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<html>
    <p>
      <br /><br />
    </p>
    <h1>
      THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
    </h1>
    <p>
      <br />
    </p>
    <h2>
      By E. Nesbit
    </h2>
    <p>
      <br /><br />
    </p>
    <h4>
      To my dear son Paul Bland,<br /> behind whose knowledge of railways<br /> my
      ignorance confidently shelters.
    </h4>
    <p>
      <br /> <br />
    </p>
    <hr />
    <p>
      <br /> <br />
    </p>
    <h2>
      Contents
    </h2>
    <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto">
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0001"> Chapter I. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          The beginning of things.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0002"> Chapter II. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          Peter's coal-mine.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0003"> Chapter III. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          The old gentleman.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0004"> Chapter IV. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          The engine-burglar.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0005"> Chapter V. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          Prisoners and captives.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0006"> Chapter VI. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          Saviours of the train.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0007"> Chapter VII. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          For valour.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0008"> Chapter VIII. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          The amateur firemen.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0009"> Chapter IX. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          The pride of Perks.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0010"> Chapter X. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          The terrible secret.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0011"> Chapter XI. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          The hound in the red jersey.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0012"> Chapter XII. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          What Bobbie brought home.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0013"> Chapter XIII. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>
        </td>
        <td>
          The hound's grandfather.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="#link2HCH0014"> Chapter XIV. </a>
        </td>
        <td>
          The End.
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    <p>
      <br /> <br />
    </p>
    <hr />
    <p>
      <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <h2>
      Chapter I. The beginning of things.
    </h2>
    <p>
      They were not railway children to begin with. I don't suppose they had
      ever thought about railways except as a means of getting to Maskelyne and
      Cook's, the Pantomime, Zoological Gardens, and Madame Tussaud's. They were
      just ordinary suburban children, and they lived with their Father and
      Mother in an ordinary red-brick-fronted villa, with coloured glass in the
      front door, a tiled passage that was called a hall, a bath-room with hot
      and cold water, electric bells, French windows, and a good deal of white
      paint, and 'every modern convenience', as the house-agents say.
    </p>
    <p>
      There were three of them. Roberta was the eldest. Of course, Mothers never
      have favourites, but if their Mother HAD had a favourite, it might have
      been Roberta. Next came Peter, who wished to be an Engineer when he grew
      up; and the youngest was Phyllis, who meant extremely well.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother did not spend all her time in paying dull calls to dull ladies, and
      sitting dully at home waiting for dull ladies to pay calls to her. She was
      almost always there, ready to play with the children, and read to them,
      and help them to do their home-lessons. Besides this she used to write
      stories for them while they were at school, and read them aloud after tea,
      and she always made up funny pieces of poetry for their birthdays and for
      other great occasions, such as the christening of the new kittens, or the
      refurnishing of the doll's house, or the time when they were getting over
      the mumps.
    </p>
    <p>
      These three lucky children always had everything they needed: pretty
      clothes, good fires, a lovely nursery with heaps of toys, and a Mother
      Goose wall-paper. They had a kind and merry nursemaid, and a dog who was
      called James, and who was their very own. They also had a Father who was
      just perfect&mdash;never cross, never unjust, and always ready for a game&mdash;at
      least, if at any time he was NOT ready, he always had an excellent reason
      for it, and explained the reason to the children so interestingly and
      funnily that they felt sure he couldn't help himself.
    </p>
    <p>
      You will think that they ought to have been very happy. And so they were,
      but they did not know HOW happy till the pretty life in the Red Villa was
      over and done with, and they had to live a very different life indeed.
    </p>
    <p>
      The dreadful change came quite suddenly.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter had a birthday&mdash;his tenth. Among his other presents was a model
      engine more perfect than you could ever have dreamed of. The other
      presents were full of charm, but the Engine was fuller of charm than any
      of the others were.
    </p>
    <p>
      Its charm lasted in its full perfection for exactly three days. Then,
      owing either to Peter's inexperience or Phyllis's good intentions, which
      had been rather pressing, or to some other cause, the Engine suddenly went
      off with a bang. James was so frightened that he went out and did not come
      back all day. All the Noah's Ark people who were in the tender were broken
      to bits, but nothing else was hurt except the poor little engine and the
      feelings of Peter. The others said he cried over it&mdash;but of course
      boys of ten do not cry, however terrible the tragedies may be which darken
      their lot. He said that his eyes were red because he had a cold. This
      turned out to be true, though Peter did not know it was when he said it,
      the next day he had to go to bed and stay there. Mother began to be afraid
      that he might be sickening for measles, when suddenly he sat up in bed and
      said:
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I hate gruel&mdash;I hate barley water&mdash;I hate bread and milk. I
      want to get up and have something REAL to eat.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What would you like?&rdquo; Mother asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;A pigeon-pie,&rdquo; said Peter, eagerly, &ldquo;a large pigeon-pie. A very large
      one.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So Mother asked the Cook to make a large pigeon-pie. The pie was made. And
      when the pie was made, it was cooked. And when it was cooked, Peter ate
      some of it. After that his cold was better. Mother made a piece of poetry
      to amuse him while the pie was being made. It began by saying what an
      unfortunate but worthy boy Peter was, then it went on:
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
      He had an engine that he loved
        With all his heart and soul,
      And if he had a wish on earth
        It was to keep it whole.

      One day&mdash;my friends, prepare your minds;
        I'm coming to the worst&mdash;
      Quite suddenly a screw went mad,
        And then the boiler burst!

      With gloomy face he picked it up
        And took it to his Mother,
      Though even he could not suppose
        That she could make another;

      For those who perished on the line
        He did not seem to care,
      His engine being more to him
        Than all the people there.

      And now you see the reason why
        Our Peter has been ill:
      He soothes his soul with pigeon-pie
        His gnawing grief to kill.

      He wraps himself in blankets warm
        And sleeps in bed till late,
      Determined thus to overcome
        His miserable fate.

      And if his eyes are rather red,
        His cold must just excuse it:
      Offer him pie; you may be sure
        He never will refuse it.
</pre>
    <p>
      Father had been away in the country for three or four days. All Peter's
      hopes for the curing of his afflicted Engine were now fixed on his Father,
      for Father was most wonderfully clever with his fingers. He could mend all
      sorts of things. He had often acted as veterinary surgeon to the wooden
      rocking-horse; once he had saved its life when all human aid was despaired
      of, and the poor creature was given up for lost, and even the carpenter
      said he didn't see his way to do anything. And it was Father who mended
      the doll's cradle when no one else could; and with a little glue and some
      bits of wood and a pen-knife made all the Noah's Ark beasts as strong on
      their pins as ever they were, if not stronger.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter, with heroic unselfishness, did not say anything about his Engine
      till after Father had had his dinner and his after-dinner cigar. The
      unselfishness was Mother's idea&mdash;but it was Peter who carried it out.
      And needed a good deal of patience, too.
    </p>
    <p>
      At last Mother said to Father, &ldquo;Now, dear, if you're quite rested, and
      quite comfy, we want to tell you about the great railway accident, and ask
      your advice.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; said Father, &ldquo;fire away!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So then Peter told the sad tale, and fetched what was left of the Engine.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hum,&rdquo; said Father, when he had looked the Engine over very carefully.
    </p>
    <p>
      The children held their breaths.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Is there NO hope?&rdquo; said Peter, in a low, unsteady voice.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hope? Rather! Tons of it,&rdquo; said Father, cheerfully; &ldquo;but it'll want
      something besides hope&mdash;a bit of brazing say, or some solder, and a
      new valve. I think we'd better keep it for a rainy day. In other words,
      I'll give up Saturday afternoon to it, and you shall all help me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;CAN girls help to mend engines?&rdquo; Peter asked doubtfully.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course they can. Girls are just as clever as boys, and don't you
      forget it! How would you like to be an engine-driver, Phil?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My face would be always dirty, wouldn't it?&rdquo; said Phyllis, in
      unenthusiastic tones, &ldquo;and I expect I should break something.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I should just love it,&rdquo; said Roberta&mdash;&ldquo;do you think I could when I'm
      grown up, Daddy? Or even a stoker?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You mean a fireman,&rdquo; said Daddy, pulling and twisting at the engine.
      &ldquo;Well, if you still wish it, when you're grown up, we'll see about making
      you a fire-woman. I remember when I was a boy&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Just then there was a knock at the front door.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who on earth!&rdquo; said Father. &ldquo;An Englishman's house is his castle, of
      course, but I do wish they built semi-detached villas with moats and
      drawbridges.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Ruth&mdash;she was the parlour-maid and had red hair&mdash;came in and
      said that two gentlemen wanted to see the master.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I've shown them into the Library, Sir,&rdquo; said she.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I expect it's the subscription to the Vicar's testimonial,&rdquo; said Mother,
      &ldquo;or else it's the choir holiday fund. Get rid of them quickly, dear. It
      does break up an evening so, and it's nearly the children's bedtime.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But Father did not seem to be able to get rid of the gentlemen at all
      quickly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wish we HAD got a moat and drawbridge,&rdquo; said Roberta; &ldquo;then, when we
      didn't want people, we could just pull up the drawbridge and no one else
      could get in. I expect Father will have forgotten about when he was a boy
      if they stay much longer.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother tried to make the time pass by telling them a new fairy story about
      a Princess with green eyes, but it was difficult because they could hear
      the voices of Father and the gentlemen in the Library, and Father's voice
      sounded louder and different to the voice he generally used to people who
      came about testimonials and holiday funds.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then the Library bell rang, and everyone heaved a breath of relief.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They're going now,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;he's rung to have them shown out.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But instead of showing anybody out, Ruth showed herself in, and she looked
      queer, the children thought.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Please'm,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;the Master wants you to just step into the study.
      He looks like the dead, mum; I think he's had bad news. You'd best prepare
      yourself for the worst, 'm&mdash;p'raps it's a death in the family or a
      bank busted or&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That'll do, Ruth,&rdquo; said Mother gently; &ldquo;you can go.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then Mother went into the Library. There was more talking. Then the bell
      rang again, and Ruth fetched a cab. The children heard boots go out and
      down the steps. The cab drove away, and the front door shut. Then Mother
      came in. Her dear face was as white as her lace collar, and her eyes
      looked very big and shining. Her mouth looked like just a line of pale red&mdash;her
      lips were thin and not their proper shape at all.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's bedtime,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Ruth will put you to bed.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But you promised we should sit up late tonight because Father's come
      home,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Father's been called away&mdash;on business,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;Come,
      darlings, go at once.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They kissed her and went. Roberta lingered to give Mother an extra hug and
      to whisper:
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It wasn't bad news, Mammy, was it? Is anyone dead&mdash;or&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nobody's dead&mdash;no,&rdquo; said Mother, and she almost seemed to push
      Roberta away. &ldquo;I can't tell you anything tonight, my pet. Go, dear, go
      NOW.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So Roberta went.
