The Railway Children

["you\tmay\tbe,\tlessons\tare\tlessons\tall\tthe\tworld\tover,\tand\tat\ttheir\tbest\tare\tworse fun\tthan\tpeeling\tpotatoes\tor\tlighting\ta\tfire. On\tthe\tother\thand,\tif\tMother\tnow\thad\ttime\tfor\tlessons,\tshe\talso\thad\ttime\tfor play,\tand\tto\tmake\tup\tlittle\trhymes\tfor\tthe\tchildren\tas\tshe\tused\tto\tdo.\tShe\thad not\thad\tmuch\ttime\tfor\trhymes\tsince\tshe\tcame\tto\tThree\tChimneys. There\twas\tone\tvery\todd\tthing\tabout\tthese\tlessons.\tWhatever\tthe\tchildren\twere doing,\tthey\talways\twanted\tto\tbe\tdoing\tsomething\telse.\tWhen\tPeter\twas\tdoing his\t Latin,\t he\t thought\t it\t would\t be\t nice\t to\t be\t learning\t History\t like\t Bobbie. Bobbie\twould\thave\tpreferred\tArithmetic,\twhich\twas\twhat\tPhyllis\thappened\tto be\t doing,\t and\t Phyllis\t of\t course\t thought\t Latin\t much\t the\t most\t interesting\t kind of\tlesson.\tAnd\tso\ton. So,\tone\tday,\twhen\tthey\tsat\tdown\tto\tlessons,\teach\tof\tthem\tfound\ta\tlittle\trhyme at\t its\t place.\t I\t put\t the\t rhymes\t in\t to\t show\t you\t that\t their\t Mother\t really\t did understand\t a\t little\t how\t children\t feel\t about\t things,\t and\t also\t the\t kind\t of\t words they\t use,\t which\t is\t the\t case\t with\t very\t few\t grown-up\t people.\t I\t suppose\t most grown-ups\t have\t very\t bad\t memories,\t and\t have\t forgotten\t how\t they\t felt\t when they\t were\t little.\t Of\t course,\t the\t verses\t are\t supposed\t to\t be\t spoken\t by\t the children. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPETER \t \t\t\t\t\tI\tonce\tthought\tCaesar\teasy\tpap\u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow\tvery\tsoft\tI\tmust\thave\tbeen! \t\t\t\t\tWhen\tthey\tstart\tCaesar\twith\ta\tchap \t\t\t\t\t\t\tHe\tlittle\tknow\twhat\tthat\twill\tmean. \t\t\t\t\tOh,\tverbs\tare\tsilly\tstupid\tthings. \t\t\t\t\tI'd\trather\tlearn\tthe\tdates\tof\tkings! \t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBOBBIE \t \t\t\t\t\tThe\tworst\tof\tall\tmy\tlesson\tthings \t\t\t\t\t\t\tIs\tlearning\twho\tsucceeded\twho \t\t\t\t\tIn\tall\tthe\trows\tof\tqueens\tand\tkings, \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWith\tdates\tto\teverything\tthey\tdo: \t\t\t\t\tWith\tdates\tenough\tto\tmake\tyou\tsick;\u2014 \t\t\t\t\tI\twish\tit\twas\tArithmetic!","PHYLLIS \t \t\t\t\t\tSuch\tpounds\tand\tpounds\tof\tapples\tfill \t\t\t\t\t\t\tMy\tslate\u2014what\tis\tthe\tprice\tyou'd\tspend? \t\t\t\t\tYou\tscratch\tthe\tfigures\tout\tuntil \t\t\t\t\t\t\tYou\tcry\tupon\tthe\tdividend. \t\t\t\t\tI'd\tbreak\tthe\tslate\tand\tscream\tfor\tjoy \t\t\t\t\tIf\tI\tdid\tLatin\tlike\ta\tboy! This\t kind\t of\t thing,\t of\t course,\t made\t lessons\t much\t jollier.\t It\t is\t something\t to know\tthat\tthe\tperson\twho\tis\tteaching\tyou\tsees\tthat\tit\tis\tnot\tall\tplain\tsailing\tfor you,\tand\tdoes\tnot\tthink\tthat\tit\tis\tjust\tyour\tstupidness\tthat\tmakes\tyou\tnot\tknow your\tlessons\ttill\tyou've\tlearned\tthem! Then\tas\tJim's\tleg\tgot\tbetter\tit\twas\tvery\tpleasant\tto\tgo\tup\tand\tsit\twith\thim\tand hear\ttales\tabout\this\tschool\tlife\tand\tthe\tother\tboys.