\\"\t cried\t Phyllis,\t struggling\t to\t get\t away\t from\t the\t hand\t by which\tBobbie\theld\ther. \\\"Don't\tbe\ta\tcoward,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie;\t\\\"it's\tquite\tsafe.\tStand\tback.\\\" \\\"Come\ton,\\\"\tshouted\tPeter,\twho\twas\ta\tfew\tyards\tahead.\t\\\"Quick!\tManhole!\\\" The\troar\tof\tthe\tadvancing\ttrain\twas\tnow\tlouder\tthan\tthe\tnoise\tyou\thear\twhen your\t head\t is\t under\t water\t in\t the\t bath\t and\t both\t taps\t are\t running,\t and\t you\t are kicking\twith\tyour\theels\tagainst\tthe\tbath's\ttin\tsides.\tBut\tPeter\thad\tshouted\tfor all\t he\t was\t worth,\t and\t Bobbie\t heard\t him.\t She\t dragged\t Phyllis\t along\t to\t the manhole.\tPhyllis,\tof\tcourse,\tstumbled\tover\tthe\twires\tand\tgrazed\tboth\ther\tlegs. But\t they\t dragged\t her\t in,\t and\t all\t three\t stood\t in\t the\t dark,\t damp,\t arched\t recess while\tthe\ttrain\troared\tlouder\tand\tlouder.\tIt\tseemed\tas\tif\tit\twould\tdeafen\tthem. And,\t in\t the\t distance,\t they\t could\t see\t its\t eyes\t of\t fire\t growing\t bigger\t and brighter\tevery\tinstant. \\\"It\tIS\ta\tdragon\u2014I\talways\tknew\tit\twas\u2014it\ttakes\tits\town\tshape\tin\there,\tin\tthe dark,\\\"\tshouted\tPhyllis.\tBut\tnobody\theard\ther.\tYou\tsee\tthe\ttrain\twas\tshouting, too,\tand\tits\tvoice\twas\tbigger\tthan\thers. And\t now,\t with\t a\t rush\t and\t a\t roar\t and\t a\t rattle\t and\t a\t long\t dazzling\t flash\t of lighted\t carriage\t windows,\t a\t smell\t of\t smoke,\t and\t blast\t of\t hot\t air,\t the\t train hurtled\tby,\tclanging\tand\tjangling\tand\techoing\tin\tthe\tvaulted\troof\tof\tthe\ttunnel. Phyllis\t and\t Bobbie\t clung\t to\t each\t other.\t Even\t Peter\t caught\t hold\t of\t Bobbie's arm,\t\\\"in\tcase\tshe\tshould\tbe\tfrightened,\\\"\tas\the\texplained\tafterwards. And\t now,\t slowly\t and\t gradually,\t the\t tail-lights\t grew\t smaller\t and\t smaller,\t and so\tdid\tthe\tnoise,\ttill\twith\tone\tlast\tWHIZ\tthe\ttrain\tgot\titself\tout\tof\tthe\ttunnel, and\tsilence\tsettled\tagain\ton\tits\tdamp\twalls\tand\tdripping\troof. \\\"OH!\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tchildren,\tall\ttogether\tin\ta\twhisper.","Peter\twas\tlighting\tthe\tcandle\tend\twith\ta\thand\tthat\ttrembled. \\\"Come\ton,\\\"\the\tsaid;\tbut\the\thad\tto\tclear\this\tthroat\tbefore\the\tcould\tspeak\tin\this natural\tvoice. \\\"Oh,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\t\\\"if\tthe\tred-jerseyed\tone\twas\tin\tthe\tway\tof\tthe\ttrain!\\\" \\\"We've\tgot\tto\tgo\tand\tsee,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Couldn't\twe\tgo\tand\tsend\tsomeone\tfrom\tthe\tstation?\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis. \\\"Would\t you\t rather\t wait\t here\t for\t us?\\\"\t asked\t Bobbie,\t severely,\t and\t of\t course that\tsettled\tthe\tquestion. So\tthe\tthree\twent\ton\tinto\tthe\tdeeper\tdarkness\tof\tthe\ttunnel.\tPeter\tled,\tholding his\t candle\t end\t high\t to\t light\t the\t way.\t The\t grease\t ran\t down\t his\t fingers,\t and some\t of\t it\t right\t up\t his\t sleeve.\t He\t found\t a\t long\t streak\t from\t wrist\t to\t elbow when\the\twent\tto\tbed\tthat\tnight. It\t was\t not\t more\t than\t a\t hundred\t and\t fifty\t yards\t from\t the\t spot\t where\t they\t had stood\twhile\tthe\ttrain\twent\tby\tthat\tPeter\tstood\tstill,\tshouted\t\\\"Hullo,\\\"\tand\tthen went\t on\t much\t quicker\t than\t before.\t When\t the\t others\t caught\t him\t up,\t he stopped.\tAnd\the\tstopped\twithin\ta\tyard\tof\twhat\tthey\thad\tcome\tinto\tthe\ttunnel to\tlook\tfor.\tPhyllis\tsaw\ta\tgleam\tof\tred,\tand\tshut\ther\teyes\ttight.\tThere,\tby\tthe curved,\t pebbly\t down\t line,\t was\t the\t red-jerseyed\t hound.\t His\t back\t was\t against the\twall,\this\tarms\thung\tlimply\tby\this\tsides,\tand\this\teyes\twere\tshut. \\\"Was\t the\t red,\t blood?\t Is\t he\t all\t killed?\\\"\t asked\t Phyllis,\t screwing\t her\t eyelids more\ttightly\ttogether. \\\"Killed?\t Nonsense!\\\"\t said\t Peter.\t \\\"There's\t nothing\t red\t about\t him\t except\t his jersey.\tHe's\tonly\tfainted.\tWhat\ton\tearth\tare\twe\tto\tdo?\\\" \\\"Can\twe\tmove\thim?\\\"\tasked\tBobbie. \\\"I\tdon't\tknow;\the's\ta\tbig\tchap.\\\" \\\"Suppose\t we\t bathe\t his\t forehead\t with\t water.\t No,\t I\t know\t we\t haven't\t any,\t but milk's\tjust\tas\twet.\tThere's\ta\twhole\tbottle.\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"and\tthey\trub\tpeople's\thands,\tI\tbelieve.\\\" \\\"They\tburn\tfeathers,\tI\tknow,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis. \\\"What's\tthe\tgood\tof\tsaying\tthat\twhen\twe\thaven't\tany\tfeathers?\\\" \\\"As\t it\t happens,\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t in\t a\t tone\t of\t exasperated\t triumph,\t \\\"I've\t got\t a shuttlecock\tin\tmy\tpocket.\tSo\tthere!\\\"","And\t now\t Peter\t rubbed\t the\t hands\t of\t the\t red-jerseyed\t one.\t Bobbie\t burned\t the feathers\t of\t the\t shuttlecock\t one\t by\t one\t under\t his\t nose,\t Phyllis\t splashed warmish\t milk\t on\t his\t forehead,\t and\t all\t three\t kept\t on\t saying\t as\t fast\t and\t as earnestly\tas\tthey\tcould:\u2014 \\\"Oh,\tlook\tup,\tspeak\tto\tme!\tFor\tmy\tsake,\tspeak!\\\" \t \t Chapter\tXII.\tWhat\tBobbie brought\thome. \t \\\"Oh,\tlook\tup!\tSpeak\tto\tme!\tFor\tMY\tsake,\tspeak!\\\"\tThe\tchildren\tsaid\tthe\twords over\t and\t over\t again\t to\t the\t unconscious\t hound\t in\t a\t red\t jersey,\t who\t sat\t with closed\teyes\tand\tpale\tface\tagainst\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\ttunnel. \\\"Wet\this\tears\twith\tmilk,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\t\\\"I\tknow\tthey\tdo\tit\tto\tpeople\tthat\tfaint\u2014 with\teau-de-Cologne.\tBut\tI\texpect\tmilk's\tjust\tas\tgood.\\\" So\tthey\twetted\this\tears,\tand\tsome\tof\tthe\tmilk\tran\tdown\this\tneck\tunder\tthe\tred jersey.\t It\t was\t very\t dark\t in\t the\t tunnel.\t The\t candle\t end\t Peter\t had\t carried,\t and which\tnow\tburned\ton\ta\tflat\tstone,\tgave\thardly\tany\tlight\tat\tall. \\\"Oh,\tDO\tlook\tup,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis.\t\\\"For\tMY\tsake!\tI\tbelieve\the's\tdead.\\\" \\\"For\tMY\tsake,\\\"\trepeated\tBobbie.\t\\\"No,\the\tisn't.\\\" \\\"For\tANY\tsake,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"come\tout\tof\tit.\\\"\tAnd\the\tshook\tthe\tsufferer\tby\tthe arm. And\tthen\tthe\tboy\tin\tthe\tred\tjersey\tsighed,\tand\topened\this\teyes,\tand\tshut\tthem again\tand\tsaid\tin\ta\tvery\tsmall\tvoice,\t\\\"Chuck\tit.\\\" \\\"Oh,\the's\tNOT\tdead,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis.\t\\\"I\tKNEW\the\twasn't,\\\"\tand\tshe\tbegan\tto\tcry. \\\"What's\tup?\tI'm\tall\tright,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tboy. \\\"Drink\t this,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t firmly,\t thrusting\t the\t nose\t of\t the\t milk\t bottle\t into\t the boy's\t mouth.\t The\t boy\t struggled,\t and\t some\t of\t the\t milk\t was\t upset\t before\t he could\tget\this\tmouth\tfree\tto\tsay:\u2014 \\\"What\tis\tit?\\\" \\\"It's\tmilk,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter.\t\\\"Fear\tnot,\tyou\tare\tin\tthe\thands\tof\tfriends.\tPhil,\tyou\tstop bleating\tthis\tminute.\\\"","\\\"Do\tdrink\tit,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tgently;\t\\\"it'll\tdo\tyou\tgood.\\\" So\the\tdrank.\tAnd\tthe\tthree\tstood\tby\twithout\tspeaking\tto\thim. \\\"Let\thim\tbe\ta\tminute,\\\"\tPeter\twhispered;\t\\\"he'll\tbe\tall\tright\tas\tsoon\tas\tthe\tmilk begins\tto\trun\tlike\tfire\tthrough\this\tveins.\\\" He\twas. \\\"I'm\t better\t now,\\\"\t he\t announced.\t \\\"I\t remember\t all\t about\t it.\\\"\t He\t tried\t to\t move, but\tthe\tmovement\tended\tin\ta\tgroan.\t\\\"Bother!\tI\tbelieve\tI've\tbroken\tmy\tleg,\\\"\the said. \\\"Did\tyou\ttumble\tdown?\\\"\tasked\tPhyllis,\tsniffing. \\\"Of\t course\t not\u2014I'm\t not\t a\t kiddie,\\\"\t said\t the\t boy,\t indignantly;\t \\\"it\t was\t one\t of those\tbeastly\twires\ttripped\tme\tup,\tand\twhen\tI\ttried\tto\tget\tup\tagain\tI\tcouldn't stand,\t so\t I\t sat\t down.\t Gee\t whillikins!\t it\t does\t hurt,\t though.\t How\t did\t YOU\t get here?\\\" \\\"We\tsaw\tyou\tall\tgo\tinto\tthe\ttunnel\tand\tthen\twe\twent\tacross\tthe\thill\tto\tsee\tyou all\t come\t out.