    </p>
    <p>
      Ruth brushed the girls' hair and helped them to undress. (Mother almost
      always did this herself.) When she had turned down the gas and left them
      she found Peter, still dressed, waiting on the stairs.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say, Ruth, what's up?&rdquo; he asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't ask me no questions and I won't tell you no lies,&rdquo; the red-headed
      Ruth replied. &ldquo;You'll know soon enough.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Late that night Mother came up and kissed all three children as they lay
      asleep. But Roberta was the only one whom the kiss woke, and she lay
      mousey-still, and said nothing.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If Mother doesn't want us to know she's been crying,&rdquo; she said to herself
      as she heard through the dark the catching of her Mother's breath, &ldquo;we
      WON'T know it. That's all.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      When they came down to breakfast the next morning, Mother had already gone
      out.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;To London,&rdquo; Ruth said, and left them to their breakfast.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There's something awful the matter,&rdquo; said Peter, breaking his egg. &ldquo;Ruth
      told me last night we should know soon enough.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Did you ASK her?&rdquo; said Roberta, with scorn.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, I did!&rdquo; said Peter, angrily. &ldquo;If you could go to bed without caring
      whether Mother was worried or not, I couldn't. So there.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't think we ought to ask the servants things Mother doesn't tell
      us,&rdquo; said Roberta.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's right, Miss Goody-goody,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;preach away.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'M not goody,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;but I think Bobbie's right this time.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course. She always is. In her own opinion,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, DON'T!&rdquo; cried Roberta, putting down her egg-spoon; &ldquo;don't let's be
      horrid to each other. I'm sure some dire calamity is happening. Don't
      let's make it worse!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who began, I should like to know?&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      Roberta made an effort, and answered:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I did, I suppose, but&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, then,&rdquo; said Peter, triumphantly. But before he went to school he
      thumped his sister between the shoulders and told her to cheer up.
    </p>
    <p>
      The children came home to one o'clock dinner, but Mother was not there.
      And she was not there at tea-time.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was nearly seven before she came in, looking so ill and tired that the
      children felt they could not ask her any questions. She sank into an
      arm-chair. Phyllis took the long pins out of her hat, while Roberta took
      off her gloves, and Peter unfastened her walking-shoes and fetched her
      soft velvety slippers for her.
    </p>
    <p>
      When she had had a cup of tea, and Roberta had put eau-de-Cologne on her
      poor head that ached, Mother said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now, my darlings, I want to tell you something. Those men last night did
      bring very bad news, and Father will be away for some time. I am very
      worried about it, and I want you all to help me, and not to make things
      harder for me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;As if we would!&rdquo; said Roberta, holding Mother's hand against her face.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You can help me very much,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;by being good and happy and not
      quarrelling when I'm away&rdquo;&mdash;Roberta and Peter exchanged guilty
      glances&mdash;&ldquo;for I shall have to be away a good deal.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We won't quarrel. Indeed we won't,&rdquo; said everybody. And meant it, too.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; Mother went on, &ldquo;I want you not to ask me any questions about this
      trouble; and not to ask anybody else any questions.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter cringed and shuffled his boots on the carpet.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You'll promise this, too, won't you?&rdquo; said Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I did ask Ruth,&rdquo; said Peter, suddenly. &ldquo;I'm very sorry, but I did.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And what did she say?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;She said I should know soon enough.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It isn't necessary for you to know anything about it,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;it's
      about business, and you never do understand business, do you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Roberta; &ldquo;is it something to do with Government?&rdquo; For Father
      was in a Government Office.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;Now it's bed-time, my darlings. And don't YOU worry.
      It'll all come right in the end.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then don't YOU worry either, Mother,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;and we'll all be as
      good as gold.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother sighed and kissed them.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We'll begin being good the first thing tomorrow morning,&rdquo; said Peter, as
      they went upstairs.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why not NOW?&rdquo; said Roberta.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There's nothing to be good ABOUT now, silly,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We might begin to try to FEEL good,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;and not call names.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who's calling names?&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;Bobbie knows right enough that when I
      say 'silly', it's just the same as if I said Bobbie.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;WELL,&rdquo; said Roberta.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, I don't mean what you mean. I mean it's just a&mdash;what is it
      Father calls it?&mdash;a germ of endearment! Good night.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The girls folded up their clothes with more than usual neatness&mdash;which
      was the only way of being good that they could think of.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say,&rdquo; said Phyllis, smoothing out her pinafore, &ldquo;you used to say it was
      so dull&mdash;nothing happening, like in books. Now something HAS
      happened.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I never wanted things to happen to make Mother unhappy,&rdquo; said Roberta.
      &ldquo;Everything's perfectly horrid.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Everything continued to be perfectly horrid for some weeks.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother was nearly always out. Meals were dull and dirty. The between-maid
      was sent away, and Aunt Emma came on a visit. Aunt Emma was much older
      than Mother. She was going abroad to be a governess. She was very busy
      getting her clothes ready, and they were very ugly, dingy clothes, and she
      had them always littering about, and the sewing-machine seemed to whir&mdash;on
      and on all day and most of the night. Aunt Emma believed in keeping
      children in their proper places. And they more than returned the
      compliment. Their idea of Aunt Emma's proper place was anywhere where they
      were not. So they saw very little of her. They preferred the company of
      the servants, who were more amusing. Cook, if in a good temper, could sing
      comic songs, and the housemaid, if she happened not to be offended with
      you, could imitate a hen that has laid an egg, a bottle of champagne being
      opened, and could mew like two cats fighting. The servants never told the
      children what the bad news was that the gentlemen had brought to Father.
      But they kept hinting that they could tell a great deal if they chose&mdash;and
      this was not comfortable.
    </p>
    <p>
      One day when Peter had made a booby trap over the bath-room door, and it
      had acted beautifully as Ruth passed through, that red-haired parlour-maid
      caught him and boxed his ears.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You'll come to a bad end,&rdquo; she said furiously, &ldquo;you nasty little limb,
      you! If you don't mend your ways, you'll go where your precious Father's
      gone, so I tell you straight!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Roberta repeated this to her Mother, and next day Ruth was sent away.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then came the time when Mother came home and went to bed and stayed there
      two days and the Doctor came, and the children crept wretchedly about the
      house and wondered if the world was coming to an end.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother came down one morning to breakfast, very pale and with lines on her
      face that used not to be there. And she smiled, as well as she could, and
      said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now, my pets, everything is settled. We're going to leave this house, and
      go and live in the country. Such a ducky dear little white house. I know
      you'll love it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      A whirling week of packing followed&mdash;not just packing clothes, like
      when you go to the seaside, but packing chairs and tables, covering their
      tops with sacking and their legs with straw.
    </p>
    <p>
      All sorts of things were packed that you don't pack when you go to the
      seaside. Crockery, blankets, candlesticks, carpets, bedsteads, saucepans,
      and even fenders and fire-irons.
    </p>
    <p>
      The house was like a furniture warehouse. I think the children enjoyed it
      very much. Mother was very busy, but not too busy now to talk to them, and
      read to them, and even to make a bit of poetry for Phyllis to cheer her up
      when she fell down with a screwdriver and ran it into her hand.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Aren't you going to pack this, Mother?&rdquo; Roberta asked, pointing to the
      beautiful cabinet inlaid with red turtleshell and brass.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We can't take everything,&rdquo; said Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But we seem to be taking all the ugly things,&rdquo; said Roberta.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We're taking the useful ones,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;we've got to play at being
      Poor for a bit, my chickabiddy.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      When all the ugly useful things had been packed up and taken away in a van
      by men in green-baize aprons, the two girls and Mother and Aunt Emma slept
      in the two spare rooms where the furniture was all pretty. All their beds
      had gone. A bed was made up for Peter on the drawing-room sofa.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say, this is larks,&rdquo; he said, wriggling joyously, as Mother tucked him
      up. &ldquo;I do like moving! I wish we moved once a month.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother laughed.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't!&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Good night, Peterkin.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      As she turned away Roberta saw her face. She never forgot it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, Mother,&rdquo; she whispered all to herself as she got into bed, &ldquo;how brave
      you are! How I love you! Fancy being brave enough to laugh when you're
      feeling like THAT!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Next day boxes were filled, and boxes and more boxes; and then late in the
      afternoon a cab came to take them to the station.
    </p>
    <p>
      Aunt Emma saw them off. They felt that THEY were seeing HER off, and they
      were glad of it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But, oh, those poor little foreign children that she's going to
      governess!&rdquo; whispered Phyllis. &ldquo;I wouldn't be them for anything!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      At first they enjoyed looking out of the window, but when it grew dusk
      they grew sleepier and sleepier, and no one knew how long they had been in
      the train when they were roused by Mother's shaking them gently and
      saying:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Wake up, dears. We're there.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They woke up, cold and melancholy, and stood shivering on the draughty
      platform while the baggage was taken out of the train. Then the engine,
      puffing and blowing, set to work again, and dragged the train away. The
      children watched the tail-lights of the guard's van disappear into the
      darkness.
    </p>
    <p>
      This was the first train the children saw on that railway which was in
      time to become so very dear to them. They did not guess then how they
      would grow to love the railway, and how soon it would become the centre of
      their new life, nor what wonders and changes it would bring to them. They
      only shivered and sneezed and hoped the walk to the new house would not be
      long. Peter's nose was colder than he ever remembered it to have been
      before. Roberta's hat was crooked, and the elastic seemed tighter than
      usual. Phyllis's shoe-laces had come undone.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Come,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;we've got to walk. There aren't any cabs here.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The walk was dark and muddy. The children stumbled a little on the rough
      road, and once Phyllis absently fell into a puddle, and was picked up damp
      and unhappy. There were no gas-lamps on the road, and the road was uphill.
      The cart went at a foot's pace, and they followed the gritty crunch of its
      wheels. As their eyes got used to the darkness, they could see the mound
      of boxes swaying dimly in front of them.
    </p>
    <p>
      A long gate had to be opened for the cart to pass through, and after that
      the road seemed to go across fields&mdash;and now it went down hill.
      Presently a great dark lumpish thing showed over to the right.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There's the house,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;I wonder why she's shut the shutters.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who's SHE?&rdquo; asked Roberta.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The woman I engaged to clean the place, and put the furniture straight
      and get supper.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      There was a low wall, and trees inside.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's the garden,&rdquo; said Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It looks more like a dripping-pan full of black cabbages,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      The cart went on along by the garden wall, and round to the back of the
      house, and here it clattered into a cobble-stoned yard and stopped at the
      back door.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was no light in any of the windows.
    </p>
    <p>
      Everyone hammered at the door, but no one came.
    </p>
    <p>
      The man who drove the cart said he expected Mrs. Viney had gone home.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You see your train was that late,&rdquo; said he.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But she's got the key,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;What are we to do?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, she'll have left that under the doorstep,&rdquo; said the cart man; &ldquo;folks
      do hereabouts.&rdquo; He took the lantern off his cart and stooped.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Ay, here it is, right enough,&rdquo; he said.
    </p>
    <p>
      He unlocked the door and went in and set his lantern on the table.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Got e'er a candle?&rdquo; said he.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know where anything is.&rdquo; Mother spoke rather less cheerfully than
      usual.
    </p>
    <p>
      He struck a match. There was a candle on the table, and he lighted it. By
      its thin little glimmer the children saw a large bare kitchen with a stone
      floor. There were no curtains, no hearth-rug. The kitchen table from home
      stood in the middle of the room. The chairs were in one corner, and the
      pots, pans, brooms, and crockery in another. There was no fire, and the
      black grate showed cold, dead ashes.
    </p>
    <p>
      As the cart man turned to go out after he had brought in the boxes, there
      was a rustling, scampering sound that seemed to come from inside the walls
      of the house.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, what's that?&rdquo; cried the girls.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's only the rats,&rdquo; said the cart man. And he went away and shut the
      door, and the sudden draught of it blew out the candle.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, dear,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;I wish we hadn't come!&rdquo; and she knocked a chair
      over.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;ONLY the rats!&rdquo; said Peter, in the dark.
    </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter II. Peter's coal-mine.
    </h2>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What fun!&rdquo; said Mother, in the dark, feeling for the matches on the
      table. &ldquo;How frightened the poor mice were&mdash;I don't believe they were
      rats at all.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She struck a match and relighted the candle and everyone looked at each
      other by its winky, blinky light.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you've often wanted something to happen and now it has.