\tThere\twas\tone\tboy,\tnamed Parr,\t of\t whom\t Jim\t seemed\t to\t have\t formed\t the\t lowest\t possible\t opinion,\t and another\t boy\t named\t Wigsby\t Minor,\t for\t whose\t views\t Jim\t had\t a\t great\t respect. Also\t there\t were\t three\t brothers\t named\t Paley,\t and\t the\t youngest\t was\t called Paley\tTerts,\tand\twas\tmuch\tgiven\tto\tfighting. Peter\tdrank\tin\tall\tthis\twith\tdeep\tjoy,\tand\tMother\tseemed\tto\thave\tlistened\twith some\t interest,\t for\t one\t day\t she\t gave\t Jim\t a\t sheet\t of\t paper\t on\t which\t she\t had written\ta\trhyme\tabout\tParr,\tbringing\tin\tPaley\tand\tWigsby\tby\tname\tin\ta\tmost wonderful\t way,\t as\t well\t as\t all\t the\t reasons\t Jim\t had\t for\t not\t liking\t Parr,\t and Wigsby's\t wise\t opinion\t on\t the\t matter.\t Jim\t was\t immensely\t pleased.\t He\t had never\thad\ta\trhyme\twritten\texpressly\tfor\thim\tbefore.\tHe\tread\tit\ttill\the\tknew\tit by\theart\tand\tthen\the\tsent\tit\tto\tWigsby,\twho\tliked\tit\talmost\tas\tmuch\tas\tJim\tdid. Perhaps\tyou\tmay\tlike\tit,\ttoo. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTHE\tNEW\tBOY \t \t\t\t\t\tHis\tname\tis\tParr:\t\the\tsays\tthat\the \t\t\t\t\tIs\tgiven\tbread\tand\tmilk\tfor\ttea. \t\t\t\t\tHe\tsays\this\tfather\tkilled\ta\tbear. \t\t\t\t\tHe\tsays\this\tmother\tcuts\this\thair. \t \t\t\t\t\tHe\twears\tgoloshes\twhen\tit's\twet. \t\t\t\t\tI've\theard\this\tpeople\tcall\thim\t\\\"Pet\\\"!","He\thas\tno\tproper\tsense\tof\tshame; \t\t\t\t\tHe\ttold\tthe\tchaps\this\tChristian\tname. \t \t\t\t\t\tHe\tcannot\twicket-keep\tat\tall, \t\t\t\t\tHe's\tfrightened\tof\ta\tcricket\tball. \t\t\t\t\tHe\treads\tindoors\tfor\thours\tand\thours. \t\t\t\t\tHe\tknows\tthe\tnames\tof\tbeastly\tflowers. \t \t\t\t\t\tHe\tsays\this\tFrench\tjust\tlike\tMossoo\u2014 \t\t\t\t\tA\tbeastly\tstuck-up\tthing\tto\tdo\u2014 \t\t\t\t\tHe\twon't\tkeep\tcave,\tshirks\this\tturn \t\t\t\t\tAnd\tsays\the\tcame\tto\tschool\tto\tlearn! \t \t\t\t\t\tHe\twon't\tplay\tfootball,\tsays\tit\thurts; \t\t\t\t\tHe\twouldn't\tfight\twith\tPaley\tTerts; \t\t\t\t\tHe\tcouldn't\twhistle\tif\the\ttried, \t\t\t\t\tAnd\twhen\twe\tlaughed\tat\thim\the\tcried! \t \t\t\t\t\tNow\tWigsby\tMinor\tsays\tthat\tParr \t\t\t\t\tIs\tonly\tlike\tall\tnew\tboys\tare. \t\t\t\t\tI\tknow\twhen\tI\tfirst\tcame\tto\tschool \t\t\t\t\tI\twasn't\tsuch\ta\tjolly\tfool! Jim\tcould\tnever\tunderstand\thow\tMother\tcould\thave\tbeen\tclever\tenough\tto\tdo it.\tTo\tthe\tothers\tit\tseemed\tnice,\tbut\tnatural.\tYou\tsee\tthey\thad\talways\tbeen\tused to\thaving\ta\tmother\twho\tcould\twrite\tverses\tjust\tlike\tthe\tway\tpeople\ttalk,\teven to\tthe\tshocking\texpression\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\trhyme,\twhich\twas\tJim's\tvery\town. Jim\t taught\t Peter\t to\t play\t chess\t and\t draughts\t and\t dominoes,\t and\t altogether\t it was\ta\tnice\tquiet\ttime. Only\t Jim's\t leg\t got\t better\t and\t better,\t and\t a\t general\t feeling\t began\t to\t spring\t up among\t Bobbie,\t Peter,\t and\t Phyllis\t that\t something\t ought\t to\t be\t done\t to\t amuse him;\t not\t just\t games,\t but\t something\t really\t handsome.