\t And\t the\t others\t did\u2014all\t but\t you,\t and\t you\t didn't.\t So\t we\t are\t a rescue\tparty,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\twith\tpride. \\\"You've\tgot\tsome\tpluck,\tI\twill\tsay,\\\"\tremarked\tthe\tboy. \\\"Oh,\tthat's\tnothing,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\twith\tmodesty.\t\\\"Do\tyou\tthink\tyou\tcould\twalk\tif we\thelped\tyou?\\\" \\\"I\tcould\ttry,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tboy. He\t did\t try.\t But\t he\t could\t only\t stand\t on\t one\t foot;\t the\t other\t dragged\t in\t a\t very nasty\tway. \\\"Here,\tlet\tme\tsit\tdown.\tI\tfeel\tlike\tdying,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tboy.\t\\\"Let\tgo\tof\tme\u2014let\tgo, quick\u2014\\\"\tHe\tlay\tdown\tand\tclosed\this\teyes.\tThe\tothers\tlooked\tat\teach\tother\tby the\tdim\tlight\tof\tthe\tlittle\tcandle. \\\"What\ton\tearth!\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Look\t here,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t quickly,\t \\\"you\t must\t go\t and\t get\t help.\t Go\t to\t the nearest\thouse.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tthat's\tthe\tonly\tthing,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter.\t\\\"Come\ton.\\\" \\\"If\t you\t take\t his\t feet\t and\t Phil\t and\t I\t take\t his\t head,\t we\t could\t carry\t him\t to\t the manhole.\\\"","They\tdid\tit.\tIt\twas\tperhaps\tas\twell\tfor\tthe\tsufferer\tthat\the\thad\tfainted\tagain. \\\"Now,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t \\\"I'll\t stay\t with\t him.\t You\t take\t the\t longest\t bit\t of\t candle, and,\toh\u2014be\tquick,\tfor\tthis\tbit\twon't\tburn\tlong.\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tthink\tMother\twould\tlike\tme\tleaving\tyou,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tdoubtfully.\t\\\"Let me\tstay,\tand\tyou\tand\tPhil\tgo.\\\" \\\"No,\t no,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t \\\"you\t and\t Phil\t go\u2014and\t lend\t me\t your\t knife.\t I'll\t try\t to get\this\tboot\toff\tbefore\the\twakes\tup\tagain.\\\" \\\"I\thope\tit's\tall\tright\twhat\twe're\tdoing,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Of\t course\t it's\t right,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t impatiently.\t \\\"What\t else\t WOULD\t you\t do? Leave\thim\there\tall\talone\tbecause\tit's\tdark?\tNonsense.\tHurry\tup,\tthat's\tall.\\\" So\tthey\thurried\tup. Bobbie\t watched\t their\t dark\t figures\t and\t the\t little\t light\t of\t the\t little\t candle\t with an\t odd\t feeling\t of\t having\t come\t to\t the\t end\t of\t everything.\t She\t knew\t now,\t she thought,\t what\t nuns\t who\t were\t bricked\t up\t alive\t in\t convent\t walls\t felt\t like. Suddenly\tshe\tgave\therself\ta\tlittle\tshake. \\\"Don't\tbe\ta\tsilly\tlittle\tgirl,\\\"\tshe\tsaid.\tShe\twas\talways\tvery\tangry\twhen\tanyone else\tcalled\ther\ta\tlittle\tgirl,\teven\tif\tthe\tadjective\tthat\twent\tfirst\twas\tnot\t\\\"silly\\\" but\t \\\"nice\\\"\t or\t \\\"good\\\"\t or\t \\\"clever.\\\"\t And\t it\t was\t only\t when\t she\t was\t very\t angry with\therself\tthat\tshe\tallowed\tRoberta\tto\tuse\tthat\texpression\tto\tBobbie. She\t fixed\t the\t little\t candle\t end\t on\t a\t broken\t brick\t near\t the\t red-jerseyed\t boy's feet.\t Then\t she\t opened\t Peter's\t knife.\t It\t was\t always\t hard\t to\t manage\u2014a halfpenny\t was\t generally\t needed\t to\t get\t it\t open\t at\t all.\t This\t time\t Bobbie somehow\t got\t it\t open\t with\t her\t thumbnail.\t She\t broke\t the\t nail,\t and\t it\t hurt horribly.\tThen\tshe\tcut\tthe\tboy's\tbootlace,\tand\tgot\tthe\tboot\toff.\tShe\ttried\tto\tpull off\this\tstocking,\tbut\this\tleg\twas\tdreadfully\tswollen,\tand\tit\tdid\tnot\tseem\tto\tbe the\t proper\t shape.\t So\t she\t cut\t the\t stocking\t down,\t very\t slowly\t and\t carefully.\t It was\t a\t brown,\t knitted\t stocking,\t and\t she\t wondered\t who\t had\t knitted\t it,\t and whether\t it\t was\t the\t boy's\t mother,\t and\t whether\t she\t was\t feeling\t anxious\t about him,\tand\thow\tshe\twould\tfeel\twhen\the\twas\tbrought\thome\twith\this\tleg\tbroken. When\tBobbie\thad\tgot\tthe\tstocking\toff\tand\tsaw\tthe\tpoor\tleg,\tshe\tfelt\tas\tthough the\t tunnel\t was\t growing\t darker,\t and\t the\t ground\t felt\t unsteady,\t and\t nothing seemed\tquite\treal. \\\"SILLY\tlittle\tgirl!\\\"\tsaid\tRoberta\tto\tBobbie,\tand\tfelt\tbetter. \\\"The\tpoor\tleg,\\\"\tshe\ttold\therself;\t\\\"it\tought\tto\thave\ta\tcushion\u2014ah!\\\"","She\t remembered\t the\t day\t when\t she\t and\t Phyllis\t had\t torn\t up\t their\t red\t flannel petticoats\tto\tmake\tdanger\tsignals\tto\tstop\tthe\ttrain\tand\tprevent\tan\taccident.\tHer flannel\t petticoat\t to-day\t was\t white,\t but\t it\t would\t be\t quite\t as\t soft\t as\t a\t red\t one. She\ttook\tit\toff. \\\"Oh,\t what\t useful\t things\t flannel\t petticoats\t are!\\\"\t she\t said;\t \\\"the\t man\t who invented\t them\t ought\t to\t have\t a\t statue\t directed\t to\t him.\\\"\t And\t she\t said\t it\t aloud, because\t it\t seemed\t that\t any\t voice,\t even\t her\t own,\t would\t be\t a\t comfort\t in\t that darkness. \\\"WHAT\t ought\t to\t be\t directed?\t Who\t to?\\\"\t asked\t the\t boy,\t suddenly\t and\t very feebly. \\\"Oh,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\t\\\"now\tyou're\tbetter!\tHold\tyour\tteeth\tand\tdon't\tlet\tit\thurt\ttoo much.\tNow!\\\" She\thad\tfolded\tthe\tpetticoat,\tand\tlifting\this\tleg\tlaid\tit\ton\tthe\tcushion\tof\tfolded flannel. \\\"Don't\t faint\t again,\t PLEASE\t don't,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t as\t he\t groaned.\t She\t hastily wetted\ther\thandkerchief\twith\tmilk\tand\tspread\tit\tover\tthe\tpoor\tleg. \\\"Oh,\t that\t hurts,\\\"\t cried\t the\t boy,\t shrinking.\t \\\"Oh\u2014no,\t it\t doesn't\u2014it's\t nice, really.\\\" \\\"What's\tyour\tname?\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Jim.\\\" \\\"Mine's\tBobbie.\\\" \\\"But\tyou're\ta\tgirl,\taren't\tyou?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tmy\tlong\tname's\tRoberta.\\\" \\\"I\tsay\u2014Bobbie.\\\" \\\"Yes?\\\" \\\"Wasn't\tthere\tsome\tmore\tof\tyou\tjust\tnow?\\\" \\\"Yes,\t Peter\t and\t Phil\u2014that's\t my\t brother\t and\t sister.\t They've\t gone\t to\t get someone\tto\tcarry\tyou\tout.\\\" \\\"What\trum\tnames.\tAll\tboys'.\\\" \\\"Yes\u2014I\twish\tI\twas\ta\tboy,\tdon't\tyou?\\\"","\\\"I\tthink\tyou're\tall\tright\tas\tyou\tare.\\\" \\\"I\t didn't\t mean\t that\u2014I\t meant\t don't\t you\t wish\t YOU\t were\t a\t boy,\t but\t of\t course you\tare\twithout\twishing.\\\" \\\"You're\tjust\tas\tbrave\tas\ta\tboy.\tWhy\tdidn't\tyou\tgo\twith\tthe\tothers?\\\" \\\"Somebody\thad\tto\tstay\twith\tyou,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Tell\t you\t what,\t Bobbie,\\\"\t said\t Jim,\t \\\"you're\t a\t brick.\t Shake.\\\"\t He\t reached\t out\t a red-jerseyed\tarm\tand\tBobbie\tsqueezed\this\thand. \\\"I\t won't\t shake\t it,\\\"\t she\t explained,\t \\\"because\t it\t would\t shake\t YOU,\t and\t that would\tshake\tyour\tpoor\tleg,\tand\tthat\twould\thurt.\tHave\tyou\tgot\ta\thanky?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\texpect\tI\thave.\\\"\tHe\tfelt\tin\this\tpocket.\t\\\"Yes,\tI\thave.\tWhat\tfor?\\\" She\ttook\tit\tand\twetted\tit\twith\tmilk\tand\tput\tit\ton\this\tforehead. \\\"That's\tjolly,\\\"\the\tsaid;\t\\\"what\tis\tit?\\\" \\\"Milk,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\t\\\"We\thaven't\tany\twater\u2014\\\" \\\"You're\ta\tjolly\tgood\tlittle\tnurse,\\\"\tsaid\tJim. \\\"I\tdo\tit\tfor\tMother\tsometimes,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie\u2014\\\"not\tmilk,\tof\tcourse,\tbut\tscent, or\t vinegar\t and\t water.\t I\t say,\t I\t must\t put\t the\t candle\t out\t now,\t because\t there mayn't\tbe\tenough\tof\tthe\tother\tone\tto\tget\tyou\tout\tby.\\\" \\\"By\tGeorge,\\\"\tsaid\the,\t\\\"you\tthink\tof\teverything.\\\" Bobbie\t blew.\t Out\t went\t the\t candle.\t You\t have\t no\t idea\t how\t black-velvety\t the darkness\twas. \\\"I\t say,\t Bobbie,\\\"\t said\t a\t voice\t through\t the\t blackness,\t \\\"aren't\t you\t afraid\t of\t the dark?\\\" \\\"Not\u2014not\tvery,\tthat\tis\u2014\\\" \\\"Let's\thold\thands,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tboy,\tand\tit\twas\treally\trather\tgood\tof\thim,\tbecause he\t was\t like\t most\t boys\t of\t his\t age\t and\t hated\t all\t material\t tokens\t of\t affection, such\tas\tkissing\tand\tholding\tof\thands.