      This is quite an adventure, isn't it? I told Mrs. Viney to get us some
      bread and butter, and meat and things, and to have supper ready. I suppose
      she's laid it in the dining-room. So let's go and see.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The dining-room opened out of the kitchen. It looked much darker than the
      kitchen when they went in with the one candle. Because the kitchen was
      whitewashed, but the dining-room was dark wood from floor to ceiling, and
      across the ceiling there were heavy black beams. There was a muddled maze
      of dusty furniture&mdash;the breakfast-room furniture from the old home
      where they had lived all their lives. It seemed a very long time ago, and
      a very long way off.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was the table certainly, and there were chairs, but there was no
      supper.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's look in the other rooms,&rdquo; said Mother; and they looked. And in each
      room was the same kind of blundering half-arrangement of furniture, and
      fire-irons and crockery, and all sorts of odd things on the floor, but
      there was nothing to eat; even in the pantry there were only a rusty
      cake-tin and a broken plate with whitening mixed in it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What a horrid old woman!&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;she's just walked off with the
      money and not got us anything to eat at all.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then shan't we have any supper at all?&rdquo; asked Phyllis, dismayed, stepping
      back on to a soap-dish that cracked responsively.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;only it'll mean unpacking one of those big cases
      that we put in the cellar. Phil, do mind where you're walking to, there's
      a dear. Peter, hold the light.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The cellar door opened out of the kitchen. There were five wooden steps
      leading down. It wasn't a proper cellar at all, the children thought,
      because its ceiling went up as high as the kitchen's. A bacon-rack hung
      under its ceiling. There was wood in it, and coal. Also the big cases.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter held the candle, all on one side, while Mother tried to open the
      great packing-case. It was very securely nailed down.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Where's the hammer?&rdquo; asked Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's just it,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;I'm afraid it's inside the box. But
      there's a coal-shovel&mdash;and there's the kitchen poker.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And with these she tried to get the case open.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let me do it,&rdquo; said Peter, thinking he could do it better himself.
      Everyone thinks this when he sees another person stirring a fire, or
      opening a box, or untying a knot in a bit of string.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You'll hurt your hands, Mammy,&rdquo; said Roberta; &ldquo;let me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wish Father was here,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;he'd get it open in two shakes.
      What are you kicking me for, Bobbie?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wasn't,&rdquo; said Roberta.
    </p>
    <p>
      Just then the first of the long nails in the packing-case began to come
      out with a scrunch. Then a lath was raised and then another, till all four
      stood up with the long nails in them shining fiercely like iron teeth in
      the candle-light.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hooray!&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;here are some candles&mdash;the very first thing!
      You girls go and light them. You'll find some saucers and things. Just
      drop a little candle-grease in the saucer and stick the candle upright in
      it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How many shall we light?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;As many as ever you like,&rdquo; said Mother, gaily. &ldquo;The great thing is to be
      cheerful. Nobody can be cheerful in the dark except owls and dormice.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So the girls lighted candles. The head of the first match flew off and
      stuck to Phyllis's finger; but, as Roberta said, it was only a little
      burn, and she might have had to be a Roman martyr and be burned whole if
      she had happened to live in the days when those things were fashionable.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then, when the dining-room was lighted by fourteen candles, Roberta
      fetched coal and wood and lighted a fire.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's very cold for May,&rdquo; she said, feeling what a grown-up thing it was
      to say.
    </p>
    <p>
      The fire-light and the candle-light made the dining-room look very
      different, for now you could see that the dark walls were of wood, carved
      here and there into little wreaths and loops.
    </p>
    <p>
      The girls hastily 'tidied' the room, which meant putting the chairs
      against the wall, and piling all the odds and ends into a corner and
      partly hiding them with the big leather arm-chair that Father used to sit
      in after dinner.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Bravo!&rdquo; cried Mother, coming in with a tray full of things. &ldquo;This is
      something like! I'll just get a tablecloth and then&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The tablecloth was in a box with a proper lock that was opened with a key
      and not with a shovel, and when the cloth was spread on the table, a real
      feast was laid out on it.
    </p>
    <p>
      Everyone was very, very tired, but everyone cheered up at the sight of the
      funny and delightful supper. There were biscuits, the Marie and the plain
      kind, sardines, preserved ginger, cooking raisins, and candied peel and
      marmalade.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What a good thing Aunt Emma packed up all the odds and ends out of the
      Store cupboard,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;Now, Phil, DON'T put the marmalade spoon in
      among the sardines.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, I won't, Mother,&rdquo; said Phyllis, and put it down among the Marie
      biscuits.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's drink Aunt Emma's health,&rdquo; said Roberta, suddenly; &ldquo;what should we
      have done if she hadn't packed up these things? Here's to Aunt Emma!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And the toast was drunk in ginger wine and water, out of willow-patterned
      tea-cups, because the glasses couldn't be found.
    </p>
    <p>
      They all felt that they had been a little hard on Aunt Emma. She wasn't a
      nice cuddly person like Mother, but after all it was she who had thought
      of packing up the odds and ends of things to eat.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was Aunt Emma, too, who had aired all the sheets ready; and the men who
      had moved the furniture had put the bedsteads together, so the beds were
      soon made.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Good night, chickies,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;I'm sure there aren't any rats. But
      I'll leave my door open, and then if a mouse comes, you need only scream,
      and I'll come and tell it exactly what I think of it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then she went to her own room. Roberta woke to hear the little travelling
      clock chime two. It sounded like a church clock ever so far away, she
      always thought. And she heard, too, Mother still moving about in her room.
    </p>
    <p>
      Next morning Roberta woke Phyllis by pulling her hair gently, but quite
      enough for her purpose.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Wassermarrer?&rdquo; asked Phyllis, still almost wholly asleep.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Wake up! wake up!&rdquo; said Roberta. &ldquo;We're in the new house&mdash;don't you
      remember? No servants or anything. Let's get up and begin to be useful.
      We'll just creep down mouse-quietly, and have everything beautiful before
      Mother gets up. I've woke Peter. He'll be dressed as soon as we are.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So they dressed quietly and quickly. Of course, there was no water in
      their room, so when they got down they washed as much as they thought was
      necessary under the spout of the pump in the yard. One pumped and the
      other washed. It was splashy but interesting.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's much more fun than basin washing,&rdquo; said Roberta. &ldquo;How sparkly the
      weeds are between the stones, and the moss on the roof&mdash;oh, and the
      flowers!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The roof of the back kitchen sloped down quite low. It was made of thatch
      and it had moss on it, and house-leeks and stonecrop and wallflowers, and
      even a clump of purple flag-flowers, at the far corner.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;This is far, far, far and away prettier than Edgecombe Villa,&rdquo; said
      Phyllis. &ldquo;I wonder what the garden's like.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We mustn't think of the garden yet,&rdquo; said Roberta, with earnest energy.
      &ldquo;Let's go in and begin to work.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They lighted the fire and put the kettle on, and they arranged the
      crockery for breakfast; they could not find all the right things, but a
      glass ash-tray made an excellent salt-cellar, and a newish baking-tin
      seemed as if it would do to put bread on, if they had any.
    </p>
    <p>
      When there seemed to be nothing more that they could do, they went out
      again into the fresh bright morning.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We'll go into the garden now,&rdquo; said Peter. But somehow they couldn't find
      the garden. They went round the house and round the house. The yard
      occupied the back, and across it were stables and outbuildings. On the
      other three sides the house stood simply in a field, without a yard of
      garden to divide it from the short smooth turf. And yet they had certainly
      seen the garden wall the night before.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was a hilly country. Down below they could see the line of the railway,
      and the black yawning mouth of a tunnel. The station was out of sight.
      There was a great bridge with tall arches running across one end of the
      valley.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Never mind the garden,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;let's go down and look at the
      railway. There might be trains passing.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We can see them from here,&rdquo; said Roberta, slowly; &ldquo;let's sit down a bit.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So they all sat down on a great flat grey stone that had pushed itself up
      out of the grass; it was one of many that lay about on the hillside, and
      when Mother came out to look for them at eight o'clock, she found them
      deeply asleep in a contented, sun-warmed bunch.
    </p>
    <p>
      They had made an excellent fire, and had set the kettle on it at about
      half-past five. So that by eight the fire had been out for some time, the
      water had all boiled away, and the bottom was burned out of the kettle.
      Also they had not thought of washing the crockery before they set the
      table.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But it doesn't matter&mdash;the cups and saucers, I mean,&rdquo; said Mother.
      &ldquo;Because I've found another room&mdash;I'd quite forgotten there was one.
      And it's magic! And I've boiled the water for tea in a saucepan.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The forgotten room opened out of the kitchen. In the agitation and half
      darkness the night before its door had been mistaken for a cupboard's. It
      was a little square room, and on its table, all nicely set out, was a
      joint of cold roast beef, with bread, butter, cheese, and a pie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Pie for breakfast!&rdquo; cried Peter; &ldquo;how perfectly ripping!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It isn't pigeon-pie,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;it's only apple. Well, this is the
      supper we ought to have had last night. And there was a note from Mrs.
      Viney. Her son-in-law has broken his arm, and she had to get home early.
      She's coming this morning at ten.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      That was a wonderful breakfast. It is unusual to begin the day with cold
      apple pie, but the children all said they would rather have it than meat.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You see it's more like dinner than breakfast to us,&rdquo; said Peter, passing
      his plate for more, &ldquo;because we were up so early.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The day passed in helping Mother to unpack and arrange things. Six small
      legs quite ached with running about while their owners carried clothes and
      crockery and all sorts of things to their proper places. It was not till
      quite late in the afternoon that Mother said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There! That'll do for to-day. I'll lie down for an hour, so as to be as
      fresh as a lark by supper-time.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then they all looked at each other. Each of the three expressive
      countenances expressed the same thought. That thought was double, and
      consisted, like the bits of information in the Child's Guide to Knowledge,
      of a question and an answer.
    </p>
    <p>
      Q. Where shall we go?
    </p>
    <p>
      A. To the railway.
    </p>
    <p>
      So to the railway they went, and as soon as they started for the railway
      they saw where the garden had hidden itself. It was right behind the
      stables, and it had a high wall all round.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, never mind about the garden now!&rdquo; cried Peter. &ldquo;Mother told me this
      morning where it was. It'll keep till to-morrow. Let's get to the
      railway.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The way to the railway was all down hill over smooth, short turf with here
      and there furze bushes and grey and yellow rocks sticking out like candied
      peel from the top of a cake.
    </p>
    <p>
      The way ended in a steep run and a wooden fence&mdash;and there was the
      railway with the shining metals and the telegraph wires and posts and
      signals.
    </p>
    <p>
      They all climbed on to the top of the fence, and then suddenly there was a
      rumbling sound that made them look along the line to the right, where the
      dark mouth of a tunnel opened itself in the face of a rocky cliff; next
      moment a train had rushed out of the tunnel with a shriek and a snort, and
      had slid noisily past them. They felt the rush of its passing, and the
      pebbles on the line jumped and rattled under it as it went by.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Roberta, drawing a long breath; &ldquo;it was like a great dragon
      tearing by. Did you feel it fan us with its hot wings?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I suppose a dragon's lair might look very like that tunnel from the
      outside,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      But Peter said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I never thought we should ever get as near to a train as this. It's the
      most ripping sport!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Better than toy-engines, isn't it?&rdquo; said Roberta.
    </p>
    <p>
      (I am tired of calling Roberta by her name. I don't see why I should. No
      one else did. Everyone else called her Bobbie, and I don't see why I
      shouldn't.)
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know; it's different,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;It seems so odd to see ALL of
      a train. It's awfully tall, isn't it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We've always seen them cut in half by platforms,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wonder if that train was going to London,&rdquo; Bobbie said. &ldquo;London's where
      Father is.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's go down to the station and find out,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      So they went.