\t But\t it\t was extraordinarily\tdifficult\tto\tthink\tof\tanything. \\\"It's\t no\t good,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t when\t all\t of\t them\t had\t thought\t and\t thought\t till\t their heads\t felt\t quite\t heavy\t and\t swollen;\t \\\"if\t we\t can't\t think\t of\t anything\t to\t amuse","him,\twe\tjust\tcan't,\tand\tthere's\tan\tend\tof\tit.\tPerhaps\tsomething\twill\tjust\thappen of\tits\town\taccord\tthat\the'll\tlike.\\\" \\\"Things\t DO\t happen\t by\t themselves\t sometimes,\t without\t your\t making\t them,\\\" said\t Phyllis,\t rather\t as\t though,\t usually,\t everything\t that\t happened\t in\t the\t world was\ther\tdoing. \\\"I\t wish\t something\t would\t happen,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie,\t dreamily,\t \\\"something wonderful.\\\" And\tsomething\twonderful\tdid\thappen\texactly\tfour\tdays\tafter\tshe\thad\tsaid\tthis. I\t wish\t I\t could\t say\t it\t was\t three\t days\t after,\t because\t in\t fairy\t tales\t it\t is\t always three\tdays\tafter\tthat\tthings\thappen.\tBut\tthis\tis\tnot\ta\tfairy\tstory,\tand\tbesides,\tit really\twas\tfour\tand\tnot\tthree,\tand\tI\tam\tnothing\tif\tnot\tstrictly\ttruthful. They\t seemed\t to\t be\t hardly\t Railway\t children\t at\t all\t in\t those\t days,\t and\t as\t the days\t went\t on\t each\t had\t an\t uneasy\t feeling\t about\t this\t which\t Phyllis\t expressed one\tday. \\\"I\twonder\tif\tthe\tRailway\tmisses\tus,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\tplaintively.\t\\\"We\tnever\tgo\tto\tsee it\tnow.\\\" \\\"It\t seems\t ungrateful,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie;\t \\\"we\t loved\t it\t so\t when\t we\t hadn't\t anyone else\tto\tplay\twith.\\\" \\\"Perks\tis\talways\tcoming\tup\tto\task\tafter\tJim,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"and\tthe\tsignalman's little\tboy\tis\tbetter.\tHe\ttold\tme\tso.\\\" \\\"I\t didn't\t mean\t the\t people,\\\"\t explained\t Phyllis;\t \\\"I\t meant\t the\t dear\t Railway itself.\\\" \\\"The\tthing\tI\tdon't\tlike,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\ton\tthis\tfourth\tday,\twhich\twas\ta\tTuesday, \\\"is\t our\t having\t stopped\t waving\t to\t the\t 9.15\t and\t sending\t our\t love\t to\t Father\t by it.\\\" \\\"Let's\tbegin\tagain,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis.\tAnd\tthey\tdid. Somehow\t the\t change\t of\t everything\t that\t was\t made\t by\t having\t servants\t in\t the house\tand\tMother\tnot\tdoing\tany\twriting,\tmade\tthe\ttime\tseem\textremely\tlong since\tthat\tstrange\tmorning\tat\tthe\tbeginning\tof\tthings,\twhen\tthey\thad\tgot\tup\tso early\tand\tburnt\tthe\tbottom\tout\tof\tthe\tkettle\tand\thad\tapple\tpie\tfor\tbreakfast\tand first\tseen\tthe\tRailway. It\t was\t September\t now,\t and\t the\t turf\t on\t the\t slope\t to\t the\t Railway\t was\t dry\t and crisp.\t Little\t long\t grass\t spikes\t stood\t up\t like\t bits\t of\t gold\t wire,\t frail\t blue harebells\ttrembled\ton\ttheir\ttough,\tslender\tstalks,\tGipsy\troses\topened\twide\tand","flat\ttheir\tlilac-coloured\tdiscs,\tand\tthe\tgolden\tstars\tof\tSt.