\tHe\tcalled\tall\tsuch\tthings\t\\\"pawings,\\\"\tand detested\tthem. The\tdarkness\twas\tmore\tbearable\tto\tBobbie\tnow\tthat\ther\thand\twas\theld\tin\tthe large\trough\thand\tof\tthe\tred-jerseyed\tsufferer;\tand\the,\tholding\ther\tlittle\tsmooth hot\tpaw,\twas\tsurprised\tto\tfind\tthat\the\tdid\tnot\tmind\tit\tso\tmuch\tas\the\texpected. She\ttried\tto\ttalk,\tto\tamuse\thim,\tand\t\\\"take\this\tmind\toff\\\"\this\tsufferings,\tbut\tit\tis","very\tdifficult\tto\tgo\ton\ttalking\tin\tthe\tdark,\tand\tpresently\tthey\tfound\tthemselves in\ta\tsilence,\tonly\tbroken\tnow\tand\tthen\tby\ta\u2014 \\\"You\tall\tright,\tBobbie?\\\" or\tan\u2014 \\\"I'm\tafraid\tit's\thurting\tyou\tmost\tawfully,\tJim.\tI\tAM\tso\tsorry.\\\" And\tit\twas\tvery\tcold. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Peter\t and\t Phyllis\t tramped\t down\t the\t long\t way\t of\t the\t tunnel\t towards\t daylight, the\tcandle-grease\tdripping\tover\tPeter's\tfingers.\tThere\twere\tno\taccidents\tunless you\tcount\tPhyllis's\tcatching\ther\tfrock\ton\ta\twire,\tand\ttearing\ta\tlong,\tjagged\tslit in\t it,\t and\t tripping\t over\t her\t bootlace\t when\t it\t came\t undone,\t or\t going\t down\t on her\thands\tand\tknees,\tall\tfour\tof\twhich\twere\tgrazed. \\\"There's\tno\tend\tto\tthis\ttunnel,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis\u2014and\tindeed\tit\tdid\tseem\tvery\tvery long. \\\"Stick\t to\t it,\\\"\t said\t Peter;\t \\\"everything\t has\t an\t end,\t and\t you\t get\t to\t it\t if\t you\t only keep\tall\ton.\\\" Which\tis\tquite\ttrue,\tif\tyou\tcome\tto\tthink\tof\tit,\tand\ta\tuseful\tthing\tto\tremember in\t seasons\t of\t trouble\u2014such\t as\t measles,\t arithmetic,\t impositions,\t and\t those times\twhen\tyou\tare\tin\tdisgrace,\tand\tfeel\tas\tthough\tno\tone\twould\tever\tlove\tyou again,\tand\tyou\tcould\tnever\u2014never\tagain\u2014love\tanybody. \\\"Hurray,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tsuddenly,\t\\\"there's\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\ttunnel\u2014looks\tjust\tlike\ta pin-hole\tin\ta\tbit\tof\tblack\tpaper,\tdoesn't\tit?\\\" The\t pin-hole\t got\t larger\u2014blue\t lights\t lay\t along\t the\t sides\t of\t the\t tunnel.\t The children\t could\t see\t the\t gravel\t way\t that\t lay\t in\t front\t of\t them;\t the\t air\t grew warmer\tand\tsweeter.\tAnother\ttwenty\tsteps\tand\tthey\twere\tout\tin\tthe\tgood\tglad sunshine\twith\tthe\tgreen\ttrees\ton\tboth\tsides. Phyllis\tdrew\ta\tlong\tbreath. \\\"I'll\tnever\tgo\tinto\ta\ttunnel\tagain\tas\tlong\tas\tever\tI\tlive,\\\"\tsaid\tshe,\t\\\"not\tif\tthere are\ttwenty\thundred\tthousand\tmillions\thounds\tinside\twith\tred\tjerseys\tand\ttheir legs\tbroken.\\\" \\\"Don't\tbe\ta\tsilly\tcuckoo,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tas\tusual.\t\\\"You'd\tHAVE\tto.\\\" \\\"I\tthink\tit\twas\tvery\tbrave\tand\tgood\tof\tme,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis.","\\\"Not\t it,\\\"\t said\t Peter;\t \\\"you\t didn't\t go\t because\t you\t were\t brave,\t but\t because Bobbie\t and\t I\t aren't\t skunks.\t Now\t where's\t the\t nearest\t house,\t I\t wonder?\t You can't\tsee\tanything\there\tfor\tthe\ttrees.\\\" \\\"There's\ta\troof\tover\tthere,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\tpointing\tdown\tthe\tline. \\\"That's\tthe\tsignal-box,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"and\tyou\tknow\tyou're\tnot\tallowed\tto\tspeak to\tsignalmen\ton\tduty.\tIt's\twrong.\\\" \\\"I'm\tnot\tnear\tso\tafraid\tof\tdoing\twrong\tas\tI\twas\tof\tgoing\tinto\tthat\ttunnel,\\\"\tsaid Phyllis.\t\\\"Come\ton,\\\"\tand\tshe\tstarted\tto\trun\talong\tthe\tline.\tSo\tPeter\tran,\ttoo. It\twas\tvery\thot\tin\tthe\tsunshine,\tand\tboth\tchildren\twere\thot\tand\tbreathless\tby the\t time\t they\t stopped,\t and\t bending\t their\t heads\t back\t to\t look\t up\t at\t the\t open windows\t of\t the\t signal-box,\t shouted\t \\\"Hi!\\\"\t as\t loud\t as\t their\t breathless\t state allowed.\t But\t no\t one\t answered.\t The\t signal-box\t stood\t quiet\t as\t an\t empty nursery,\t and\t the\t handrail\t of\t its\t steps\t was\t hot\t to\t the\t hands\t of\t the\t children\t as they\t climbed\t softly\t up.\t They\t peeped\t in\t at\t the\t open\t door.\t The\t signalman\t was sitting\t on\t a\t chair\t tilted\t back\t against\t the\t wall.\t His\t head\t leaned\t sideways,\t and his\tmouth\twas\topen.\tHe\twas\tfast\tasleep. \\\"My\t hat!\\\"\t cried\t Peter;\t \\\"wake\t up!\\\"\t And\t he\t cried\t it\t in\t a\t terrible\t voice,\t for\t he knew\tthat\tif\ta\tsignalman\tsleeps\ton\tduty,\the\trisks\tlosing\this\tsituation,\tlet\talone all\t the\t other\t dreadful\t risks\t to\t trains\t which\t expect\t him\t to\t tell\t them\t when\t it\t is safe\tfor\tthem\tto\tgo\ttheir\tways. The\t signalman\t never\t moved.\t Then\t Peter\t sprang\t to\t him\t and\t shook\t him.\t And slowly,\t yawning\t and\t stretching,\t the\t man\t awoke.\t But\t the\t moment\t he\t WAS awake\t he\t leapt\t to\t his\t feet,\t put\t his\t hands\t to\t his\t head\t \\\"like\t a\t mad\t maniac,\\\"\t as Phyllis\tsaid\tafterwards,\tand\tshouted:\u2014 \\\"Oh,\tmy\theavens\u2014what's\to'clock?\\\" \\\"Twelve\t thirteen,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t and\t indeed\t it\t was\t by\t the\t white-faced,\t round- faced\tclock\ton\tthe\twall\tof\tthe\tsignal-box. The\tman\tlooked\tat\tthe\tclock,\tsprang\tto\tthe\tlevers,\tand\twrenched\tthem\tthis\tway and\tthat.\tAn\telectric\tbell\ttingled\u2014the\twires\tand\tcranks\tcreaked,\tand\tthe\tman threw\t himself\t into\t a\t chair.\t He\t was\t very\t pale,\t and\t the\t sweat\t stood\t on\t his forehead\t\\\"like\tlarge\tdewdrops\ton\ta\twhite\tcabbage,\\\"\tas\tPhyllis\tremarked\tlater. He\twas\ttrembling,\ttoo;\tthe\tchildren\tcould\tsee\this\tbig\thairy\thands\tshake\tfrom side\tto\tside,\t\\\"with\tquite\textra-sized\ttrembles,\\\"\tto\tuse\tthe\tsubsequent\twords\tof Peter.\tHe\tdrew\tlong\tbreaths.\tThen\tsuddenly\the\tcried,\t\\\"Thank\tGod,\tthank\tGod you\tcome\tin\twhen\tyou\tdid\u2014oh,\tthank\tGod!\\\"\tand\this\tshoulders\tbegan\tto\theave and\this\tface\tgrew\tred\tagain,\tand\the\thid\tit\tin\tthose\tlarge\thairy\thands\tof\this.","\\\"Oh,\tdon't\tcry\u2014don't,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\t\\\"it's\tall\tright\tnow,\\\"\tand\tshe\tpatted\thim\ton one\tbig,\tbroad\tshoulder,\twhile\tPeter\tconscientiously\tthumped\tthe\tother. But\tthe\tsignalman\tseemed\tquite\tbroken\tdown,\tand\tthe\tchildren\thad\tto\tpat\thim and\tthump\thim\tfor\tquite\ta\tlong\ttime\tbefore\the\tfound\this\thandkerchief\u2014a\tred one\twith\tmauve\tand\twhite\thorseshoes\ton\tit\u2014and\tmopped\this\tface\tand\tspoke. During\tthis\tpatting\tand\tthumping\tinterval\ta\ttrain\tthundered\tby. \\\"I'm\tdownright\tshamed,\tthat\tI\tam,\\\"\twere\tthe\twords\tof\tthe\tbig\tsignalman\twhen he\thad\tstopped\tcrying;\t\\\"snivelling\tlike\ta\tkid.\\\"\tThen\tsuddenly\the\tseemed\tto\tget cross.\t\\\"And\twhat\twas\tyou\tdoing\tup\there,\tanyway?\\\"\the\tsaid;\t\\\"you\tknow\tit\tain't allowed.\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t \\\"we\t knew\t it\t was\t wrong\u2014but\t I\t wasn't\t afraid\t of\t doing wrong,\tand\tso\tit\tturned\tout\tright.\tYou\taren't\tsorry\twe\tcame.\\\" \\\"Lor'\tlove\tyou\u2014if\tyou\thadn't\t'a'\tcome\u2014\\\"\the\tstopped\tand\tthen\twent\ton.\t\\\"It's\ta disgrace,\tso\tit\tis,\tsleeping\ton\tduty.\tIf\tit\twas\tto\tcome\tto\tbe\tknown\u2014even\tas\tit is,\twhen\tno\tharm's\tcome\tof\tit.\\\" \\\"It\twon't\tcome\tto\tbe\tknown,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"we\taren't\tsneaks.\tAll\tthe\tsame,\tyou oughtn't\tto\tsleep\ton\tduty\u2014it's\tdangerous.\\\" \\\"Tell\tme\tsomething\tI\tdon't\tknow,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tman,\t\\\"but\tI\tcan't\thelp\tit.\tI\tknow'd well\tenough\tjust\thow\tit\t'ud\tbe.\tBut\tI\tcouldn't\tget\toff.\tThey\tcouldn't\tget\tno\tone to\ttake\ton\tmy\tduty.\tI\ttell\tyou\tI\tain't\thad\tten\tminutes'\tsleep\tthis\tlast\tfive\tdays. My\t little\t chap's\t ill\u2014pewmonia,\t the\t Doctor\t says\u2014and\t there's\t no\t one\t but\t me and\t 'is\t little\t sister\t to\t do\t for\t him.