    </p>
    <p>
      They walked along the edge of the line, and heard the telegraph wires
      humming over their heads. When you are in the train, it seems such a
      little way between post and post, and one after another the posts seem to
      catch up the wires almost more quickly than you can count them. But when
      you have to walk, the posts seem few and far between.
    </p>
    <p>
      But the children got to the station at last.
    </p>
    <p>
      Never before had any of them been at a station, except for the purpose of
      catching trains&mdash;or perhaps waiting for them&mdash;and always with
      grown-ups in attendance, grown-ups who were not themselves interested in
      stations, except as places from which they wished to get away.
    </p>
    <p>
      Never before had they passed close enough to a signal-box to be able to
      notice the wires, and to hear the mysterious 'ping, ping,' followed by the
      strong, firm clicking of machinery.
    </p>
    <p>
      The very sleepers on which the rails lay were a delightful path to travel
      by&mdash;just far enough apart to serve as the stepping-stones in a game
      of foaming torrents hastily organised by Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then to arrive at the station, not through the booking office, but in a
      freebooting sort of way by the sloping end of the platform. This in itself
      was joy.
    </p>
    <p>
      Joy, too, it was to peep into the porters' room, where the lamps are, and
      the Railway almanac on the wall, and one porter half asleep behind a
      paper.
    </p>
    <p>
      There were a great many crossing lines at the station; some of them just
      ran into a yard and stopped short, as though they were tired of business
      and meant to retire for good. Trucks stood on the rails here, and on one
      side was a great heap of coal&mdash;not a loose heap, such as you see in
      your coal cellar, but a sort of solid building of coals with large square
      blocks of coal outside used just as though they were bricks, and built up
      till the heap looked like the picture of the Cities of the Plain in 'Bible
      Stories for Infants.' There was a line of whitewash near the top of the
      coaly wall.
    </p>
    <p>
      When presently the Porter lounged out of his room at the twice-repeated
      tingling thrill of a gong over the station door, Peter said, &ldquo;How do you
      do?&rdquo; in his best manner, and hastened to ask what the white mark was on
      the coal for.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;To mark how much coal there be,&rdquo; said the Porter, &ldquo;so as we'll know if
      anyone nicks it. So don't you go off with none in your pockets, young
      gentleman!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      This seemed, at the time but a merry jest, and Peter felt at once that the
      Porter was a friendly sort with no nonsense about him. But later the words
      came back to Peter with a new meaning.
    </p>
    <p>
      Have you ever gone into a farmhouse kitchen on a baking day, and seen the
      great crock of dough set by the fire to rise? If you have, and if you were
      at that time still young enough to be interested in everything you saw,
      you will remember that you found yourself quite unable to resist the
      temptation to poke your finger into the soft round of dough that curved
      inside the pan like a giant mushroom. And you will remember that your
      finger made a dent in the dough, and that slowly, but quite surely, the
      dent disappeared, and the dough looked quite the same as it did before you
      touched it. Unless, of course, your hand was extra dirty, in which case,
      naturally, there would be a little black mark.
    </p>
    <p>
      Well, it was just like that with the sorrow the children had felt at
      Father's going away, and at Mother's being so unhappy. It made a deep
      impression, but the impression did not last long.
    </p>
    <p>
      They soon got used to being without Father, though they did not forget
      him; and they got used to not going to school, and to seeing very little
      of Mother, who was now almost all day shut up in her upstairs room
      writing, writing, writing. She used to come down at tea-time and read
      aloud the stories she had written. They were lovely stories.
    </p>
    <p>
      The rocks and hills and valleys and trees, the canal, and above all, the
      railway, were so new and so perfectly pleasing that the remembrance of the
      old life in the villa grew to seem almost like a dream.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother had told them more than once that they were 'quite poor now,' but
      this did not seem to be anything but a way of speaking. Grown-up people,
      even Mothers, often make remarks that don't seem to mean anything in
      particular, just for the sake of saying something, seemingly. There was
      always enough to eat, and they wore the same kind of nice clothes they had
      always worn.
    </p>
    <p>
      But in June came three wet days; the rain came down, straight as lances,
      and it was very, very cold. Nobody could go out, and everybody shivered.
      They all went up to the door of Mother's room and knocked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, what is it?&rdquo; asked Mother from inside.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mother,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;mayn't I light a fire? I do know how.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And Mother said: &ldquo;No, my ducky-love. We mustn't have fires in June&mdash;coal
      is so dear. If you're cold, go and have a good romp in the attic. That'll
      warm you.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But, Mother, it only takes such a very little coal to make a fire.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's more than we can afford, chickeny-love,&rdquo; said Mother, cheerfully.
      &ldquo;Now run away, there's darlings&mdash;I'm madly busy!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mother's always busy now,&rdquo; said Phyllis, in a whisper to Peter. Peter did
      not answer. He shrugged his shoulders. He was thinking.
    </p>
    <p>
      Thought, however, could not long keep itself from the suitable furnishing
      of a bandit's lair in the attic. Peter was the bandit, of course. Bobbie
      was his lieutenant, his band of trusty robbers, and, in due course, the
      parent of Phyllis, who was the captured maiden for whom a magnificent
      ransom&mdash;in horse-beans&mdash;was unhesitatingly paid.
    </p>
    <p>
      They all went down to tea flushed and joyous as any mountain brigands.
    </p>
    <p>
      But when Phyllis was going to add jam to her bread and butter, Mother
      said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Jam OR butter, dear&mdash;not jam AND butter. We can't afford that sort
      of reckless luxury nowadays.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis finished the slice of bread and butter in silence, and followed it
      up by bread and jam. Peter mingled thought and weak tea.
    </p>
    <p>
      After tea they went back to the attic and he said to his sisters:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I have an idea.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What's that?&rdquo; they asked politely.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I shan't tell you,&rdquo; was Peter's unexpected rejoinder.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, very well,&rdquo; said Bobbie; and Phil said, &ldquo;Don't, then.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Girls,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;are always so hasty tempered.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I should like to know what boys are?&rdquo; said Bobbie, with fine disdain. &ldquo;I
      don't want to know about your silly ideas.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You'll know some day,&rdquo; said Peter, keeping his own temper by what looked
      exactly like a miracle; &ldquo;if you hadn't been so keen on a row, I might have
      told you about it being only noble-heartedness that made me not tell you
      my idea. But now I shan't tell you anything at all about it&mdash;so
      there!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And it was, indeed, some time before he could be induced to say anything,
      and when he did it wasn't much. He said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The only reason why I won't tell you my idea that I'm going to do is
      because it MAY be wrong, and I don't want to drag you into it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't you do it if it's wrong, Peter,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;let me do it.&rdquo; But
      Phyllis said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>I</i> should like to do wrong if YOU'RE going to!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Peter, rather touched by this devotion; &ldquo;it's a forlorn hope,
      and I'm going to lead it. All I ask is that if Mother asks where I am, you
      won't blab.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We haven't got anything TO blab,&rdquo; said Bobbie, indignantly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, yes, you have!&rdquo; said Peter, dropping horse-beans through his fingers.
      &ldquo;I've trusted you to the death. You know I'm going to do a lone adventure&mdash;and
      some people might think it wrong&mdash;I don't. And if Mother asks where I
      am, say I'm playing at mines.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What sort of mines?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You just say mines.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You might tell US, Pete.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, then, COAL-mines. But don't you let the word pass your lips on pain
      of torture.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You needn't threaten,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;and I do think you might let us
      help.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If I find a coal-mine, you shall help cart the coal,&rdquo; Peter condescended
      to promise.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Keep your secret if you like,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Keep it if you CAN,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll keep it, right enough,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      Between tea and supper there is an interval even in the most greedily
      regulated families. At this time Mother was usually writing, and Mrs.
      Viney had gone home.
    </p>
    <p>
      Two nights after the dawning of Peter's idea he beckoned the girls
      mysteriously at the twilight hour.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Come hither with me,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and bring the Roman Chariot.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The Roman Chariot was a very old perambulator that had spent years of
      retirement in the loft over the coach-house. The children had oiled its
      works till it glided noiseless as a pneumatic bicycle, and answered to the
      helm as it had probably done in its best days.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Follow your dauntless leader,&rdquo; said Peter, and led the way down the hill
      towards the station.
    </p>
    <p>
      Just above the station many rocks have pushed their heads out through the
      turf as though they, like the children, were interested in the railway.
    </p>
    <p>
      In a little hollow between three rocks lay a heap of dried brambles and
      heather.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter halted, turned over the brushwood with a well-scarred boot, and
      said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here's the first coal from the St. Peter's Mine. We'll take it home in
      the chariot. Punctuality and despatch. All orders carefully attended to.
      Any shaped lump cut to suit regular customers.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The chariot was packed full of coal. And when it was packed it had to be
      unpacked again because it was so heavy that it couldn't be got up the hill
      by the three children, not even when Peter harnessed himself to the handle
      with his braces, and firmly grasping his waistband in one hand pulled
      while the girls pushed behind.
    </p>
    <p>
      Three journeys had to be made before the coal from Peter's mine was added
      to the heap of Mother's coal in the cellar.
    </p>
    <p>
      Afterwards Peter went out alone, and came back very black and mysterious.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I've been to my coal-mine,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;to-morrow evening we'll bring home
      the black diamonds in the chariot.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It was a week later that Mrs. Viney remarked to Mother how well this last
      lot of coal was holding out.
    </p>
    <p>
      The children hugged themselves and each other in complicated wriggles of
      silent laughter as they listened on the stairs. They had all forgotten by
      now that there had ever been any doubt in Peter's mind as to whether
      coal-mining was wrong.
    </p>
    <p>
      But there came a dreadful night when the Station Master put on a pair of
      old sand shoes that he had worn at the seaside in his summer holiday, and
      crept out very quietly to the yard where the Sodom and Gomorrah heap of
      coal was, with the whitewashed line round it. He crept out there, and he
      waited like a cat by a mousehole. On the top of the heap something small
      and dark was scrabbling and rattling furtively among the coal.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Station Master concealed himself in the shadow of a brake-van that had
      a little tin chimney and was labelled:&mdash;
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     G. N. and S. R.
          34576
    Return at once to
  White Heather Sidings
</pre>
    <p>
      and in this concealment he lurked till the small thing on the top of the
      heap ceased to scrabble and rattle, came to the edge of the heap,
      cautiously let itself down, and lifted something after it. Then the arm of
      the Station Master was raised, the hand of the Station Master fell on a
      collar, and there was Peter firmly held by the jacket, with an old
      carpenter's bag full of coal in his trembling clutch.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;So I've caught you at last, have I, you young thief?&rdquo; said the Station
      Master.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm not a thief,&rdquo; said Peter, as firmly as he could. &ldquo;I'm a coal-miner.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Tell that to the Marines,&rdquo; said the Station Master.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It would be just as true whoever I told it to,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're right there,&rdquo; said the man, who held him. &ldquo;Stow your jaw, you
      young rip, and come along to the station.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; cried in the darkness an agonised voice that was not Peter's.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not the POLICE station!&rdquo; said another voice from the darkness.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not yet,&rdquo; said the Station Master. &ldquo;The Railway Station first. Why, it's
      a regular gang. Any more of you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Only us,&rdquo; said Bobbie and Phyllis, coming out of the shadow of another
      truck labelled Staveley Colliery, and bearing on it the legend in white
      chalk: 'Wanted in No. 1 Road.'
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What do you mean by spying on a fellow like this?&rdquo; said Peter, angrily.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Time someone did spy on you, <i>I</i> think,&rdquo; said the Station Master.