\tJohn's\tWort\tshone\tat the\t edges\t of\t the\t pool\t that\t lay\t halfway\t to\t the\t Railway.\t Bobbie\t gathered\t a generous\thandful\tof\tthe\tflowers\tand\tthought\thow\tpretty\tthey\twould\tlook\tlying on\t the\t green-and-pink\t blanket\t of\t silk-waste\t that\t now\t covered\t Jim's\t poor broken\tleg. \\\"Hurry\tup,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"or\twe\tshall\tmiss\tthe\t9.15!\\\" \\\"I\tcan't\thurry\tmore\tthan\tI\tam\tdoing,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis.\t\\\"Oh,\tbother\tit!\tMy\tbootlace has\tcome\tundone\tAGAIN!\\\" \\\"When\tyou're\tmarried,\\\"\tsaid\tPeter,\t\\\"your\tbootlace\twill\tcome\tundone\tgoing\tup the\tchurch\taisle,\tand\tyour\tman\tthat\tyou're\tgoing\tto\tget\tmarried\tto\twill\ttumble over\tit\tand\tsmash\this\tnose\tin\ton\tthe\tornamented\tpavement;\tand\tthen\tyou'll\tsay you\twon't\tmarry\thim,\tand\tyou'll\thave\tto\tbe\tan\told\tmaid.\\\" \\\"I\tshan't,\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis.\t\\\"I'd\tmuch\trather\tmarry\ta\tman\twith\this\tnose\tsmashed\tin than\tnot\tmarry\tanybody.\\\" \\\"It\twould\tbe\thorrid\tto\tmarry\ta\tman\twith\ta\tsmashed\tnose,\tall\tthe\tsame,\\\"\twent on\tBobbie.\t\\\"He\twouldn't\tbe\table\tto\tsmell\tthe\tflowers\tat\tthe\twedding.\tWouldn't that\tbe\tawful!\\\" \\\"Bother\tthe\tflowers\tat\tthe\twedding!\\\"\tcried\tPeter.\t\\\"Look!\tthe\tsignal's\tdown.\tWe must\trun!\\\" They\t ran.\t And\t once\t more\t they\t waved\t their\t handkerchiefs,\t without\t at\t all minding\twhether\tthe\thandkerchiefs\twere\tclean\tor\tnot,\tto\tthe\t9.15. \\\"Take\tour\tlove\tto\tFather!\\\"\tcried\tBobbie.\tAnd\tthe\tothers,\ttoo,\tshouted:\u2014 \\\"Take\tour\tlove\tto\tFather!\\\" The\told\tgentleman\twaved\tfrom\this\tfirst-class\tcarriage\twindow.\tQuite\tviolently he\t waved.\t And\t there\t was\t nothing\t odd\t in\t that,\t for\t he\t always\t had\t waved.\t But what\t was\t really\t remarkable\t was\t that\t from\t every\t window\t handkerchiefs fluttered,\tnewspapers\tsignalled,\thands\twaved\twildly.\tThe\ttrain\tswept\tby\twith\ta rustle\tand\troar,\tthe\tlittle\tpebbles\tjumped\tand\tdanced\tunder\tit\tas\tit\tpassed,\tand the\tchildren\twere\tleft\tlooking\tat\teach\tother. \\\"Well!\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"WELL!\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. \\\"WELL!\\\"\tsaid\tPhyllis. \\\"Whatever\t on\t earth\t does\t that\t mean?\\\"\t asked\t Peter,\t but\t he\t did\t not\t expect\t any","answer. \\\"I\tdon't\tknow,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\t\\\"Perhaps\tthe\told\tgentleman\ttold\tthe\tpeople\tat\this station\tto\tlook\tout\tfor\tus\tand\twave.\tHe\tknew\twe\tshould\tlike\tit!\\\" Now,\tcuriously\tenough,\tthis\twas\tjust\twhat\thad\thappened.\tThe\told\tgentleman, who\twas\tvery\twell\tknown\tand\trespected\tat\this\tparticular\tstation,\thad\tgot\tthere early\tthat\tmorning,\tand\the\thad\twaited\tat\tthe\tdoor\twhere\tthe\tyoung\tman\tstands holding\t the\t interesting\t machine\t that\t clips\t the\t tickets,\t and\t he\t had\t said something\tto\tevery\tsingle\tpassenger\twho\tpassed\tthrough\tthat\tdoor.