\t That's\t where\t it\t is.\t The\t gell\t must\t 'ave\t her sleep.\tDangerous?\tYes,\tI\tbelieve\tyou.\tNow\tgo\tand\tsplit\ton\tme\tif\tyou\tlike.\\\" \\\"Of\tcourse\twe\twon't,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tindignantly,\tbut\tPhyllis\tignored\tthe\twhole\tof the\tsignalman's\tspeech,\texcept\tthe\tfirst\tsix\twords. \\\"You\tasked\tus,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\t\\\"to\ttell\tyou\tsomething\tyou\tdon't\tknow.\tWell,\tI\twill. There's\ta\tboy\tin\tthe\ttunnel\tover\tthere\twith\ta\tred\tjersey\tand\this\tleg\tbroken.\\\" \\\"What\tdid\the\twant\tto\tgo\tinto\tthe\tblooming\ttunnel\tfor,\tthen?\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tman. \\\"Don't\t you\t be\t so\t cross,\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t kindly.\t \\\"WE\t haven't\t done\t anything wrong\texcept\tcoming\tand\twaking\tyou\tup,\tand\tthat\twas\tright,\tas\tit\thappens.\\\" Then\tPeter\ttold\thow\tthe\tboy\tcame\tto\tbe\tin\tthe\ttunnel. \\\"Well,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tman,\t\\\"I\tdon't\tsee\tas\tI\tcan\tdo\tanything.\tI\tcan't\tleave\tthe\tbox.\\\" \\\"You\tmight\ttell\tus\twhere\tto\tgo\tafter\tsomeone\twho\tisn't\tin\ta\tbox,\tthough,\\\"\tsaid Phyllis.","\\\"There's\t Brigden's\t farm\t over\t yonder\u2014where\t you\t see\t the\t smoke\t a-coming\t up through\tthe\ttrees,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tman,\tmore\tand\tmore\tgrumpy,\tas\tPhyllis\tnoticed. \\\"Well,\tgood-bye,\tthen,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. But\tthe\tman\tsaid,\t\\\"Wait\ta\tminute.\\\"\tHe\tput\this\thand\tin\this\tpocket\tand\tbrought out\tsome\tmoney\u2014a\tlot\tof\tpennies\tand\tone\tor\ttwo\tshillings\tand\tsixpences\tand half-a-crown.\tHe\tpicked\tout\ttwo\tshillings\tand\theld\tthem\tout. \\\"Here,\\\"\t he\t said.\t \\\"I'll\t give\t you\t this\t to\t hold\t your\t tongues\t about\t what's\t taken place\tto-day.\\\" There\twas\ta\tshort,\tunpleasant\tpause.\tThen:\u2014 \\\"You\tARE\ta\tnasty\tman,\tthough,\taren't\tyou?\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis. Peter\ttook\ta\tstep\tforward\tand\tknocked\tthe\tman's\thand\tup,\tso\tthat\tthe\tshillings leapt\tout\tof\tit\tand\trolled\ton\tthe\tfloor. \\\"If\t anything\t COULD\t make\t me\t sneak,\t THAT\t would!\\\"\t he\t said.\t \\\"Come,\t Phil,\\\" and\tmarched\tout\tof\tthe\tsignal-box\twith\tflaming\tcheeks. Phyllis\t hesitated.\t Then\t she\t took\t the\t hand,\t still\t held\t out\t stupidly,\t that\t the shillings\thad\tbeen\tin. \\\"I\t forgive\t you,\\\"\t she\t said,\t \\\"even\t if\t Peter\t doesn't.\t You're\t not\t in\t your\t proper senses,\tor\tyou'd\tnever\thave\tdone\tthat.\tI\tknow\twant\tof\tsleep\tsends\tpeople\tmad. Mother\ttold\tme.\tI\thope\tyour\tlittle\tboy\twill\tsoon\tbe\tbetter,\tand\u2014\\\" \\\"Come\ton,\tPhil,\\\"\tcried\tPeter,\teagerly. \\\"I\t give\t you\t my\t sacred\t honour-word\t we'll\t never\t tell\t anyone.\t Kiss\t and\t be friends,\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t feeling\t how\t noble\t it\t was\t of\t her\t to\t try\t to\t make\t up\t a quarrel\tin\twhich\tshe\twas\tnot\tto\tblame. The\tsignalman\tstooped\tand\tkissed\ther. \\\"I\t do\t believe\t I'm\t a\t bit\t off\t my\t head,\t Sissy,\\\"\t he\t said.\t \\\"Now\t run\t along\t home\t to Mother.\tI\tdidn't\tmean\tto\tput\tyou\tabout\u2014there.\\\" So\tPhil\tleft\tthe\thot\tsignal-box\tand\tfollowed\tPeter\tacross\tthe\tfields\tto\tthe\tfarm. When\t the\t farm\t men,\t led\t by\t Peter\t and\t Phyllis\t and\t carrying\t a\t hurdle\t covered with\t horse-cloths,\t reached\t the\t manhole\t in\t the\t tunnel,\t Bobbie\t was\t fast\t asleep and\tso\twas\tJim.\tWorn\tout\twith\tthe\tpain,\tthe\tDoctor\tsaid\tafterwards. \\\"Where\t does\t he\t live?\\\"\t the\t bailiff\t from\t the\t farm\t asked,\t when\t Jim\t had\t been lifted\ton\tto\tthe\thurdle.","\\\"In\tNorthumberland,\\\"\tanswered\tBobbie. \\\"I'm\tat\tschool\tat\tMaidbridge,\\\"\tsaid\tJim.\t\\\"I\tsuppose\tI've\tgot\tto\tget\tback\tthere, somehow.\\\" \\\"Seems\tto\tme\tthe\tDoctor\tought\tto\thave\ta\tlook\tin\tfirst,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tbailiff. \\\"Oh,\t bring\t him\t up\t to\t our\t house,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie.\t \\\"It's\t only\t a\t little\t way\t by\t the road.\tI'm\tsure\tMother\twould\tsay\twe\tought\tto.\\\" \\\"Will\tyour\tMa\tlike\tyou\tbringing\thome\tstrangers\twith\tbroken\tlegs?\\\" \\\"She\ttook\tthe\tpoor\tRussian\thome\therself,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\t\\\"I\tknow\tshe'd\tsay\twe ought.\\\" \\\"All\t right,\\\"\t said\t the\t bailiff,\t \\\"you\t ought\t to\t know\t what\t your\t Ma\t 'ud\t like.\t I wouldn't\t take\t it\t upon\t me\t to\t fetch\t him\t up\t to\t our\t place\t without\t I\t asked\t the Missus\tfirst,\tand\tthey\tcall\tme\tthe\tMaster,\ttoo.\\\" \\\"Are\tyou\tsure\tyour\tMother\twon't\tmind?\\\"\twhispered\tJim. \\\"Certain,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"Then\twe're\tto\ttake\thim\tup\tto\tThree\tChimneys?\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tbailiff. \\\"Of\tcourse,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Then\tmy\tlad\tshall\tnip\tup\tto\tDoctor's\ton\this\tbike,\tand\ttell\thim\tto\tcome\tdown there.\tNow,\tlads,\tlift\thim\tquiet\tand\tsteady.\tOne,\ttwo,\tthree!\\\" \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Thus\t it\t happened\t that\t Mother,\t writing\t away\t for\t dear\t life\t at\t a\t story\t about\t a Duchess,\ta\tdesigning\tvillain,\ta\tsecret\tpassage,\tand\ta\tmissing\twill,\tdropped\ther pen\t as\t her\t work-room\t door\t burst\t open,\t and\t turned\t to\t see\t Bobbie\t hatless\t and red\twith\trunning. \\\"Oh,\tMother,\\\"\tshe\tcried,\t\\\"do\tcome\tdown.\tWe\tfound\ta\thound\tin\ta\tred\tjersey\tin the\ttunnel,\tand\the's\tbroken\this\tleg\tand\tthey're\tbringing\thim\thome.\\\" \\\"They\t ought\t to\t take\t him\t to\t the\t vet,\\\"\t said\t Mother,\t with\t a\t worried\t frown;\t \\\"I really\tCAN'T\thave\ta\tlame\tdog\there.\\\" \\\"He's\t not\t a\t dog,\t really\u2014he's\t a\t boy,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t between\t laughing\t and choking. \\\"Then\the\tought\tto\tbe\ttaken\thome\tto\this\tmother.\\\"","\\\"His\t mother's\t dead,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t \\\"and\t his\t father's\t in\t Northumberland.\t Oh, Mother,\tyou\twill\tbe\tnice\tto\thim?\tI\ttold\thim\tI\twas\tsure\tyou'd\twant\tus\tto\tbring him\thome.\tYou\talways\twant\tto\thelp\teverybody.\\\" Mother\tsmiled,\tbut\tshe\tsighed,\ttoo.\tIt\tis\tnice\tthat\tyour\tchildren\tshould\tbelieve you\twilling\tto\topen\thouse\tand\theart\tto\tany\tand\tevery\tone\twho\tneeds\thelp.\tBut it\tis\trather\tembarrassing\tsometimes,\ttoo,\twhen\tthey\tact\ton\ttheir\tbelief. \\\"Oh,\twell,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\t\\\"we\tmust\tmake\tthe\tbest\tof\tit.\\\" When\t Jim\t was\t carried\t in,\t dreadfully\t white\t and\t with\t set\t lips\t whose\t red\t had faded\tto\ta\thorrid\tbluey\tviolet\tcolour,\tMother\tsaid:\u2014 \\\"I\t am\t glad\t you\t brought\t him\t here.\t Now,\t Jim,\t let's\t get\t you\t comfortable\t in\t bed before\tthe\tDoctor\tcomes!\\\" And\tJim,\tlooking\tat\ther\tkind\teyes,\tfelt\ta\tlittle,\twarm,\tcomforting\tflush\tof\tnew courage. \\\"It'll\t hurt\t rather,\t won't\t it?\\\"\t he\t said.\t \\\"I\t don't\t mean\t to\t be\t a\t coward.\t You\t won't think\t I'm\t a\t coward\t if\t I\t faint\t again,\t will\t you?\t I\t really\t and\t truly\t don't\t do\t it\t on purpose.\tAnd\tI\tdo\thate\tto\tgive\tyou\tall\tthis\ttrouble.\\\" \\\"Don't\tyou\tworry,\\\"\tsaid\tMother;\t\\\"it's\tyou\tthat\thave\tthe\ttrouble,\tyou\tpoor\tdear \u2014not\tus.\\\" And\tshe\tkissed\thim\tjust\tas\tif\the\thad\tbeen\tPeter.\t\\\"We\tlove\tto\thave\tyou\there\u2014 don't\twe,\tBobbie?\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie\u2014and\tshe\tsaw\tby\ther\tMother's\tface\thow\tright\tshe\thad\tbeen to\tbring\thome\tthe\twounded\thound\tin\tthe\tred\tjersey. \t \t Chapter\tXIII.\tThe\thound's grandfather. \t Mother\tdid\tnot\tget\tback\tto\ther\twriting\tall\tthat\tday,\tfor\tthe\tred-jerseyed\thound whom\tthe\tchildren\thad\tbrought\tto\tThree\tChimneys\thad\tto\tbe\tput\tto\tbed.\tAnd then\t the\t Doctor\t came,\t and\t hurt\t him\t most\t horribly.