      &ldquo;Come along to the station.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, DON'T!&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Can't you decide NOW what you'll do to us? It's
      our fault just as much as Peter's. We helped to carry the coal away&mdash;and
      we knew where he got it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, you didn't,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, we did,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;We knew all the time. We only pretended we
      didn't just to humour you.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter's cup was full. He had mined for coal, he had struck coal, he had
      been caught, and now he learned that his sisters had 'humoured' him.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't hold me!&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I won't run away.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The Station Master loosed Peter's collar, struck a match and looked at
      them by its flickering light.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;you're the children from the Three Chimneys up yonder. So
      nicely dressed, too. Tell me now, what made you do such a thing? Haven't
      you ever been to church or learned your catechism or anything, not to know
      it's wicked to steal?&rdquo; He spoke much more gently now, and Peter said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I didn't think it was stealing. I was almost sure it wasn't. I thought if
      I took it from the outside part of the heap, perhaps it would be. But in
      the middle I thought I could fairly count it only mining. It'll take
      thousands of years for you to burn up all that coal and get to the middle
      parts.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not quite. But did you do it for a lark or what?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not much lark carting that beastly heavy stuff up the hill,&rdquo; said Peter,
      indignantly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then why did you?&rdquo; The Station Master's voice was so much kinder now that
      Peter replied:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You know that wet day? Well, Mother said we were too poor to have a fire.
      We always had fires when it was cold at our other house, and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;DON'T!&rdquo; interrupted Bobbie, in a whisper.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the Station Master, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, &ldquo;I'll tell
      you what I'll do. I'll look over it this once. But you remember, young
      gentleman, stealing is stealing, and what's mine isn't yours, whether you
      call it mining or whether you don't. Run along home.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Do you mean you aren't going to do anything to us? Well, you are a
      brick,&rdquo; said Peter, with enthusiasm.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're a dear,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're a darling,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's all right,&rdquo; said the Station Master.
    </p>
    <p>
      And on this they parted.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't speak to me,&rdquo; said Peter, as the three went up the hill. &ldquo;You're
      spies and traitors&mdash;that's what you are.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But the girls were too glad to have Peter between them, safe and free, and
      on the way to Three Chimneys and not to the Police Station, to mind much
      what he said.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We DID say it was us as much as you,&rdquo; said Bobbie, gently.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well&mdash;and it wasn't.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It would have come to the same thing in Courts with judges,&rdquo; said
      Phyllis. &ldquo;Don't be snarky, Peter. It isn't our fault your secrets are so
      jolly easy to find out.&rdquo; She took his arm, and he let her.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There's an awful lot of coal in the cellar, anyhow,&rdquo; he went on.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, don't!&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;I don't think we ought to be glad about THAT.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know,&rdquo; said Peter, plucking up a spirit. &ldquo;I'm not at all sure,
      even now, that mining is a crime.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But the girls were quite sure. And they were also quite sure that he was
      quite sure, however little he cared to own it.
    </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter III. The old gentleman.
    </h2>
    <p>
      After the adventure of Peter's Coal-mine, it seemed well to the children
      to keep away from the station&mdash;but they did not, they could not, keep
      away from the railway. They had lived all their lives in a street where
      cabs and omnibuses rumbled by at all hours, and the carts of butchers and
      bakers and candlestick makers (I never saw a candlestick-maker's cart; did
      you?) might occur at any moment. Here in the deep silence of the sleeping
      country the only things that went by were the trains. They seemed to be
      all that was left to link the children to the old life that had once been
      theirs. Straight down the hill in front of Three Chimneys the daily
      passage of their six feet began to mark a path across the crisp, short
      turf. They began to know the hours when certain trains passed, and they
      gave names to them. The 9.15 up was called the Green Dragon. The 10.7 down
      was the Worm of Wantley. The midnight town express, whose shrieking rush
      they sometimes woke from their dreams to hear, was the Fearsome
      Fly-by-night. Peter got up once, in chill starshine, and, peeping at it
      through his curtains, named it on the spot.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was by the Green Dragon that the old gentleman travelled. He was a very
      nice-looking old gentleman, and he looked as if he were nice, too, which
      is not at all the same thing. He had a fresh-coloured, clean-shaven face
      and white hair, and he wore rather odd-shaped collars and a top-hat that
      wasn't exactly the same kind as other people's. Of course the children
      didn't see all this at first. In fact the first thing they noticed about
      the old gentleman was his hand.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was one morning as they sat on the fence waiting for the Green Dragon,
      which was three and a quarter minutes late by Peter's Waterbury watch that
      he had had given him on his last birthday.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The Green Dragon's going where Father is,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;if it were a
      really real dragon, we could stop it and ask it to take our love to
      Father.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Dragons don't carry people's love,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;they'd be above it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, they do, if you tame them thoroughly first. They fetch and carry
      like pet spaniels,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;and feed out of your hand. I wonder why
      Father never writes to us.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mother says he's been too busy,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;but he'll write soon, she
      says.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say,&rdquo; Phyllis suggested, &ldquo;let's all wave to the Green Dragon as it goes
      by. If it's a magic dragon, it'll understand and take our loves to Father.
      And if it isn't, three waves aren't much. We shall never miss them.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So when the Green Dragon tore shrieking out of the mouth of its dark lair,
      which was the tunnel, all three children stood on the railing and waved
      their pocket-handkerchiefs without stopping to think whether they were
      clean handkerchiefs or the reverse. They were, as a matter of fact, very
      much the reverse.
    </p>
    <p>
      And out of a first-class carriage a hand waved back. A quite clean hand.
      It held a newspaper. It was the old gentleman's hand.
    </p>
    <p>
      After this it became the custom for waves to be exchanged between the
      children and the 9.15.
    </p>
    <p>
      And the children, especially the girls, liked to think that perhaps the
      old gentleman knew Father, and would meet him 'in business,' wherever that
      shady retreat might be, and tell him how his three children stood on a
      rail far away in the green country and waved their love to him every
      morning, wet or fine.
    </p>
    <p>
      For they were now able to go out in all sorts of weather such as they
      would never have been allowed to go out in when they lived in their villa
      house. This was Aunt Emma's doing, and the children felt more and more
      that they had not been quite fair to this unattractive aunt, when they
      found how useful were the long gaiters and waterproof coats that they had
      laughed at her for buying for them.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother, all this time, was very busy with her writing. She used to send
      off a good many long blue envelopes with stories in them&mdash;and large
      envelopes of different sizes and colours used to come to her. Sometimes
      she would sigh when she opened them and say:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Another story come home to roost. Oh, dear, Oh, dear!&rdquo; and then the
      children would be very sorry.
    </p>
    <p>
      But sometimes she would wave the envelope in the air and say:&mdash;&ldquo;Hooray,
      hooray. Here's a sensible Editor. He's taken my story and this is the
      proof of it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      At first the children thought 'the Proof' meant the letter the sensible
      Editor had written, but they presently got to know that the proof was long
      slips of paper with the story printed on them.
    </p>
    <p>
      Whenever an Editor was sensible there were buns for tea.
    </p>
    <p>
      One day Peter was going down to the village to get buns to celebrate the
      sensibleness of the Editor of the Children's Globe, when he met the
      Station Master.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter felt very uncomfortable, for he had now had time to think over the
      affair of the coal-mine. He did not like to say &ldquo;Good morning&rdquo; to the
      Station Master, as you usually do to anyone you meet on a lonely road,
      because he had a hot feeling, which spread even to his ears, that the
      Station Master might not care to speak to a person who had stolen coals.
      'Stolen' is a nasty word, but Peter felt it was the right one. So he
      looked down, and said Nothing.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was the Station Master who said &ldquo;Good morning&rdquo; as he passed by. And
      Peter answered, &ldquo;Good morning.&rdquo; Then he thought:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perhaps he doesn't know who I am by daylight, or he wouldn't be so
      polite.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And he did not like the feeling which thinking this gave him. And then
      before he knew what he was going to do he ran after the Station Master,
      who stopped when he heard Peter's hasty boots crunching the road, and
      coming up with him very breathless and with his ears now quite
      magenta-coloured, he said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't want you to be polite to me if you don't know me when you see
      me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Eh?&rdquo; said the Station Master.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I thought perhaps you didn't know it was me that took the coals,&rdquo; Peter
      went on, &ldquo;when you said 'Good morning.' But it was, and I'm sorry. There.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why,&rdquo; said the Station Master, &ldquo;I wasn't thinking anything at all about
      the precious coals. Let bygones be bygones. And where were you off to in
      such a hurry?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm going to buy buns for tea,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I thought you were all so poor,&rdquo; said the Station Master.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;So we are,&rdquo; said Peter, confidentially, &ldquo;but we always have three
      pennyworth of halfpennies for tea whenever Mother sells a story or a poem
      or anything.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said the Station Master, &ldquo;so your Mother writes stories, does she?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The beautifulest you ever read,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You ought to be very proud to have such a clever Mother.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;but she used to play with us more before she had to be
      so clever.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the Station Master, &ldquo;I must be getting along. You give us a
      look in at the Station whenever you feel so inclined. And as to coals,
      it's a word that&mdash;well&mdash;oh, no, we never mention it, eh?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;I'm very glad it's all straightened out between
      us.&rdquo; And he went on across the canal bridge to the village to get the
      buns, feeling more comfortable in his mind than he had felt since the hand
      of the Station Master had fastened on his collar that night among the
      coals.
    </p>
    <p>
      Next day when they had sent the threefold wave of greeting to Father by
      the Green Dragon, and the old gentleman had waved back as usual, Peter
      proudly led the way to the station.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But ought we?&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;After the coals, she means,&rdquo; Phyllis explained.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I met the Station Master yesterday,&rdquo; said Peter, in an offhand way, and
      he pretended not to hear what Phyllis had said; &ldquo;he expresspecially
      invited us to go down any time we liked.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;After the coals?&rdquo; repeated Phyllis. &ldquo;Stop a minute&mdash;my bootlace is
      undone again.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It always IS undone again,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and the Station Master was more
      of a gentleman than you'll ever be, Phil&mdash;throwing coal at a chap's
      head like that.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis did up her bootlace and went on in silence, but her shoulders
      shook, and presently a fat tear fell off her nose and splashed on the
      metal of the railway line. Bobbie saw it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why, what's the matter, darling?&rdquo; she said, stopping short and putting
      her arm round the heaving shoulders.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He called me un-un-ungentlemanly,&rdquo; sobbed Phyllis. &ldquo;I didn't never call
      him unladylike, not even when he tied my Clorinda to the firewood bundle
      and burned her at the stake for a martyr.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter had indeed perpetrated this outrage a year or two before.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, you began, you know,&rdquo; said Bobbie, honestly, &ldquo;about coals and all
      that. Don't you think you'd better both unsay everything since the wave,
      and let honour be satisfied?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I will if Peter will,&rdquo; said Phyllis, sniffling.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;honour is satisfied. Here, use my hankie, Phil,
      for goodness' sake, if you've lost yours as usual. I wonder what you do
      with them.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You had my last one,&rdquo; said Phyllis, indignantly, &ldquo;to tie up the
      rabbit-hutch door with. But you're very ungrateful. It's quite right what
      it says in the poetry book about sharper than a serpent it is to have a
      toothless child&mdash;but it means ungrateful when it says toothless. Miss
      Lowe told me so.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; said Peter, impatiently, &ldquo;I'm sorry. THERE! Now will you come
      on?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They reached the station and spent a joyous two hours with the Porter. He
      was a worthy man and seemed never tired of answering the questions that
      begin with &ldquo;Why&mdash;&rdquo; which many people in higher ranks of life often
      seem weary of.