\tAnd\tafter nodding\t to\t what\t the\t old\t gentleman\t had\t said\u2014and\t the\t nods\t expressed\t every shade\tof\tsurprise,\tinterest,\tdoubt,\tcheerful\tpleasure,\tand\tgrumpy\tagreement\u2014 each\t passenger\t had\t gone\t on\t to\t the\t platform\t and\t read\t one\t certain\t part\t of\t his newspaper.\tAnd\twhen\tthe\tpassengers\tgot\tinto\tthe\ttrain,\tthey\thad\ttold\tthe\tother passengers\twho\twere\talready\tthere\twhat\tthe\told\tgentleman\thad\tsaid,\tand\tthen the\t other\t passengers\t had\t also\t looked\t at\t their\t newspapers\t and\t seemed\t very astonished\tand,\tmostly,\tpleased.\tThen,\twhen\tthe\ttrain\tpassed\tthe\tfence\twhere the\tthree\tchildren\twere,\tnewspapers\tand\thands\tand\thandkerchiefs\twere\twaved madly,\ttill\tall\tthat\tside\tof\tthe\ttrain\twas\tfluttery\twith\twhite\tlike\tthe\tpictures\tof the\t King's\t Coronation\t in\t the\t biograph\t at\t Maskelyne\t and\t Cook's.\t To\t the children\t it\t almost\t seemed\t as\t though\t the\t train\t itself\t was\t alive,\t and\t was\t at\t last responding\tto\tthe\tlove\tthat\tthey\thad\tgiven\tit\tso\tfreely\tand\tso\tlong. \\\"It\tis\tmost\textraordinarily\trum!\\\"\tsaid\tPeter. \\\"Most\tstronery!\\\"\techoed\tPhyllis. But\t Bobbie\t said,\t \\\"Don't\t you\t think\t the\t old\t gentleman's\t waves\t seemed\t more significating\tthan\tusual?\\\" \\\"No,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tothers. \\\"I\tdo,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie.\t\\\"I\tthought\the\twas\ttrying\tto\texplain\tsomething\tto\tus\twith his\tnewspaper.\\\" \\\"Explain\twhat?\\\"\tasked\tPeter,\tnot\tunnaturally. \\\"I\tdon't\tknow,\\\"\tBobbie\tanswered,\t\\\"but\tI\tdo\tfeel\tmost\tawfully\tfunny.\tI\tfeel\tjust exactly\tas\tif\tsomething\twas\tgoing\tto\thappen.\\\" \\\"What\t is\t going\t to\t happen,\\\"\t said\t Peter,\t \\\"is\t that\t Phyllis's\t stocking\t is\t going\t to come\tdown.\\\" This\t was\t but\t too\t true.\t The\t suspender\t had\t given\t way\t in\t the\t agitation\t of\t the waves\tto\tthe\t9.15.\tBobbie's\thandkerchief\tserved\tas\tfirst\taid\tto\tthe\tinjured,\tand they\tall\twent\thome.","Lessons\t were\t more\t than\t usually\t difficult\t to\t Bobbie\t that\t day.\t Indeed,\t she disgraced\t herself\t so\t deeply\t over\t a\t quite\t simple\t sum\t about\t the\t division\t of\t 48 pounds\t of\t meat\t and\t 36\t pounds\t of\t bread\t among\t 144\t hungry\t children\t that Mother\tlooked\tat\ther\tanxiously. \\\"Don't\tyou\tfeel\tquite\twell,\tdear?\\\"\tshe\tasked. \\\"I\tdon't\tknow,\\\"\twas\tBobbie's\tunexpected\tanswer.\t\\\"I\tdon't\tknow\thow\tI\tfeel.\tIt isn't\t that\t I'm\t lazy.\t Mother,\t will\t you\t let\t me\t off\t lessons\t to-day?\t I\t feel\t as\t if\t I wanted\tto\tbe\tquite\talone\tby\tmyself.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tof\tcourse\tI'll\tlet\tyou\toff,\\\"\tsaid\tMother;\t\\\"but\u2014\\\" Bobbie\tdropped\ther\tslate.