\t Mother\t was\t with\t him\t all through\t it,\t and\t that\t made\t it\t a\t little\t better\t than\t it\t would\t have\t been,\t but\t \\\"bad was\tthe\tbest,\\\"\tas\tMrs.\tViney\tsaid. The\tchildren\tsat\tin\tthe\tparlour\tdownstairs\tand\theard\tthe\tsound\tof\tthe\tDoctor's","boots\t going\t backwards\t and\t forwards\t over\t the\t bedroom\t floor.\t And\t once\t or twice\tthere\twas\ta\tgroan. \\\"It's\t horrible,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie.\t \\\"Oh,\t I\t wish\t Dr.\t Forrest\t would\t make\t haste.\t Oh, poor\tJim!\\\" \\\"It\t IS\t horrible,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t \\\"but\t it's\t very\t exciting.\t I\t wish\t Doctors\t weren't\t so stuck-up\t about\t who\t they'll\t have\t in\t the\t room\t when\t they're\t doing\t things.\t I should\t most\t awfully\t like\t to\t see\t a\t leg\t set.\t I\t believe\t the\t bones\t crunch\t like anything.\\\" \\\"Don't!\\\"\tsaid\tthe\ttwo\tgirls\tat\tonce. \\\"Rubbish!\\\"\t said\t Peter.\t \\\"How\t are\t you\t going\t to\t be\t Red\t Cross\t Nurses,\t like\t you were\t talking\t of\t coming\t home,\t if\t you\t can't\t even\t stand\t hearing\t me\t say\t about bones\t crunching?\t You'd\t have\t to\t HEAR\t them\t crunch\t on\t the\t field\t of\t battle\u2014 and\tbe\tsteeped\tin\tgore\tup\tto\tthe\telbows\tas\tlikely\tas\tnot,\tand\u2014\\\" \\\"Stop\tit!\\\"\tcried\tBobbie,\twith\ta\twhite\tface;\t\\\"you\tdon't\tknow\thow\tfunny\tyou're making\tme\tfeel.\\\" \\\"Me,\ttoo,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\twhose\tface\twas\tpink. \\\"Cowards!\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"I'm\tnot,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\t\\\"I\thelped\tMother\twith\tyour\trake-wounded\tfoot,\tand\tso did\tPhil\u2014you\tknow\twe\tdid.\\\" \\\"Well,\t then!\\\"\t said\t Peter.\t \\\"Now\t look\t here.\t It\t would\t be\t a\t jolly\t good\t thing\t for you\tif\tI\twere\tto\ttalk\tto\tyou\tevery\tday\tfor\thalf\tan\thour\tabout\tbroken\tbones\tand people's\tinsides,\tso\tas\tto\tget\tyou\tused\tto\tit.\\\" A\tchair\twas\tmoved\tabove. \\\"Listen,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"that's\tthe\tbone\tcrunching.\\\" \\\"I\tdo\twish\tyou\twouldn't,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis.\t\\\"Bobbie\tdoesn't\tlike\tit.\\\" \\\"I'll\ttell\tyou\twhat\tthey\tdo,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter.\tI\tcan't\tthink\twhat\tmade\thim\tso\thorrid. Perhaps\tit\twas\tbecause\the\thad\tbeen\tso\tvery\tnice\tand\tkind\tall\tthe\tearlier\tpart\tof the\tday,\tand\tnow\the\thad\tto\thave\ta\tchange.\tThis\tis\tcalled\treaction.\tOne\tnotices it\t now\t and\t then\t in\t oneself.\t Sometimes\t when\t one\t has\t been\t extra\t good\t for\t a longer\t time\t than\t usual,\t one\t is\t suddenly\t attacked\t by\t a\t violent\t fit\t of\t not\t being good\tat\tall.\t\\\"I'll\ttell\tyou\twhat\tthey\tdo,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"they\tstrap\tthe\tbroken\tman down\tso\tthat\the\tcan't\tresist\tor\tinterfere\twith\ttheir\tdoctorish\tdesigns,\tand\tthen someone\t holds\t his\t head,\t and\t someone\t holds\t his\t leg\u2014the\t broken\t one,\t and pulls\t it\t till\t the\t bones\t fit\t in\u2014with\t a\t crunch,\t mind\t you!\t Then\t they\t strap\t it\t up","and\u2014let's\tplay\tat\tbone-setting!\\\" \\\"Oh,\tno!\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis. But\t Bobbie\t said\t suddenly:\t \\\"All\t right\u2014LET'S!\t I'll\t be\t the\t doctor,\t and\t Phil\t can be\tthe\tnurse.\tYou\tcan\tbe\tthe\tbroken\tboner;\twe\tcan\tget\tat\tyour\tlegs\tmore\teasily, because\tyou\tdon't\twear\tpetticoats.\\\" \\\"I'll\tget\tthe\tsplints\tand\tbandages,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"you\tget\tthe\tcouch\tof\tsuffering ready.\\\" The\t ropes\t that\t had\t tied\t up\t the\t boxes\t that\t had\t come\t from\t home\t were\t all\t in\t a wooden\t packing-case\t in\t the\t cellar.\t When\t Peter\t brought\t in\t a\t trailing\t tangle\t of them,\tand\ttwo\tboards\tfor\tsplints,\tPhyllis\twas\texcitedly\tgiggling. \\\"Now,\tthen,\\\"\the\tsaid,\tand\tlay\tdown\ton\tthe\tsettle,\tgroaning\tmost\tgrievously. \\\"Not\t so\t loud!\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t beginning\t to\t wind\t the\t rope\t round\t him\t and\t the settle.\t\\\"You\tpull,\tPhil.\\\" \\\"Not\tso\ttight,\\\"\tmoaned\tPeter.\t\\\"You'll\tbreak\tmy\tother\tleg.\\\" Bobbie\tworked\ton\tin\tsilence,\twinding\tmore\tand\tmore\trope\tround\thim. \\\"That's\tenough,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter.\t\\\"I\tcan't\tmove\tat\tall.\tOh,\tmy\tpoor\tleg!\\\"\tHe\tgroaned again. \\\"SURE\tyou\tcan't\tmove?\\\"\tasked\tBobbie,\tin\ta\trather\tstrange\ttone. \\\"Quite\t sure,\\\"\t replied\t Peter.\t \\\"Shall\t we\t play\t it's\t bleeding\t freely\t or\t not?\\\"\t he asked\tcheerfully. \\\"YOU\t can\t play\t what\t you\t like,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t sternly,\t folding\t her\t arms\t and looking\tdown\tat\thim\twhere\the\tlay\tall\twound\tround\tand\tround\twith\tcord.\t\\\"Phil and\tI\tare\tgoing\taway.\tAnd\twe\tshan't\tuntie\tyou\ttill\tyou\tpromise\tnever,\tnever\tto talk\tto\tus\tabout\tblood\tand\twounds\tunless\twe\tsay\tyou\tmay.\tCome,\tPhil!\\\" \\\"You\t beast!\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t writhing.\t \\\"I'll\t never\t promise,\t never.\t I'll\t yell,\t and Mother\twill\tcome.\\\" \\\"Do,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\t\\\"and\ttell\ther\twhy\twe\ttied\tyou\tup!\tCome\ton,\tPhil.\tNo,\tI'm not\ta\tbeast,\tPeter.\tBut\tyou\twouldn't\tstop\twhen\twe\tasked\tyou\tand\u2014\\\" \\\"Yah,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"it\twasn't\teven\tyour\town\tidea.\tYou\tgot\tit\tout\tof\tStalky!\\\" Bobbie\tand\tPhil,\tretiring\tin\tsilent\tdignity,\twere\tmet\tat\tthe\tdoor\tby\tthe\tDoctor. He\tcame\tin\trubbing\this\thands\tand\tlooking\tpleased\twith\thimself.","\\\"Well,\\\"\the\tsaid,\t\\\"THAT\tjob's\tdone.\tIt's\ta\tnice\tclean\tfracture,\tand\tit'll\tgo\ton\tall right,\tI've\tno\tdoubt.\tPlucky\tyoung\tchap,\ttoo\u2014hullo!\twhat's\tall\tthis?\\\" His\teye\thad\tfallen\ton\tPeter\twho\tlay\tmousy-still\tin\this\tbonds\ton\tthe\tsettle. \\\"Playing\t at\t prisoners,\t eh?\\\"\t he\t said;\t but\t his\t eyebrows\t had\t gone\t up\t a\t little. Somehow\the\thad\tnot\tthought\tthat\tBobbie\twould\tbe\tplaying\twhile\tin\tthe\troom above\tsomeone\twas\thaving\ta\tbroken\tbone\tset. \\\"Oh,\t no!\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t \\\"not\t at\t PRISONERS.\t We\t were\t playing\t at\t setting bones.\tPeter's\tthe\tbroken\tboner,\tand\tI\twas\tthe\tdoctor.\\\" The\tDoctor\tfrowned. \\\"Then\t I\t must\t say,\\\"\t he\t said,\t and\t he\t said\t it\t rather\t sternly,\t \\\"that's\t it's\t a\t very heartless\tgame.\tHaven't\tyou\tenough\timagination\teven\tto\tfaintly\tpicture\twhat's been\t going\t on\t upstairs?\t That\t poor\t chap,\t with\t the\t drops\t of\t sweat\t on\t his forehead,\t and\t biting\t his\t lips\t so\t as\t not\t to\t cry\t out,\t and\t every\t touch\t on\t his\t leg agony\tand\u2014\\\" \\\"YOU\tought\tto\tbe\ttied\tup,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis;\t\\\"you're\tas\tbad\tas\u2014\\\" \\\"Hush,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie;\t\\\"I'm\tsorry,\tbut\twe\tweren't\theartless,\treally.\\\" \\\"I\t was,\t I\t suppose,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t crossly.\t \\\"All\t right,\t Bobbie,\t don't\t you\t go\t on being\t noble\t and\t screening\t me,\t because\t I\t jolly\t well\t won't\t have\t it.\t It\t was\t only that\tI\tkept\ton\ttalking\tabout\tblood\tand\twounds.\tI\twanted\tto\ttrain\tthem\tfor\tRed Cross\tNurses.\tAnd\tI\twouldn't\tstop\twhen\tthey\tasked\tme.\\\" \\\"Well?\\\"\tsaid\tDr.\tForrest,\tsitting\tdown. \\\"Well\u2014then\t I\t said,\t 'Let's\t play\t at\t setting\t bones.'\t It\t was\t all\t rot.\t I\t knew\t Bobbie wouldn't.\tI\tonly\tsaid\tit\tto\ttease\ther.\tAnd\tthen\twhen\tshe\tsaid\t'yes,'\tof\tcourse\tI had\tto\tgo\tthrough\twith\tit.\tAnd\tthey\ttied\tme\tup.\tThey\tgot\tit\tout\tof\tStalky.\tAnd I\tthink\tit's\ta\tbeastly\tshame.\\\" He\t managed\t to\t writhe\t over\t and\t hide\t his\t face\t against\t the\t wooden\t back\t of\t the settle. \\\"I\t didn't\t think\t that\t anyone\t would\t know\t but\t us,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t indignantly answering\tPeter's\tunspoken\treproach.