    </p>
    <p>
      He told them many things that they had not known before&mdash;as, for
      instance, that the things that hook carriages together are called
      couplings, and that the pipes like great serpents that hang over the
      couplings are meant to stop the train with.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If you could get a holt of one o' them when the train is going and pull
      'em apart,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;she'd stop dead off with a jerk.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who's she?&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The train, of course,&rdquo; said the Porter. After that the train was never
      again 'It' to the children.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And you know the thing in the carriages where it says on it, 'Five
      pounds' fine for improper use.' If you was to improperly use that, the
      train 'ud stop.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And if you used it properly?&rdquo; said Roberta.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It 'ud stop just the same, I suppose,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but it isn't proper use
      unless you're being murdered. There was an old lady once&mdash;someone
      kidded her on it was a refreshment-room bell, and she used it improper,
      not being in danger of her life, though hungry, and when the train stopped
      and the guard came along expecting to find someone weltering in their last
      moments, she says, 'Oh, please, Mister, I'll take a glass of stout and a
      bath bun,' she says. And the train was seven minutes behind her time as it
      was.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What did the guard say to the old lady?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>I</i> dunno,&rdquo; replied the Porter, &ldquo;but I lay she didn't forget it in a
      hurry, whatever it was.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      In such delightful conversation the time went by all too quickly.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Station Master came out once or twice from that sacred inner temple
      behind the place where the hole is that they sell you tickets through, and
      was most jolly with them all.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Just as if coal had never been discovered,&rdquo; Phyllis whispered to her
      sister.
    </p>
    <p>
      He gave them each an orange, and promised to take them up into the
      signal-box one of these days, when he wasn't so busy.
    </p>
    <p>
      Several trains went through the station, and Peter noticed for the first
      time that engines have numbers on them, like cabs.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said the Porter, &ldquo;I knowed a young gent as used to take down the
      numbers of every single one he seed; in a green note-book with silver
      corners it was, owing to his father being very well-to-do in the wholesale
      stationery.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter felt that he could take down numbers, too, even if he was not the
      son of a wholesale stationer. As he did not happen to have a green leather
      note-book with silver corners, the Porter gave him a yellow envelope and
      on it he noted:&mdash;
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     379
     663
</pre>
    <p>
      and felt that this was the beginning of what would be a most interesting
      collection.
    </p>
    <p>
      That night at tea he asked Mother if she had a green leather note-book
      with silver corners. She had not; but when she heard what he wanted it for
      she gave him a little black one.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It has a few pages torn out,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;but it will hold quite a lot of
      numbers, and when it's full I'll give you another. I'm so glad you like
      the railway. Only, please, you mustn't walk on the line.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not if we face the way the train's coming?&rdquo; asked Peter, after a gloomy
      pause, in which glances of despair were exchanged.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No&mdash;really not,&rdquo; said Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then Phyllis said, &ldquo;Mother, didn't YOU ever walk on the railway lines when
      you were little?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother was an honest and honourable Mother, so she had to say, &ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, then,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But, darlings, you don't know how fond I am of you. What should I do if
      you got hurt?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Are you fonder of us than Granny was of you when you were little?&rdquo;
       Phyllis asked. Bobbie made signs to her to stop, but Phyllis never did see
      signs, no matter how plain they might be.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother did not answer for a minute. She got up to put more water in the
      teapot.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No one,&rdquo; she said at last, &ldquo;ever loved anyone more than my mother loved
      me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then she was quiet again, and Bobbie kicked Phyllis hard under the table,
      because Bobbie understood a little bit the thoughts that were making
      Mother so quiet&mdash;the thoughts of the time when Mother was a little
      girl and was all the world to HER mother. It seems so easy and natural to
      run to Mother when one is in trouble. Bobbie understood a little how
      people do not leave off running to their mothers when they are in trouble
      even when they are grown up, and she thought she knew a little what it
      must be to be sad, and have no mother to run to any more.
    </p>
    <p>
      So she kicked Phyllis, who said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What are you kicking me like that for, Bob?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And then Mother laughed a little and sighed and said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Very well, then. Only let me be sure you do know which way the trains
      come&mdash;and don't walk on the line near the tunnel or near corners.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Trains keep to the left like carriages,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;so if we keep to
      the right, we're bound to see them coming.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Very well,&rdquo; said Mother, and I dare say you think that she ought not to
      have said it. But she remembered about when she was a little girl herself,
      and she did say it&mdash;and neither her own children nor you nor any
      other children in the world could ever understand exactly what it cost her
      to do it. Only some few of you, like Bobbie, may understand a very little
      bit.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was the very next day that Mother had to stay in bed because her head
      ached so. Her hands were burning hot, and she would not eat anything, and
      her throat was very sore.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If I was you, Mum,&rdquo; said Mrs. Viney, &ldquo;I should take and send for the
      doctor. There's a lot of catchy complaints a-going about just now. My
      sister's eldest&mdash;she took a chill and it went to her inside, two
      years ago come Christmas, and she's never been the same gell since.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother wouldn't at first, but in the evening she felt so much worse that
      Peter was sent to the house in the village that had three laburnum trees
      by the gate, and on the gate a brass plate with W. W. Forrest, M.D., on
      it.
    </p>
    <p>
      W. W. Forrest, M.D., came at once. He talked to Peter on the way back. He
      seemed a most charming and sensible man, interested in railways, and
      rabbits, and really important things.
    </p>
    <p>
      When he had seen Mother, he said it was influenza.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now, Lady Grave-airs,&rdquo; he said in the hall to Bobbie, &ldquo;I suppose you'll
      want to be head-nurse.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course,&rdquo; said she.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, then, I'll send down some medicine. Keep up a good fire. Have some
      strong beef tea made ready to give her as soon as the fever goes down. She
      can have grapes now, and beef essence&mdash;and soda-water and milk, and
      you'd better get in a bottle of brandy. The best brandy. Cheap brandy is
      worse than poison.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She asked him to write it all down, and he did.
    </p>
    <p>
      When Bobbie showed Mother the list he had written, Mother laughed. It WAS
      a laugh, Bobbie decided, though it was rather odd and feeble.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nonsense,&rdquo; said Mother, laying in bed with eyes as bright as beads. &ldquo;I
      can't afford all that rubbish. Tell Mrs. Viney to boil two pounds of
      scrag-end of the neck for your dinners to-morrow, and I can have some of
      the broth. Yes, I should like some more water now, love. And will you get
      a basin and sponge my hands?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Roberta obeyed. When she had done everything she could to make Mother less
      uncomfortable, she went down to the others. Her cheeks were very red, her
      lips set tight, and her eyes almost as bright as Mother's.
    </p>
    <p>
      She told them what the Doctor had said, and what Mother had said.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And now,&rdquo; said she, when she had told all, &ldquo;there's no one but us to do
      anything, and we've got to do it. I've got the shilling for the mutton.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We can do without the beastly mutton,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;bread and butter will
      support life. People have lived on less on desert islands many a time.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course,&rdquo; said his sister. And Mrs. Viney was sent to the village to
      get as much brandy and soda-water and beef tea as she could buy for a
      shilling.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But even if we never have anything to eat at all,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;you
      can't get all those other things with our dinner money.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Bobbie, frowning, &ldquo;we must find out some other way. Now THINK,
      everybody, just as hard as ever you can.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They did think. And presently they talked. And later, when Bobbie had gone
      up to sit with Mother in case she wanted anything, the other two were very
      busy with scissors and a white sheet, and a paint brush, and the pot of
      Brunswick black that Mrs. Viney used for grates and fenders. They did not
      manage to do what they wished, exactly, with the first sheet, so they took
      another out of the linen cupboard. It did not occur to them that they were
      spoiling good sheets which cost good money. They only knew that they were
      making a good&mdash;but what they were making comes later.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie's bed had been moved into Mother's room, and several times in the
      night she got up to mend the fire, and to give her mother milk and
      soda-water. Mother talked to herself a good deal, but it did not seem to
      mean anything. And once she woke up suddenly and called out: &ldquo;Mamma,
      mamma!&rdquo; and Bobbie knew she was calling for Granny, and that she had
      forgotten that it was no use calling, because Granny was dead.
    </p>
    <p>
      In the early morning Bobbie heard her name and jumped out of bed and ran
      to Mother's bedside.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh&mdash;ah, yes&mdash;I think I was asleep,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;My poor
      little duck, how tired you'll be&mdash;I do hate to give you all this
      trouble.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Trouble!&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Ah, don't cry, sweet,&rdquo; Mother said; &ldquo;I shall be all right in a day or
      two.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And Bobbie said, &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; and tried to smile.
    </p>
    <p>
      When you are used to ten hours of solid sleep, to get up three or four
      times in your sleep-time makes you feel as though you had been up all
      night. Bobbie felt quite stupid and her eyes were sore and stiff, but she
      tidied the room, and arranged everything neatly before the Doctor came.
    </p>
    <p>
      This was at half-past eight.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Everything going on all right, little Nurse?&rdquo; he said at the front door.
      &ldquo;Did you get the brandy?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I've got the brandy,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;in a little flat bottle.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I didn't see the grapes or the beef tea, though,&rdquo; said he.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Bobbie, firmly, &ldquo;but you will to-morrow. And there's some beef
      stewing in the oven for beef tea.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who told you to do that?&rdquo; he asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I noticed what Mother did when Phil had mumps.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Right,&rdquo; said the Doctor. &ldquo;Now you get your old woman to sit with your
      mother, and then you eat a good breakfast, and go straight to bed and
      sleep till dinner-time. We can't afford to have the head-nurse ill.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He was really quite a nice doctor.
    </p>
    <p>
      When the 9.15 came out of the tunnel that morning the old gentleman in the
      first-class carriage put down his newspaper, and got ready to wave his
      hand to the three children on the fence. But this morning there were not
      three. There was only one. And that was Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter was not on the railings either, as usual. He was standing in front
      of them in an attitude like that of a show-man showing off the animals in
      a menagerie, or of the kind clergyman when he points with a wand at the
      'Scenes from Palestine,' when there is a magic-lantern and he is
      explaining it.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter was pointing, too. And what he was pointing at was a large white
      sheet nailed against the fence. On the sheet there were thick black
      letters more than a foot long.
    </p>
    <p>
      Some of them had run a little, because of Phyllis having put the Brunswick
      black on too eagerly, but the words were quite easy to read.
    </p>
    <p>
      And this what the old gentleman and several other people in the train read
      in the large black letters on the white sheet:&mdash;
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     LOOK OUT AT THE STATION.
</pre>
    <p>
      A good many people did look out at the station and were disappointed, for
      they saw nothing unusual. The old gentleman looked out, too, and at first
      he too saw nothing more unusual than the gravelled platform and the
      sunshine and the wallflowers and forget-me-nots in the station borders. It
      was only just as the train was beginning to puff and pull itself together
      to start again that he saw Phyllis. She was quite out of breath with
      running.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I thought I'd missed you. My bootlaces would keep coming
      down and I fell over them twice. Here, take it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She thrust a warm, dampish letter into his hand as the train moved.
    </p>
    <p>
      He leaned back in his corner and opened the letter. This is what he read:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Dear Mr. We do not know your name.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother is ill and the doctor says to give her the things at the end of the
      letter, but she says she can't aford it, and to get mutton for us and she
      will have the broth. We do not know anybody here but you, because Father
      is away and we do not know the address. Father will pay you, or if he has
      lost all his money, or anything, Peter will pay you when he is a man. We
      promise it on our honer. I.O.U. for all the things Mother wants.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     &ldquo;sined Peter.
</pre>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Will you give the parsel to the Station Master, because of us not knowing
      what train you come down by? Say it is for Peter that was sorry about the
      coals and he will know all right.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     &ldquo;Roberta.
     &ldquo;Phyllis.
     &ldquo;Peter.&rdquo;
 </pre>
    <p>
      Then came the list of things the Doctor had ordered.