\tIt\tcracked\tjust\tacross\tthe\tlittle\tgreen\tmark\tthat\tis\tso useful\t for\t drawing\t patterns\t round,\t and\t it\t was\t never\t the\t same\t slate\t again. Without\twaiting\tto\tpick\tit\tup\tshe\tbolted.\tMother\tcaught\ther\tin\tthe\thall\tfeeling blindly\tamong\tthe\twaterproofs\tand\tumbrellas\tfor\ther\tgarden\that. \\\"What\tis\tit,\tmy\tsweetheart?\\\"\tsaid\tMother.\t\\\"You\tdon't\tfeel\till,\tdo\tyou?\\\" \\\"I\t DON'T\t know,\\\"\t Bobbie\t answered,\t a\t little\t breathlessly,\t \\\"but\t I\t want\t to\t be\t by myself\tand\tsee\tif\tmy\thead\treally\tIS\tall\tsilly\tand\tmy\tinside\tall\tsquirmy-twisty.\\\" \\\"Hadn't\t you\t better\t lie\t down?\\\"\t Mother\t said,\t stroking\t her\t hair\t back\t from\t her forehead. \\\"I'd\tbe\tmore\talive\tin\tthe\tgarden,\tI\tthink,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie. But\tshe\tcould\tnot\tstay\tin\tthe\tgarden.\tThe\thollyhocks\tand\tthe\tasters\tand\tthe\tlate roses\t all\t seemed\t to\t be\t waiting\t for\t something\t to\t happen.\t It\t was\t one\t of\t those still,\tshiny\tautumn\tdays,\twhen\teverything\tdoes\tseem\tto\tbe\twaiting. Bobbie\tcould\tnot\twait. \\\"I'll\t go\t down\t to\t the\t station,\\\"\t she\t said,\t \\\"and\t talk\t to\t Perks\t and\t ask\t about\t the signalman's\tlittle\tboy.\\\" So\t she\t went\t down.\t On\t the\t way\t she\t passed\t the\t old\t lady\t from\t the\t Post-office, who\t gave\t her\t a\t kiss\t and\t a\t hug,\t but,\t rather\t to\t Bobbie's\t surprise,\t no\t words except:\u2014 \\\"God\tbless\tyou,\tlove\u2014\\\"\tand,\tafter\ta\tpause,\t\\\"run\talong\u2014do.\\\" The\t draper's\t boy,\t who\t had\t sometimes\t been\t a\t little\t less\t than\t civil\t and\t a\t little more\t than\t contemptuous,\t now\t touched\t his\t cap,\t and\t uttered\t the\t remarkable words:\u2014","\\\"'Morning,\tMiss,\tI'm\tsure\u2014\\\" The\tblacksmith,\tcoming\talong\twith\tan\topen\tnewspaper\tin\this\thand,\twas\teven more\t strange\t in\t his\t manner.\t He\t grinned\t broadly,\t though,\t as\t a\t rule,\t he\t was\t a man\tnot\tgiven\tto\tsmiles,\tand\twaved\tthe\tnewspaper\tlong\tbefore\the\tcame\tup\tto her.\tAnd\tas\the\tpassed\ther,\the\tsaid,\tin\tanswer\tto\ther\t\\\"Good\tmorning\\\":\u2014 \\\"Good\tmorning\tto\tyou,\tMissie,\tand\tmany\tof\tthem!\tI\twish\tyou\tjoy,\tthat\tI\tdo!\\\" \\\"Oh!\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie\tto\therself,\tand\ther\theart\tquickened\tits\tbeats,\t\\\"something\tIS going\tto\thappen!\tI\tknow\tit\tis\u2014everyone\tis\tso\todd,\tlike\tpeople\tare\tin\tdreams.\\\" The\tStation\tMaster\twrung\ther\thand\twarmly.\tIn\tfact\the\tworked\tit\tup\tand\tdown like\ta\tpump-handle.\tBut\the\tgave\ther\tno\treason\tfor\tthis\tunusually\tenthusiastic greeting.\tHe\tonly\tsaid:\u2014 \\\"The\t 11.54's\t a\t bit\t late,\t Miss\u2014the\t extra\t luggage\t this\t holiday\t time,\\\"\t and\t went away\tvery\tquickly\tinto\tthat\tinner\tTemple\tof\this\tinto\twhich\teven\tBobbie\tdared not\tfollow\thim. Perks\twas\tnot\tto\tbe\tseen,\tand\tBobbie\tshared\tthe\tsolitude\tof\tthe\tplatform\twith the\tStation\tCat.