\t\\\"I\tnever\tthought\tof\tyour\tcoming\tin.\tAnd hearing\tabout\tblood\tand\twounds\tdoes\treally\tmake\tme\tfeel\tmost\tawfully\tfunny. It\twas\tonly\ta\tjoke\tour\ttying\thim\tup.\tLet\tme\tuntie\tyou,\tPete.\\\" \\\"I\t don't\t care\t if\t you\t never\t untie\t me,\\\"\t said\t Peter;\t \\\"and\t if\t that's\t your\t idea\t of\t a joke\u2014\\\"","\\\"If\tI\twere\tyou,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tDoctor,\tthough\treally\the\tdid\tnot\tquite\tknow\twhat\tto say,\t \\\"I\t should\t be\t untied\t before\t your\t Mother\t comes\t down.\t You\t don't\t want\t to worry\ther\tjust\tnow,\tdo\tyou?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tpromise\tanything\tabout\tnot\tsaying\tabout\twounds,\tmind,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tin very\tsurly\ttones,\tas\tBobbie\tand\tPhyllis\tbegan\tto\tuntie\tthe\tknots. \\\"I'm\tvery\tsorry,\tPete,\\\"\tBobbie\twhispered,\tleaning\tclose\tto\thim\tas\tshe\tfumbled with\t the\t big\t knot\t under\t the\t settle;\t \\\"but\t if\t you\t only\t knew\t how\t sick\t you\t made me\tfeel.\\\" \\\"You've\t made\t ME\t feel\t pretty\t sick,\t I\t can\t tell\t you,\\\"\t Peter\t rejoined.\t Then\t he shook\toff\tthe\tloose\tcords,\tand\tstood\tup. \\\"I\tlooked\tin,\\\"\tsaid\tDr.\tForrest,\t\\\"to\tsee\tif\tone\tof\tyou\twould\tcome\talong\tto\tthe surgery.\t There\t are\t some\t things\t that\t your\t Mother\t will\t want\t at\t once,\t and\t I've given\tmy\tman\ta\tday\toff\tto\tgo\tand\tsee\tthe\tcircus;\twill\tyou\tcome,\tPeter?\\\" Peter\twent\twithout\ta\tword\tor\ta\tlook\tto\this\tsisters. The\t two\t walked\t in\t silence\t up\t to\t the\t gate\t that\t led\t from\t the\t Three\t Chimneys field\tto\tthe\troad.\tThen\tPeter\tsaid:\u2014 \\\"Let\tme\tcarry\tyour\tbag.\tI\tsay,\tit\tis\theavy\u2014what's\tin\tit?\\\" \\\"Oh,\tknives\tand\tlancets\tand\tdifferent\tinstruments\tfor\thurting\tpeople.\tAnd\tthe ether\tbottle.\tI\thad\tto\tgive\thim\tether,\tyou\tknow\u2014the\tagony\twas\tso\tintense.\\\" Peter\twas\tsilent. \\\"Tell\tme\tall\tabout\thow\tyou\tfound\tthat\tchap,\\\"\tsaid\tDr.\tForrest. Peter\t told.\t And\t then\t Dr.\t Forrest\t told\t him\t stories\t of\t brave\t rescues;\t he\t was\t a most\tinteresting\tman\tto\ttalk\tto,\tas\tPeter\thad\toften\tremarked. Then\t in\t the\t surgery\t Peter\t had\t a\t better\t chance\t than\t he\t had\t ever\t had\t of examining\t the\t Doctor's\t balance,\t and\t his\t microscope,\t and\t his\t scales\t and measuring\tglasses.\tWhen\tall\tthe\tthings\twere\tready\tthat\tPeter\twas\tto\ttake\tback, the\tDoctor\tsaid\tsuddenly:\u2014 \\\"You'll\t excuse\t my\t shoving\t my\t oar\t in,\t won't\t you?\t But\t I\t should\t like\t to\t say something\tto\tyou.\\\" \\\"Now\tfor\ta\trowing,\\\"\tthought\tPeter,\twho\thad\tbeen\twondering\thow\tit\twas\tthat he\thad\tescaped\tone. \\\"Something\tscientific,\\\"\tadded\tthe\tDoctor.","\\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tfiddling\twith\tthe\tfossil\tammonite\tthat\tthe\tDoctor\tused\tfor\ta paper-weight. \\\"Well\t then,\t you\t see.\t Boys\t and\t girls\t are\t only\t little\t men\t and\t women.\t And\t WE are\t much\t harder\t and\t hardier\t than\t they\t are\u2014\\\"\t (Peter\t liked\t the\t \\\"we.\\\"\t Perhaps the\t Doctor\t had\t known\t he\t would.)\u2014\\\"and\t much\t stronger,\t and\t things\t that\t hurt THEM\tdon't\thurt\tUS.\tYou\tknow\tyou\tmustn't\thit\ta\tgirl\u2014\\\" \\\"I\tshould\tthink\tnot,\tindeed,\\\"\tmuttered\tPeter,\tindignantly. \\\"Not\teven\tif\tshe's\tyour\town\tsister.\tThat's\tbecause\tgirls\tare\tso\tmuch\tsofter\tand weaker\t than\t we\t are;\t they\t have\t to\t be,\t you\t know,\\\"\t he\t added,\t \\\"because\t if\t they weren't,\t it\t wouldn't\t be\t nice\t for\t the\t babies.\t And\t that's\t why\t all\t the\t animals\t are so\tgood\tto\tthe\tmother\tanimals.\tThey\tnever\tfight\tthem,\tyou\tknow.\\\" \\\"I\tknow,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tinterested;\t\\\"two\tbuck\trabbits\twill\tfight\tall\tday\tif\tyou\tlet them,\tbut\tthey\twon't\thurt\ta\tdoe.\\\" \\\"No;\t and\t quite\t wild\t beasts\u2014lions\t and\t elephants\u2014they're\t immensely\t gentle with\tthe\tfemale\tbeasts.\tAnd\twe've\tgot\tto\tbe,\ttoo.\\\" \\\"I\tsee,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"And\t their\t hearts\t are\t soft,\t too,\\\"\t the\t Doctor\t went\t on,\t \\\"and\t things\t that\t we shouldn't\tthink\tanything\tof\thurt\tthem\tdreadfully.\tSo\tthat\ta\tman\thas\tto\tbe\tvery careful,\t not\t only\t of\t his\t fists,\t but\t of\t his\t words.\t They're\t awfully\t brave,\t you know,\\\"\t he\t went\t on.\t \\\"Think\t of\t Bobbie\t waiting\t alone\t in\t the\t tunnel\t with\t that poor\t chap.\t It's\t an\t odd\t thing\u2014the\t softer\t and\t more\t easily\t hurt\t a\t woman\t is\t the better\t she\t can\t screw\t herself\t up\t to\t do\t what\t HAS\t to\t be\t done.\t I've\t seen\t some brave\twomen\u2014your\tMother's\tone,\\\"\the\tended\tabruptly. \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Well,\t that's\t all.\t Excuse\t my\t mentioning\t it.\t But\t nobody\t knows\t everything without\tbeing\ttold.\tAnd\tyou\tsee\twhat\tI\tmean,\tdon't\tyou?\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter.\t\\\"I'm\tsorry.\tThere!\\\" \\\"Of\t course\t you\t are!\t People\t always\t are\u2014directly\t they\t understand.\t Everyone ought\tto\tbe\ttaught\tthese\tscientific\tfacts.\tSo\tlong!\\\" They\t shook\t hands\t heartily.\t When\t Peter\t came\t home,\t his\t sisters\t looked\t at\t him doubtfully. \\\"It's\tPax,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tdumping\tdown\tthe\tbasket\ton\tthe\ttable.\t\\\"Dr.\tForrest\thas been\ttalking\tscientific\tto\tme.\tNo,\tit's\tno\tuse\tmy\ttelling\tyou\twhat\the\tsaid;\tyou wouldn't\t understand.\t But\t it\t all\t comes\t to\t you\t girls\t being\t poor,\t soft,\t weak,","frightened\tthings\tlike\trabbits,\tso\tus\tmen\thave\tjust\tgot\tto\tput\tup\twith\tthem.\tHe said\tyou\twere\tfemale\tbeasts.\tShall\tI\ttake\tthis\tup\tto\tMother,\tor\twill\tyou?\\\" \\\"I\t know\t what\t BOYS\t are,\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t with\t flaming\t cheeks;\t \\\"they're\t just\t the nastiest,\trudest\u2014\\\" \\\"They're\tvery\tbrave,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\t\\\"sometimes.\\\" \\\"Ah,\t you\t mean\t the\t chap\t upstairs?\t I\t see.\t Go\t ahead,\t Phil\u2014I\t shall\t put\t up\t with you\twhatever\tyou\tsay\tbecause\tyou're\ta\tpoor,\tweak,\tfrightened,\tsoft\u2014\\\" \\\"Not\tif\tI\tpull\tyour\thair\tyou\twon't,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\tspringing\tat\thim. \\\"He\tsaid\t'Pax,'\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tpulling\ther\taway.\t\\\"Don't\tyou\tsee,\\\"\tshe\twhispered as\tPeter\tpicked\tup\tthe\tbasket\tand\tstalked\tout\twith\tit,\t\\\"he's\tsorry,\treally,\tonly\the won't\tsay\tso?\tLet's\tsay\twe're\tsorry.\\\" \\\"It's\t so\t goody\t goody,\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t doubtfully;\t \\\"he\t said\t we\t were\t female beasts,\tand\tsoft\tand\tfrightened\u2014\\\" \\\"Then\t let's\t show\t him\t we're\t not\t frightened\t of\t him\t thinking\t us\t goody\t goody,\\\" said\tBobbie;\t\\\"and\twe're\tnot\tany\tmore\tbeasts\tthan\the\tis.\\\" And\twhen\tPeter\tcame\tback,\tstill\twith\this\tchin\tin\tthe\tair,\tBobbie\tsaid:\u2014 \\\"We're\tsorry\twe\ttied\tyou\tup,\tPete.\\\" \\\"I\tthought\tyou\twould\tbe,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tvery\tstiff\tand\tsuperior. This\twas\thard\tto\tbear.\tBut\u2014 \\\"Well,\tso\twe\tare,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\t\\\"Now\tlet\thonour\tbe\tsatisfied\ton\tboth\tsides.\\\" \\\"I\tdid\tcall\tit\tPax,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tin\tan\tinjured\ttone. \\\"Then\tlet\tit\tBE\tPax,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\t\\\"Come\ton,\tPhil,\tlet's\tget\tthe\ttea.\tPete,\tyou might\tlay\tthe\tcloth.\\\" \\\"I\t say,\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t when\t peace\t was\t really\t restored,\t which\t was\t not\t till\t they were\twashing\tup\tthe\tcups\tafter\ttea,\t\\\"Dr.\tForrest\tdidn't\tREALLY\tsay\twe\twere female\tbeasts,\tdid\the?