    </p>
    <p>
      The old gentleman read it through once, and his eyebrows went up. He read
      it twice and smiled a little. When he had read it thrice, he put it in his
      pocket and went on reading The Times.
    </p>
    <p>
      At about six that evening there was a knock at the back door. The three
      children rushed to open it, and there stood the friendly Porter, who had
      told them so many interesting things about railways. He dumped down a big
      hamper on the kitchen flags.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Old gent,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;he asked me to fetch it up straight away.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Thank you very much,&rdquo; said Peter, and then, as the Porter lingered, he
      added:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm most awfully sorry I haven't got twopence to give you like Father
      does, but&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You drop it if you please,&rdquo; said the Porter, indignantly. &ldquo;I wasn't
      thinking about no tuppences. I only wanted to say I was sorry your Mamma
      wasn't so well, and to ask how she finds herself this evening&mdash;and
      I've fetched her along a bit of sweetbrier, very sweet to smell it is.
      Twopence indeed,&rdquo; said he, and produced a bunch of sweetbrier from his
      hat, &ldquo;just like a conjurer,&rdquo; as Phyllis remarked afterwards.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Thank you very much,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and I beg your pardon about the
      twopence.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No offence,&rdquo; said the Porter, untruly but politely, and went.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then the children undid the hamper. First there was straw, and then there
      were fine shavings, and then came all the things they had asked for, and
      plenty of them, and then a good many things they had not asked for; among
      others peaches and port wine and two chickens, a cardboard box of big red
      roses with long stalks, and a tall thin green bottle of lavender water,
      and three smaller fatter bottles of eau-de-Cologne. There was a letter,
      too.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Dear Roberta and Phyllis and Peter,&rdquo; it said; &ldquo;here are the things you
      want. Your mother will want to know where they came from. Tell her they
      were sent by a friend who heard she was ill. When she is well again you
      must tell her all about it, of course. And if she says you ought not to
      have asked for the things, tell her that I say you were quite right, and
      that I hope she will forgive me for taking the liberty of allowing myself
      a very great pleasure.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The letter was signed G. P. something that the children couldn't read.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I think we WERE right,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Right? Of course we were right,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;All the same,&rdquo; said Peter, with his hands in his pockets, &ldquo;I don't
      exactly look forward to telling Mother the whole truth about it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We're not to do it till she's well,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;and when she's well we
      shall be so happy we shan't mind a little fuss like that. Oh, just look at
      the roses! I must take them up to her.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And the sweetbrier,&rdquo; said Phyllis, sniffing it loudly; &ldquo;don't forget the
      sweetbrier.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;As if I should!&rdquo; said Roberta. &ldquo;Mother told me the other day there was a
      thick hedge of it at her mother's house when she was a little girl.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter IV. The engine-burglar.
    </h2>
    <p>
      What was left of the second sheet and the Brunswick black came in very
      nicely to make a banner bearing the legend
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     SHE IS NEARLY WELL THANK YOU
</pre>
    <p>
      and this was displayed to the Green Dragon about a fortnight after the
      arrival of the wonderful hamper. The old gentleman saw it, and waved a
      cheerful response from the train. And when this had been done the children
      saw that now was the time when they must tell Mother what they had done
      when she was ill. And it did not seem nearly so easy as they had thought
      it would be. But it had to be done. And it was done. Mother was extremely
      angry. She was seldom angry, and now she was angrier than they had ever
      known her. This was horrible. But it was much worse when she suddenly
      began to cry. Crying is catching, I believe, like measles and
      whooping-cough. At any rate, everyone at once found itself taking part in
      a crying-party.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother stopped first. She dried her eyes and then she said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm sorry I was so angry, darlings, because I know you didn't
      understand.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We didn't mean to be naughty, Mammy,&rdquo; sobbed Bobbie, and Peter and
      Phyllis sniffed.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now, listen,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;it's quite true that we're poor, but we have
      enough to live on. You mustn't go telling everyone about our affairs&mdash;it's
      not right. And you must never, never, never ask strangers to give you
      things. Now always remember that&mdash;won't you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They all hugged her and rubbed their damp cheeks against hers and promised
      that they would.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And I'll write a letter to your old gentleman, and I shall tell him that
      I didn't approve&mdash;oh, of course I shall thank him, too, for his
      kindness. It's YOU I don't approve of, my darlings, not the old gentleman.
      He was as kind as ever he could be. And you can give the letter to the
      Station Master to give him&mdash;and we won't say any more about it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Afterwards, when the children were alone, Bobbie said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Isn't Mother splendid? You catch any other grown-up saying they were
      sorry they had been angry.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;she IS splendid; but it's rather awful when she's
      angry.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;She's like Avenging and Bright in the song,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;I should like
      to look at her if it wasn't so awful. She looks so beautiful when she's
      really downright furious.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They took the letter down to the Station Master.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I thought you said you hadn't got any friends except in London,&rdquo; said he.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We've made him since,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But he doesn't live hereabouts?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No&mdash;we just know him on the railway.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then the Station Master retired to that sacred inner temple behind the
      little window where the tickets are sold, and the children went down to
      the Porters' room and talked to the Porter. They learned several
      interesting things from him&mdash;among others that his name was Perks,
      that he was married and had three children, that the lamps in front of
      engines are called head-lights and the ones at the back tail-lights.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And that just shows,&rdquo; whispered Phyllis, &ldquo;that trains really ARE dragons
      in disguise, with proper heads and tails.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It was on this day that the children first noticed that all engines are
      not alike.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Alike?&rdquo; said the Porter, whose name was Perks, &ldquo;lor, love you, no, Miss.
      No more alike nor what you an' me are. That little 'un without a tender as
      went by just now all on her own, that was a tank, that was&mdash;she's off
      to do some shunting t'other side o' Maidbridge. That's as it might be you,
      Miss. Then there's goods engines, great, strong things with three wheels
      each side&mdash;joined with rods to strengthen 'em&mdash;as it might be
      me. Then there's main-line engines as it might be this 'ere young
      gentleman when he grows up and wins all the races at 'is school&mdash;so
      he will. The main-line engine she's built for speed as well as power.
      That's one to the 9.15 up.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The Green Dragon,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We calls her the Snail, Miss, among ourselves,&rdquo; said the Porter. &ldquo;She's
      oftener be'ind'and nor any train on the line.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But the engine's green,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, Miss,&rdquo; said Perks, &ldquo;so's a snail some seasons o' the year.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The children agreed as they went home to dinner that the Porter was most
      delightful company.
    </p>
    <p>
      Next day was Roberta's birthday. In the afternoon she was politely but
      firmly requested to get out of the way and keep there till tea-time.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You aren't to see what we're going to do till it's done; it's a glorious
      surprise,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      And Roberta went out into the garden all alone. She tried to be grateful,
      but she felt she would much rather have helped in whatever it was than
      have to spend her birthday afternoon by herself, no matter how glorious
      the surprise might be.
    </p>
    <p>
      Now that she was alone, she had time to think, and one of the things she
      thought of most was what mother had said in one of those feverish nights
      when her hands were so hot and her eyes so bright.
    </p>
    <p>
      The words were: &ldquo;Oh, what a doctor's bill there'll be for this!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She walked round and round the garden among the rose-bushes that hadn't
      any roses yet, only buds, and the lilac bushes and syringas and American
      currants, and the more she thought of the doctor's bill, the less she
      liked the thought of it.
    </p>
    <p>
      And presently she made up her mind. She went out through the side door of
      the garden and climbed up the steep field to where the road runs along by
      the canal. She walked along until she came to the bridge that crosses the
      canal and leads to the village, and here she waited. It was very pleasant
      in the sunshine to lean one's elbows on the warm stone of the bridge and
      look down at the blue water of the canal. Bobbie had never seen any other
      canal, except the Regent's Canal, and the water of that is not at all a
      pretty colour. And she had never seen any river at all except the Thames,
      which also would be all the better if its face was washed.
    </p>
    <p>
      Perhaps the children would have loved the canal as much as the railway,
      but for two things. One was that they had found the railway FIRST&mdash;on
      that first, wonderful morning when the house and the country and the moors
      and rocks and great hills were all new to them. They had not found the
      canal till some days later. The other reason was that everyone on the
      railway had been kind to them&mdash;the Station Master, the Porter, and
      the old gentleman who waved. And the people on the canal were anything but
      kind.
    </p>
    <p>
      The people on the canal were, of course, the bargees, who steered the slow
      barges up and down, or walked beside the old horses that trampled up the
      mud of the towing-path, and strained at the long tow-ropes.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter had once asked one of the bargees the time, and had been told to
      &ldquo;get out of that,&rdquo; in a tone so fierce that he did not stop to say
      anything about his having just as much right on the towing-path as the man
      himself. Indeed, he did not even think of saying it till some time later.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then another day when the children thought they would like to fish in the
      canal, a boy in a barge threw lumps of coal at them, and one of these hit
      Phyllis on the back of the neck. She was just stooping down to tie up her
      bootlace&mdash;and though the coal hardly hurt at all it made her not care
      very much about going on fishing.
    </p>
    <p>
      On the bridge, however, Roberta felt quite safe, because she could look
      down on the canal, and if any boy showed signs of meaning to throw coal,
      she could duck behind the parapet.
    </p>
    <p>
      Presently there was a sound of wheels, which was just what she expected.
    </p>
    <p>
      The wheels were the wheels of the Doctor's dogcart, and in the cart, of
      course, was the Doctor.
    </p>
    <p>
      He pulled up, and called out:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hullo, head nurse! Want a lift?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wanted to see you,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Your mother's not worse, I hope?&rdquo; said the Doctor.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No&mdash;but&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, skip in, then, and we'll go for a drive.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Roberta climbed in and the brown horse was made to turn round&mdash;which
      it did not like at all, for it was looking forward to its tea&mdash;I mean
      its oats.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;This IS jolly,&rdquo; said Bobbie, as the dogcart flew along the road by the
      canal.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We could throw a stone down any one of your three chimneys,&rdquo; said the
      Doctor, as they passed the house.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;but you'd have to be a jolly good shot.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How do you know I'm not?&rdquo; said the Doctor. &ldquo;Now, then, what's the
      trouble?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie fidgeted with the hook of the driving apron.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Come, out with it,&rdquo; said the Doctor.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's rather hard, you see,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;to out with it; because of what
      Mother said.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What DID Mother say?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;She said I wasn't to go telling everyone that we're poor. But you aren't
      everyone, are you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not at all,&rdquo; said the Doctor, cheerfully. &ldquo;Well?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, I know doctors are very extravagant&mdash;I mean expensive, and
      Mrs. Viney told me that her doctoring only cost her twopence a week
      because she belonged to a Club.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You see she told me what a good doctor you were, and I asked her how she
      could afford you, because she's much poorer than we are. I've been in her
      house and I know. And then she told me about the Club, and I thought I'd
      ask you&mdash;and&mdash;oh, I don't want Mother to be worried! Can't we be
      in the Club, too, the same as Mrs. Viney?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The Doctor was silent. He was rather poor himself, and he had been pleased
      at getting a new family to attend. So I think his feelings at that minute
      were rather mixed.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You aren't cross with me, are you?&rdquo; said Bobbie, in a very small voice.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Doctor roused himself.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Cross? How could I be? You're a very sensible little woman. Now look
      here, don't you worry. I'll make it all right with your Mother, even if I
      have to make a special brand-new Club all for her. Look here, this is
      where the Aqueduct begins.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What's an Aque&mdash;what's its name?&rdquo; asked Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;A water bridge,&rdquo; said the Doctor. &ldquo;Look.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The road rose to a bridge over the canal. To the left was a steep rocky
      cliff with trees and shrubs growing in the cracks of the rock. And the
      canal here left off running along the top of the hill and started to run
      on a bridge of its own&mdash;a great bridge with tall arches that went
      right across the valley.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie drew a long breath.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It IS grand, isn't it?&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It's like pictures in the History of
      Rome.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Right!&rdquo; said the Doctor, &ldquo;that's just exactly what it IS like. The Romans
      were dead nuts on aqueducts. It's a splendid piece of engineering.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I thought engineering was making engines.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Ah, there are different sorts of engineering&mdash;making road and
      bridges and tunnels is one kind. And making fortifications is another.