\tThis\ttortoiseshell\tlady,\tusually\tof\ta\tretiring\tdisposition,\tcame to-day\tto\trub\therself\tagainst\tthe\tbrown\tstockings\tof\tBobbie\twith\tarched\tback, waving\ttail,\tand\treverberating\tpurrs. \\\"Dear\tme!\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tstooping\tto\tstroke\ther,\t\\\"how\tvery\tkind\teverybody\tis to-day\u2014even\tyou,\tPussy!\\\" Perks\tdid\tnot\tappear\tuntil\tthe\t11.54\twas\tsignalled,\tand\tthen\the,\tlike\teverybody else\tthat\tmorning,\thad\ta\tnewspaper\tin\this\thand. \\\"Hullo!\\\"\t he\t said,\t \\\"'ere\t you\t are.\t Well,\t if\t THIS\t is\t the\t train,\t it'll\t be\t smart\t work! Well,\tGod\tbless\tyou,\tmy\tdear!\tI\tsee\tit\tin\tthe\tpaper,\tand\tI\tdon't\tthink\tI\twas\tever so\tglad\tof\tanything\tin\tall\tmy\tborn\tdays!\\\"\tHe\tlooked\tat\tBobbie\ta\tmoment,\tthen said,\t\\\"One\tI\tmust\thave,\tMiss,\tand\tno\toffence,\tI\tknow,\ton\ta\tday\tlike\tthis\t'ere!\\\" and\twith\tthat\the\tkissed\ther,\tfirst\ton\tone\tcheek\tand\tthen\ton\tthe\tother. \\\"You\t ain't\t offended,\t are\t you?\\\"\t he\t asked\t anxiously.\t \\\"I\t ain't\t took\t too\t great\t a liberty?\tOn\ta\tday\tlike\tthis,\tyou\tknow\u2014\\\" \\\"No,\tno,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\t\\\"of\tcourse\tit's\tnot\ta\tliberty,\tdear\tMr.\tPerks;\twe\tlove\tyou quite\tas\tmuch\tas\tif\tyou\twere\tan\tuncle\tof\tours\u2014but\u2014on\ta\tday\tlike\tWHAT?\\\" \\\"Like\tthis\t'ere!\\\"\tsaid\tPerks.\t\\\"Don't\tI\ttell\tyou\tI\tsee\tit\tin\tthe\tpaper?\\\" \\\"Saw\tWHAT\tin\tthe\tpaper?\\\"\tasked\tBobbie,\tbut\talready\tthe\t11.54\twas\tsteaming into\t the\t station\t and\t the\t Station\t Master\t was\t looking\t at\t all\t the\t places\t where","Perks\twas\tnot\tand\tought\tto\thave\tbeen. Bobbie\t was\t left\t standing\t alone,\t the\t Station\t Cat\t watching\t her\t from\t under\t the bench\twith\tfriendly\tgolden\teyes. Of\t course\t you\t know\t already\t exactly\t what\t was\t going\t to\t happen.\t Bobbie\t was not\t so\t clever.\t She\t had\t the\t vague,\t confused,\t expectant\t feeling\t that\t comes\t to one's\t heart\t in\t dreams.\t What\t her\t heart\t expected\t I\t can't\t tell\u2014perhaps\t the\t very thing\t that\t you\t and\t I\t know\t was\t going\t to\t happen\u2014but\t her\t mind\t expected nothing;\tit\twas\talmost\tblank,\tand\tfelt\tnothing\tbut\ttiredness\tand\tstupidness\tand an\tempty\tfeeling,\tlike\tyour\tbody\thas\twhen\tyou\thave\tbeen\ta\tlong\twalk\tand\tit\tis very\tfar\tindeed\tpast\tyour\tproper\tdinner-time. Only\t three\t people\t got\t out\t of\t the\t 11.54.\t The\t first\t was\t a\t countryman\t with\t two baskety\tboxes\tfull\tof\tlive\tchickens\twho\tstuck\ttheir\trusset\theads\tout\tanxiously through\t the\t wicker\t bars;\t the\t second\t was\t Miss\t Peckitt,\t the\t grocer's\t wife's cousin,\twith\ta\ttin\tbox\tand\tthree\tbrown-paper\tparcels;\tand\tthe\tthird\u2014 \\\"Oh!\t my\t Daddy,\t my\t Daddy!