\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tfirmly,\t\\\"but\tI\tthink\the\tmeant\twe\tmen\twere\twild\tbeasts,\ttoo.\\\" \\\"How\tfunny\tof\thim!\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\tbreaking\ta\tcup. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \\\"May\t I\t come\t in,\t Mother?\\\"\t Peter\t was\t at\t the\t door\t of\t Mother's\t writing\t room,","where\t Mother\t sat\t at\t her\t table\t with\t two\t candles\t in\t front\t of\t her.\t Their\t flames looked\torange\tand\tviolet\tagainst\tthe\tclear\tgrey\tblue\tof\tthe\tsky\twhere\talready\ta few\tstars\twere\ttwinkling. \\\"Yes,\t dear,\\\"\t said\t Mother,\t absently,\t \\\"anything\t wrong?\\\"\t She\t wrote\t a\t few\t more words\tand\tthen\tlaid\tdown\ther\tpen\tand\tbegan\tto\tfold\tup\twhat\tshe\thad\twritten. \\\"I\twas\tjust\twriting\tto\tJim's\tgrandfather.\tHe\tlives\tnear\there,\tyou\tknow.\\\" \\\"Yes,\t you\t said\t so\t at\t tea.\t That's\t what\t I\t want\t to\t say.\t Must\t you\t write\t to\t him, Mother?\t Couldn't\t we\t keep\t Jim,\t and\t not\t say\t anything\t to\t his\t people\t till\t he's well?\tIt\twould\tbe\tsuch\ta\tsurprise\tfor\tthem.\\\" \\\"Well,\tyes,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\tlaughing,\t\\\"I\tthink\tit\twould.\\\" \\\"You\tsee,\\\"\tPeter\twent\ton,\t\\\"of\tcourse\tthe\tgirls\tare\tall\tright\tand\tall\tthat\u2014I'm\tnot saying\t anything\t against\t THEM.\t But\t I\t should\t like\t it\t if\t I\t had\t another\t chap\t to talk\tto\tsometimes.\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\t\\\"I\tknow\tit's\tdull\tfor\tyou,\tdear.\tBut\tI\tcan't\thelp\tit.\tNext\tyear perhaps\tI\tcan\tsend\tyou\tto\tschool\u2014you'd\tlike\tthat,\twouldn't\tyou?\\\" \\\"I\tdo\tmiss\tthe\tother\tchaps,\trather,\\\"\tPeter\tconfessed;\t\\\"but\tif\tJim\tcould\tstay\tafter his\tleg\twas\twell,\twe\tcould\thave\tawful\tlarks.\\\" \\\"I've\t no\t doubt\t of\t it,\\\"\t said\t Mother.\t \\\"Well\u2014perhaps\t he\t could,\t but\t you\t know, dear,\t we're\t not\t rich.\t I\t can't\t afford\t to\t get\t him\t everything\t he'll\t want.\t And\t he must\thave\ta\tnurse.\\\" \\\"Can't\tyou\tnurse\thim,\tMother?\tYou\tdo\tnurse\tpeople\tso\tbeautifully.\\\" \\\"That's\t a\t pretty\t compliment,\t Pete\u2014but\t I\t can't\t do\t nursing\t and\t my\t writing\t as well.\tThat's\tthe\tworst\tof\tit.\\\" \\\"Then\tyou\tMUST\tsend\tthe\tletter\tto\this\tgrandfather?\\\" \\\"Of\tcourse\u2014and\tto\this\tschoolmaster,\ttoo.\tWe\ttelegraphed\tto\tthem\tboth,\tbut\tI must\twrite\tas\twell.\tThey'll\tbe\tmost\tdreadfully\tanxious.\\\" \\\"I\t say,\t Mother,\t why\t can't\t his\t grandfather\t pay\t for\t a\t nurse?\\\"\t Peter\t suggested. \\\"That\twould\tbe\tripping.\tI\texpect\tthe\told\tboy's\trolling\tin\tmoney.\tGrandfathers in\tbooks\talways\tare.\\\" \\\"Well,\tthis\tone\tisn't\tin\ta\tbook,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\t\\\"so\twe\tmustn't\texpect\thim\tto\troll much.\\\" \\\"I\t say,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t musingly,\t \\\"wouldn't\t it\t be\t jolly\t if\t we\t all\t WERE\t in\t a\t book, and\tyou\twere\twriting\tit?\tThen\tyou\tcould\tmake\tall\tsorts\tof\tjolly\tthings\thappen,","and\t make\t Jim's\t legs\t get\t well\t at\t once\t and\t be\t all\t right\t to-morrow,\t and\t Father come\thome\tsoon\tand\u2014\\\" \\\"Do\t you\t miss\t your\t Father\t very\t much?\\\"\t Mother\t asked,\t rather\t coldly,\t Peter thought. \\\"Awfully,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tbriefly. Mother\twas\tenveloping\tand\taddressing\tthe\tsecond\tletter. \\\"You\tsee,\\\"\tPeter\twent\ton\tslowly,\t\\\"you\tsee,\tit's\tnot\tonly\thim\tBEING\tFather,\tbut now\t he's\t away\t there's\t no\t other\t man\t in\t the\t house\t but\t me\u2014that's\t why\t I\t want Jim\tto\tstay\tso\tfrightfully\tmuch.\tWouldn't\tyou\tlike\tto\tbe\twriting\tthat\tbook\twith us\tall\tin\tit,\tMother,\tand\tmake\tDaddy\tcome\thome\tsoon?\\\" Peter's\tMother\tput\ther\tarm\tround\thim\tsuddenly,\tand\thugged\thim\tin\tsilence\tfor a\tminute.\tThen\tshe\tsaid:\u2014 \\\"Don't\t you\t think\t it's\t rather\t nice\t to\t think\t that\t we're\t in\t a\t book\t that\t God's writing?\t If\t I\t were\t writing\t the\t book,\t I\t might\t make\t mistakes.\t But\t God\t knows how\tto\tmake\tthe\tstory\tend\tjust\tright\u2014in\tthe\tway\tthat's\tbest\tfor\tus.\\\" \\\"Do\tyou\treally\tbelieve\tthat,\tMother?\\\"\tPeter\tasked\tquietly. \\\"Yes,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\t\\\"I\tdo\tbelieve\tit\u2014almost\talways\u2014except\twhen\tI'm\tso\tsad\tthat I\tcan't\tbelieve\tanything.\tBut\teven\twhen\tI\tcan't\tbelieve\tit,\tI\tknow\tit's\ttrue\u2014and I\t try\t to\t believe.\t You\t don't\t know\t how\t I\t try,\t Peter.\t Now\t take\t the\t letters\t to\t the post,\tand\tdon't\tlet's\tbe\tsad\tany\tmore.\tCourage,\tcourage!\tThat's\tthe\tfinest\tof\tall the\tvirtues!\tI\tdare\tsay\tJim\twill\tbe\there\tfor\ttwo\tor\tthree\tweeks\tyet.\\\" For\t what\t was\t left\t of\t the\t evening\t Peter\t was\t so\t angelic\t that\t Bobbie\t feared\t he was\tgoing\tto\tbe\till.\tShe\twas\tquite\trelieved\tin\tthe\tmorning\tto\tfind\thim\tplaiting Phyllis's\thair\ton\tto\tthe\tback\tof\ther\tchair\tin\tquite\this\told\tmanner. It\t was\t soon\t after\t breakfast\t that\t a\t knock\t came\t at\t the\t door.\t The\t children\t were hard\tat\twork\tcleaning\tthe\tbrass\tcandlesticks\tin\thonour\tof\tJim's\tvisit. \\\"That'll\t be\t the\t Doctor,\\\"\t said\t Mother;\t \\\"I'll\t go.\t Shut\t the\t kitchen\t door\u2014you're not\tfit\tto\tbe\tseen.\\\" But\tit\twasn't\tthe\tDoctor.\tThey\tknew\tthat\tby\tthe\tvoice\tand\tby\tthe\tsound\tof\tthe boots\t that\t went\t upstairs.\t They\t did\t not\t recognise\t the\t sound\t of\t the\t boots,\t but everyone\twas\tcertain\tthat\tthey\thad\theard\tthe\tvoice\tbefore. There\t was\t a\t longish\t interval.\t The\t boots\t and\t the\t voice\t did\t not\t come\t down again.","\\\"Who\tcan\tit\tpossibly\tbe?\\\"\tthey\tkept\ton\tasking\tthemselves\tand\teach\tother. \\\"Perhaps,\\\"\t said\t Peter\t at\t last,\t \\\"Dr.\t Forrest\t has\t been\t attacked\t by\t highwaymen and\t left\t for\t dead,\t and\t this\t is\t the\t man\t he's\t telegraphed\t for\t to\t take\t his\t place. Mrs.\t Viney\t said\t he\t had\t a\t local\t tenant\t to\t do\t his\t work\t when\t he\t went\t for\t a holiday,\tdidn't\tyou,\tMrs.\tViney?\\\" \\\"I\tdid\tso,\tmy\tdear,\\\"\tsaid\tMrs.\tViney\tfrom\tthe\tback\tkitchen. \\\"He's\tfallen\tdown\tin\ta\tfit,\tmore\tlikely,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis,\t\\\"all\thuman\taid\tdespaired of.\tAnd\tthis\tis\this\tman\tcome\tto\tbreak\tthe\tnews\tto\tMother.\\\" \\\"Nonsense!\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\tbriskly;\t\\\"Mother\twouldn't\thave\ttaken\tthe\tman\tup\tinto Jim's\t bedroom.\t Why\t should\t she?\t Listen\u2014the\t door's\t opening.\t Now\t they'll come\tdown.\tI'll\topen\tthe\tdoor\ta\tcrack.\\\" He\tdid. \\\"It's\t not\t listening,\\\"\t he\t replied\t indignantly\t to\t Bobbie's\t scandalised\t remarks; \\\"nobody\tin\ttheir\tsenses\twould\ttalk\tsecrets\ton\tthe\tstairs.\tAnd\tMother\tcan't\thave secrets\tto\ttalk\twith\tDr.\tForrest's\tstable-man\u2014and\tyou\tsaid\tit\twas\thim.\\\" \\\"Bobbie,\\\"\tcalled\tMother's\tvoice. They\topened\tthe\tkitchen\tdoor,\tand\tMother\tleaned\tover\tthe\tstair\trailing. \\\"Jim's\t grandfather\t has\t come,\\\"\t she\t said;\t \\\"wash\t your\t hands\t and\t faces\t and\t then you\tcan\tsee\thim.\tHe\twants\tto\tsee\tyou!\\\"\tThe\tbedroom\tdoor\tshut\tagain. \\\"There\tnow!\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"fancy\tus\tnot\teven\tthinking\tof\tthat!\tLet's\thave\tsome hot\twater,\tMrs.\tViney.\tI'm\tas\tblack\tas\tyour\that.\\\" The\tthree\twere\tindeed\tdirty,\tfor\tthe\tstuff\tyou\tclean\tbrass\tcandlesticks\twith\tis very\tfar\tfrom\tcleaning\tto\tthe\tcleaner. They\twere\tstill\tbusy\twith\tsoap\tand\tflannel\twhen\tthey\theard\tthe\tboots\tand\tthe voice\tcome\tdown\tthe\tstairs\tand\tgo\tinto\tthe\tdining-room.\tAnd\twhen\tthey\twere clean,\tthough\tstill\tdamp\u2014because\tit\ttakes\tsuch\ta\tlong\ttime\tto\tdry\tyour\thands properly,\tand\tthey\twere\tvery\timpatient\tto\tsee\tthe\tgrandfather\u2014they\tfiled\tinto the\tdining-room. Mother\t was\t sitting\t in\t the\t window-seat,\t and\t in\t the\t leather-covered\t armchair that\tFather\talways\tused\tto\tsit\tin\tat\tthe\tother\thouse\tsat\u2014 \t\t\t\t\tTHEIR\tOWN\tOLD\tGENTLEMAN! \\\"Well,\tI\tnever\tdid,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\teven\tbefore\the\tsaid,\t\\\"How\tdo\tyou\tdo?