\\\"\t That\t scream\t went\t like\t a\t knife\t into\t the\t heart\t of everyone\t in\t the\t train,\t and\t people\t put\t their\t heads\t out\t of\t the\t windows\t to\t see\t a tall\tpale\tman\twith\tlips\tset\tin\ta\tthin\tclose\tline,\tand\ta\tlittle\tgirl\tclinging\tto\thim with\tarms\tand\tlegs,\twhile\this\tarms\twent\ttightly\tround\ther. \\\"I\tknew\tsomething\twonderful\twas\tgoing\tto\thappen,\\\"\tsaid\tBobbie,\tas\tthey\twent up\t the\t road,\t \\\"but\t I\t didn't\t think\t it\t was\t going\t to\t be\t this.\t Oh,\t my\t Daddy,\t my Daddy!\\\" \\\"Then\tdidn't\tMother\tget\tmy\tletter?\\\"\tFather\tasked. \\\"There\tweren't\tany\tletters\tthis\tmorning.\tOh!\tDaddy!\tit\tIS\treally\tyou,\tisn't\tit?\\\" The\t clasp\t of\t a\t hand\t she\t had\t not\t forgotten\t assured\t her\t that\t it\t was.\t \\\"You\t must go\t in\t by\t yourself,\t Bobbie,\t and\t tell\t Mother\t quite\t quietly\t that\t it's\t all\t right. They've\t caught\t the\t man\t who\t did\t it.\t Everyone\t knows\t now\t that\t it\t wasn't\t your Daddy.\\\" \\\"I\t always\t knew\t it\t wasn't,\\\"\t said\t Bobbie.\t \\\"Me\t and\t Mother\t and\t our\t old gentleman.\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\the\tsaid,\t\\\"it's\tall\this\tdoing.\tMother\twrote\tand\ttold\tme\tyou\thad\tfound\tout. And\t she\t told\t me\t what\t you'd\t been\t to\t her.\t My\t own\t little\t girl!\\\"\t They\t stopped\t a minute\tthen. And\t now\t I\t see\t them\t crossing\t the\t field.\t Bobbie\t goes\t into\t the\t house,\t trying\t to keep\ther\teyes\tfrom\tspeaking\tbefore\ther\tlips\thave\tfound\tthe\tright\twords\tto\t\\\"tell Mother\tquite\tquietly\\\"\tthat\tthe\tsorrow\tand\tthe\tstruggle\tand\tthe\tparting\tare\tover","and\tdone,\tand\tthat\tFather\thas\tcome\thome. I\t see\t Father\t walking\t in\t the\t garden,\t waiting\u2014waiting.\t He\t is\t looking\t at\t the flowers,\t and\t each\t flower\t is\t a\t miracle\t to\t eyes\t that\t all\t these\t months\t of\t Spring and\tSummer\thave\tseen\tonly\tflagstones\tand\tgravel\tand\ta\tlittle\tgrudging\tgrass. But\t his\t eyes\t keep\t turning\t towards\t the\t house.\t And\t presently\t he\t leaves\t the garden\t and\t goes\t to\t stand\t outside\t the\t nearest\t door.\t It\t is\t the\t back\t door,\t and across\t the\t yard\t the\t swallows\t are\t circling.\t They\t are\t getting\t ready\t to\t fly\t away from\t cold\t winds\t and\t keen\t frost\t to\t the\t land\t where\t it\t is\t always\t summer.\t They are\tthe\tsame\tswallows\tthat\tthe\tchildren\tbuilt\tthe\tlittle\tclay\tnests\tfor. Now\tthe\thouse\tdoor\topens.\tBobbie's\tvoice\tcalls:\u2014 \\\"Come\tin,\tDaddy;\tcome\tin!\\\" He\t goes\t in\t and\t the\t door\t is\t shut.\t I\t think\t we\t will\t not\t open\t the\t door\t or\t follow him.\tI\tthink\tthat\tjust\tnow\twe\tare\tnot\twanted\tthere.\tI\tthink\tit\twill\tbe\tbest\tfor\tus to\t go\t quickly\t and\t quietly\t away.\t At\t the\t end\t of\t the\t field,\t among\t the\t thin\t gold spikes\tof\tgrass\tand\tthe\tharebells\tand\tGipsy\troses\tand\tSt.\tJohn's\tWort,\twe\tmay just\ttake\tone\tlast\tlook,\tover\tour\tshoulders,\tat\tthe\twhite\thouse\twhere\tneither\twe nor\tanyone\telse\tis\twanted\tnow. \t \t \t \t \t Liked\tThis\tBook? For\tMore\tFREE\te-Books\tvisit\tFreeditorial.com"]