\\\"\tHe\twas,","as\t he\t explained\t afterwards,\t too\t surprised\t even\t to\t remember\t that\t there\t was such\ta\tthing\tas\tpoliteness\u2014much\tless\tto\tpractise\tit. \\\"It's\tour\town\told\tgentleman!\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis. \\\"Oh,\t it's\t you!\\\"\t said\t Bobbie.\t And\t then\t they\t remembered\t themselves\t and\t their manners\tand\tsaid,\t\\\"How\tdo\tyou\tdo?\\\"\tvery\tnicely. \\\"This\tis\tJim's\tgrandfather,\tMr.\t\u2014\u2014\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\tnaming\tthe\told\tgentleman's name. \\\"How\tsplendid!\\\"\tsaid\tPeter;\t\\\"that's\tjust\texactly\tlike\ta\tbook,\tisn't\tit,\tMother?\\\" \\\"It\t is,\t rather,\\\"\t said\t Mother,\t smiling;\t \\\"things\t do\t happen\t in\t real\t life\t that\t are rather\tlike\tbooks,\tsometimes.\\\" \\\"I\tam\tso\tawfully\tglad\tit\tIS\tyou,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis;\t\\\"when\tyou\tthink\tof\tthe\ttons\tof old\tgentlemen\tthere\tare\tin\tthe\tworld\u2014it\tmight\thave\tbeen\talmost\tanyone.\\\" \\\"I\t say,\t though,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t \\\"you're\t not\t going\t to\t take\t Jim\t away,\t though,\t are you?\\\" \\\"Not\t at\t present,\\\"\t said\t the\t old\t gentleman.\t \\\"Your\t Mother\t has\t most\t kindly consented\tto\tlet\thim\tstay\there.\tI\tthought\tof\tsending\ta\tnurse,\tbut\tyour\tMother\tis good\tenough\tto\tsay\tthat\tshe\twill\tnurse\thim\therself.\\\" \\\"But\t what\t about\t her\t writing?\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t before\t anyone\t could\t stop\t him. \\\"There\twon't\tbe\tanything\tfor\thim\tto\teat\tif\tMother\tdoesn't\twrite.\\\" \\\"That's\tall\tright,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\thastily. The\told\tgentleman\tlooked\tvery\tkindly\tat\tMother. \\\"I\tsee,\\\"\the\tsaid,\t\\\"you\ttrust\tyour\tchildren,\tand\tconfide\tin\tthem.\\\" \\\"Of\tcourse,\\\"\tsaid\tMother. \\\"Then\t I\t may\t tell\t them\t of\t our\t little\t arrangement,\\\"\t he\t said.\t \\\"Your\t Mother,\t my dears,\t has\t consented\t to\t give\t up\t writing\t for\t a\t little\t while\t and\t to\t become\t a Matron\tof\tmy\tHospital.\\\" \\\"Oh!\\\"\t said\t Phyllis,\t blankly;\t \\\"and\t shall\t we\t have\t to\t go\t away\t from\t Three Chimneys\tand\tthe\tRailway\tand\teverything?\\\" \\\"No,\tno,\tdarling,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\thurriedly. \\\"The\t Hospital\t is\t called\t Three\t Chimneys\t Hospital,\\\"\t said\t the\t old\t gentleman, \\\"and\t my\t unlucky\t Jim's\t the\t only\t patient,\t and\t I\t hope\t he'll\t continue\t to\t be\t so.","Your\t Mother\t will\t be\t Matron,\t and\t there'll\t be\t a\t hospital\t staff\t of\t a\t housemaid and\ta\tcook\u2014till\tJim's\twell.\\\" \\\"And\tthen\twill\tMother\tgo\ton\twriting\tagain?\\\"\tasked\tPeter. \\\"We\t shall\t see,\\\"\t said\t the\t old\t gentleman,\t with\t a\t slight,\t swift\t glance\t at\t Bobbie; \\\"perhaps\tsomething\tnice\tmay\thappen\tand\tshe\twon't\thave\tto.\\\" \\\"I\tlove\tmy\twriting,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\tvery\tquickly. \\\"I\t know,\\\"\t said\t the\t old\t gentleman;\t \\\"don't\t be\t afraid\t that\t I'm\t going\t to\t try\t to interfere.\t But\t one\t never\t knows.\t Very\t wonderful\t and\t beautiful\t things\t do happen,\tdon't\tthey?\tAnd\twe\tlive\tmost\tof\tour\tlives\tin\tthe\thope\tof\tthem.\tI\tmay come\tagain\tto\tsee\tthe\tboy?\\\" \\\"Surely,\\\"\t said\t Mother,\t \\\"and\t I\t don't\t know\t how\t to\t thank\t you\t for\t making\t it possible\tfor\tme\tto\tnurse\thim.\tDear\tboy!\\\" \\\"He\tkept\tcalling\tMother,\tMother,\tin\tthe\tnight,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis.\t\\\"I\twoke\tup\ttwice and\theard\thim.\\\" \\\"He\tdidn't\tmean\tme,\\\"\tsaid\tMother,\tin\ta\tlow\tvoice\tto\tthe\told\tgentleman;\t\\\"that's why\tI\twanted\tso\tmuch\tto\tkeep\thim.\\\" The\told\tgentleman\trose. \\\"I'm\tso\tglad,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"that\tyou're\tgoing\tto\tkeep\thim,\tMother.\\\" \\\"Take\tcare\tof\tyour\tMother,\tmy\tdears,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\told\tgentleman.\t\\\"She's\ta\twoman in\ta\tmillion.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tisn't\tshe?\\\"\twhispered\tBobbie. \\\"God\t bless\t her,\\\"\t said\t the\t old\t gentleman,\t taking\t both\t Mother's\t hands,\t \\\"God bless\ther!\tAy,\tand\tshe\tshall\tbe\tblessed.\tDear\tme,\twhere's\tmy\that?\tWill\tBobbie come\twith\tme\tto\tthe\tgate?\\\" At\tthe\tgate\the\tstopped\tand\tsaid:\u2014 \\\"You're\ta\tgood\tchild,\tmy\tdear\u2014I\tgot\tyour\tletter.\tBut\tit\twasn't\tneeded.\tWhen\tI read\tabout\tyour\tFather's\tcase\tin\tthe\tpapers\tat\tthe\ttime,\tI\thad\tmy\tdoubts.\tAnd ever\t since\t I've\t known\t who\t you\t were,\t I've\t been\t trying\t to\t find\t out\t things.\t I haven't\tdone\tvery\tmuch\tyet.\tBut\tI\thave\thopes,\tmy\tdear\u2014I\thave\thopes.\\\" \\\"Oh!\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tchoking\ta\tlittle. \\\"Yes\u2014I\tmay\tsay\tgreat\thopes.\tBut\tkeep\tyour\tsecret\ta\tlittle\tlonger.\tWouldn't\tdo to\tupset\tyour\tMother\twith\ta\tfalse\thope,\twould\tit?\\\"","\\\"Oh,\tbut\tit\tisn't\tfalse!\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie;\t\\\"I\tKNOW\tyou\tcan\tdo\tit.\tI\tknew\tyou\tcould when\tI\twrote.\tIt\tisn't\ta\tfalse\thope,\tis\tit?\\\" \\\"No,\\\"\the\tsaid,\t\\\"I\tdon't\tthink\tit's\ta\tfalse\thope,\tor\tI\twouldn't\thave\ttold\tyou.\tAnd I\tthink\tyou\tdeserve\tto\tbe\ttold\tthat\tthere\tIS\ta\thope.\\\" \\\"And\tyou\tdon't\tthink\tFather\tdid\tit,\tdo\tyou?\tOh,\tsay\tyou\tdon't\tthink\the\tdid.\\\" \\\"My\tdear,\\\"\the\tsaid,\t\\\"I'm\tperfectly\tCERTAIN\the\tdidn't.\\\" If\tit\twas\ta\tfalse\thope,\tit\twas\tnone\tthe\tless\ta\tvery\tradiant\tone\tthat\tlay\twarm\tat Bobbie's\t heart,\t and\t through\t the\t days\t that\t followed\t lighted\t her\t little\t face\t as\t a Japanese\tlantern\tis\tlighted\tby\tthe\tcandle\twithin. \t \t Chapter\tXIV.\tThe\tEnd. \t Life\t at\t the\t Three\t Chimneys\t was\t never\t quite\t the\t same\t again\t after\t the\t old gentleman\t came\t to\t see\t his\t grandson.\t Although\t they\t now\t knew\t his\t name,\t the children\tnever\tspoke\tof\thim\tby\tit\u2014at\tany\trate,\twhen\tthey\twere\tby\tthemselves. To\tthem\the\twas\talways\tthe\told\tgentleman,\tand\tI\tthink\the\thad\tbetter\tbe\tthe\told gentleman\tto\tus,\ttoo.\tIt\twouldn't\tmake\thim\tseem\tany\tmore\treal\tto\tyou,\twould it,\tif\tI\twere\tto\ttell\tyou\tthat\this\tname\twas\tSnooks\tor\tJenkins\t(which\tit\twasn't)? \u2014and,\tafter\tall,\tI\tmust\tbe\tallowed\tto\tkeep\tone\tsecret.\tIt's\tthe\tonly\tone;\tI\thave told\t you\t everything\t else,\t except\t what\t I\t am\t going\t to\t tell\t you\t in\t this\t chapter, which\t is\t the\t last.\t At\t least,\t of\t course,\t I\t haven't\t told\t you\t EVERYTHING.\t If\t I were\t to\t do\t that,\t the\t book\t would\t never\t come\t to\t an\t end,\t and\t that\t would\t be\t a pity,\twouldn't\tit? Well,\tas\tI\twas\tsaying,\tlife\tat\tThree\tChimneys\twas\tnever\tquite\tthe\tsame\tagain. The\t cook\t and\t the\t housemaid\t were\t very\t nice\t (I\t don't\t mind\t telling\t you\t their names\u2014they\t were\t Clara\t and\t Ethelwyn),\t but\t they\t told\t Mother\t they\t did\t not seem\t to\t want\t Mrs.\t Viney,\t and\t that\t she\t was\t an\t old\t muddler.\t So\t Mrs.\t Viney came\t only\t two\t days\t a\t week\t to\t do\t washing\t and\t ironing.\t Then\t Clara\t and Ethelwyn\tsaid\tthey\tcould\tdo\tthe\twork\tall\tright\tif\tthey\tweren't\tinterfered\twith, and\tthat\tmeant\tthat\tthe\tchildren\tno\tlonger\tgot\tthe\ttea\tand\tcleared\tit\taway\tand washed\tup\tthe\ttea-things\tand\tdusted\tthe\trooms. This\t would\t have\t left\t quite\t a\t blank\t in\t their\t lives,\t although\t they\t had\t often pretended\tto\tthemselves\tand\tto\teach\tother\tthat\tthey\thated\thousework.\tBut\tnow that\tMother\thad\tno\twriting\tand\tno\thousework\tto\tdo,\tshe\thad\ttime\tfor\tlessons. And\tlessons\tthe\tchildren\thad\tto\tdo.\tHowever\tnice\tthe\tperson\twho\tis\tteaching"]
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