      Well, we must be turning back. And, remember, you aren't to worry about
      doctor's bills or you'll be ill yourself, and then I'll send you in a bill
      as long as the aqueduct.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      When Bobbie had parted from the Doctor at the top of the field that ran
      down from the road to Three Chimneys, she could not feel that she had done
      wrong. She knew that Mother would perhaps think differently. But Bobbie
      felt that for once she was the one who was right, and she scrambled down
      the rocky slope with a really happy feeling.
    </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis and Peter met her at the back door. They were unnaturally clean
      and neat, and Phyllis had a red bow in her hair. There was only just time
      for Bobbie to make herself tidy and tie up her hair with a blue bow before
      a little bell rang.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There!&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;that's to show the surprise is ready. Now you wait
      till the bell rings again and then you may come into the dining-room.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So Bobbie waited.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Tinkle, tinkle,&rdquo; said the little bell, and Bobbie went into the
      dining-room, feeling rather shy. Directly she opened the door she found
      herself, as it seemed, in a new world of light and flowers and singing.
      Mother and Peter and Phyllis were standing in a row at the end of the
      table. The shutters were shut and there were twelve candles on the table,
      one for each of Roberta's years. The table was covered with a sort of
      pattern of flowers, and at Roberta's place was a thick wreath of
      forget-me-nots and several most interesting little packages. And Mother
      and Phyllis and Peter were singing&mdash;to the first part of the tune of
      St. Patrick's Day. Roberta knew that Mother had written the words on
      purpose for her birthday. It was a little way of Mother's on birthdays. It
      had begun on Bobbie's fourth birthday when Phyllis was a baby. Bobbie
      remembered learning the verses to say to Father 'for a surprise.' She
      wondered if Mother had remembered, too. The four-year-old verse had been:&mdash;
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     Daddy dear, I'm only four
     And I'd rather not be more.
     Four's the nicest age to be,
     Two and two and one and three.
     What I love is two and two,
     Mother, Peter, Phil, and you.
     What you love is one and three,
     Mother, Peter, Phil, and me.
     Give your little girl a kiss
     Because she learned and told you this.
</pre>
    <p>
      The song the others were singing now went like this:&mdash;
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     Our darling Roberta,
     No sorrow shall hurt her
     If we can prevent it
        Her whole life long.
     Her birthday's our fete day,
     We'll make it our great day,
     And give her our presents
        And sing her our song.
     May pleasures attend her
     And may the Fates send her
     The happiest journey
        Along her life's way.
     With skies bright above her
     And dear ones to love her!
     Dear Bob!  Many happy
        Returns of the day!
</pre>
    <p>
      When they had finished singing they cried, &ldquo;Three cheers for our Bobbie!&rdquo;
       and gave them very loudly. Bobbie felt exactly as though she were going to
      cry&mdash;you know that odd feeling in the bridge of your nose and the
      pricking in your eyelids? But before she had time to begin they were all
      kissing and hugging her.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;look at your presents.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They were very nice presents. There was a green and red needle-book that
      Phyllis had made herself in secret moments. There was a darling little
      silver brooch of Mother's shaped like a buttercup, which Bobbie had known
      and loved for years, but which she had never, never thought would come to
      be her very own. There was also a pair of blue glass vases from Mrs.
      Viney. Roberta had seen and admired them in the village shop. And there
      were three birthday cards with pretty pictures and wishes.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother fitted the forget-me-not crown on Bobbie's brown head.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And now look at the table,&rdquo; she said.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was a cake on the table covered with white sugar, with 'Dear Bobbie'
      on it in pink sweets, and there were buns and jam; but the nicest thing
      was that the big table was almost covered with flowers&mdash;wallflowers
      were laid all round the tea-tray&mdash;there was a ring of forget-me-nots
      round each plate. The cake had a wreath of white lilac round it, and in
      the middle was something that looked like a pattern all done with single
      blooms of lilac or wallflower or laburnum.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's a map&mdash;a map of the railway!&rdquo; cried Peter. &ldquo;Look&mdash;those
      lilac lines are the metals&mdash;and there's the station done in brown
      wallflowers. The laburnum is the train, and there are the signal-boxes,
      and the road up to here&mdash;and those fat red daisies are us three
      waving to the old gentleman&mdash;that's him, the pansy in the laburnum
      train.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And there's 'Three Chimneys' done in the purple primroses,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
      &ldquo;And that little tiny rose-bud is Mother looking out for us when we're
      late for tea. Peter invented it all, and we got all the flowers from the
      station. We thought you'd like it better.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's my present,&rdquo; said Peter, suddenly dumping down his adored
      steam-engine on the table in front of her. Its tender had been lined with
      fresh white paper, and was full of sweets.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, Peter!&rdquo; cried Bobbie, quite overcome by this munificence, &ldquo;not your
      own dear little engine that you're so fond of?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; said Peter, very promptly, &ldquo;not the engine. Only the sweets.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie couldn't help her face changing a little&mdash;not so much because
      she was disappointed at not getting the engine, as because she had thought
      it so very noble of Peter, and now she felt she had been silly to think
      it. Also she felt she must have seemed greedy to expect the engine as well
      as the sweets. So her face changed. Peter saw it. He hesitated a minute;
      then his face changed, too, and he said: &ldquo;I mean not ALL the engine. I'll
      let you go halves if you like.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're a brick,&rdquo; cried Bobbie; &ldquo;it's a splendid present.&rdquo; She said no
      more aloud, but to herself she said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That was awfully jolly decent of Peter because I know he didn't mean to.
      Well, the broken half shall be my half of the engine, and I'll get it
      mended and give it back to Peter for his birthday.&rdquo;&mdash;&ldquo;Yes, Mother
      dear, I should like to cut the cake,&rdquo; she added, and tea began.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was a delightful birthday. After tea Mother played games with them&mdash;any
      game they liked&mdash;and of course their first choice was
      blindman's-buff, in the course of which Bobbie's forget-me-not wreath
      twisted itself crookedly over one of her ears and stayed there. Then, when
      it was near bed-time and time to calm down, Mother had a lovely new story
      to read to them.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You won't sit up late working, will you, Mother?&rdquo; Bobbie asked as they
      said good night.
    </p>
    <p>
      And Mother said no, she wouldn't&mdash;she would only just write to Father
      and then go to bed.
    </p>
    <p>
      But when Bobbie crept down later to bring up her presents&mdash;for she
      felt she really could not be separated from them all night&mdash;Mother
      was not writing, but leaning her head on her arms and her arms on the
      table. I think it was rather good of Bobbie to slip quietly away, saying
      over and over, &ldquo;She doesn't want me to know she's unhappy, and I won't
      know; I won't know.&rdquo; But it made a sad end to the birthday.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          *          *          *          *          *          *
</pre>
    <p>
      The very next morning Bobbie began to watch her opportunity to get Peter's
      engine mended secretly. And the opportunity came the very next afternoon.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother went by train to the nearest town to do shopping. When she went
      there, she always went to the Post-office. Perhaps to post her letters to
      Father, for she never gave them to the children or Mrs. Viney to post, and
      she never went to the village herself. Peter and Phyllis went with her.
      Bobbie wanted an excuse not to go, but try as she would she couldn't think
      of a good one. And just when she felt that all was lost, her frock caught
      on a big nail by the kitchen door and there was a great criss-cross tear
      all along the front of the skirt. I assure you this was really an
      accident. So the others pitied her and went without her, for there was no
      time for her to change, because they were rather late already and had to
      hurry to the station to catch the train.
    </p>
    <p>
      When they had gone, Bobbie put on her everyday frock, and went down to the
      railway. She did not go into the station, but she went along the line to
      the end of the platform where the engine is when the down train is
      alongside the platform&mdash;the place where there are a water tank and a
      long, limp, leather hose, like an elephant's trunk. She hid behind a bush
      on the other side of the railway. She had the toy engine done up in brown
      paper, and she waited patiently with it under her arm.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then when the next train came in and stopped, Bobbie went across the
      metals of the up-line and stood beside the engine. She had never been so
      close to an engine before. It looked much larger and harder than she had
      expected, and it made her feel very small indeed, and, somehow, very soft&mdash;as
      if she could very, very easily be hurt rather badly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I know what silk-worms feel like now,&rdquo; said Bobbie to herself.
    </p>
    <p>
      The engine-driver and fireman did not see her. They were leaning out on
      the other side, telling the Porter a tale about a dog and a leg of mutton.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If you please,&rdquo; said Roberta&mdash;but the engine was blowing off steam
      and no one heard her.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If you please, Mr. Engineer,&rdquo; she spoke a little louder, but the Engine
      happened to speak at the same moment, and of course Roberta's soft little
      voice hadn't a chance.
    </p>
    <p>
      It seemed to her that the only way would be to climb on to the engine and
      pull at their coats. The step was high, but she got her knee on it, and
      clambered into the cab; she stumbled and fell on hands and knees on the
      base of the great heap of coals that led up to the square opening in the
      tender. The engine was not above the weaknesses of its fellows; it was
      making a great deal more noise than there was the slightest need for. And
      just as Roberta fell on the coals, the engine-driver, who had turned
      without seeing her, started the engine, and when Bobbie had picked herself
      up, the train was moving&mdash;not fast, but much too fast for her to get
      off.
    </p>
    <p>
      All sorts of dreadful thoughts came to her all together in one horrible
      flash. There were such things as express trains that went on, she
      supposed, for hundreds of miles without stopping. Suppose this should be
      one of them? How would she get home again? She had no money to pay for the
      return journey.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And I've no business here. I'm an engine-burglar&mdash;that's what I am,&rdquo;
       she thought. &ldquo;I shouldn't wonder if they could lock me up for this.&rdquo; And
      the train was going faster and faster.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was something in her throat that made it impossible for her to
      speak. She tried twice. The men had their backs to her. They were doing
      something to things that looked like taps.
    </p>
    <p>
      Suddenly she put out her hand and caught hold of the nearest sleeve. The
      man turned with a start, and he and Roberta stood for a minute looking at
      each other in silence. Then the silence was broken by them both.
    </p>
    <p>
      The man said, &ldquo;Here's a bloomin' go!&rdquo; and Roberta burst into tears.
    </p>
    <p>
      The other man said he was blooming well blest&mdash;or something like it&mdash;but
      though naturally surprised they were not exactly unkind.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're a naughty little gell, that's what you are,&rdquo; said the fireman, and
      the engine-driver said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Daring little piece, I call her,&rdquo; but they made her sit down on an iron
      seat in the cab and told her to stop crying and tell them what she meant
      by it.
    </p>
    <p>
      She did stop, as soon as she could. One thing that helped her was the
      thought that Peter would give almost his ears to be in her place&mdash;on
      a real engine&mdash;really going. The children had often wondered whether
      any engine-driver could be found noble enough to take them for a ride on
      an engine&mdash;and now there she was. She dried her eyes and sniffed
      earnestly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now, then,&rdquo; said the fireman, &ldquo;out with it. What do you mean by it, eh?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, please,&rdquo; sniffed Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Try again,&rdquo; said the engine-driver, encouragingly.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie tried again.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Please, Mr. Engineer,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I did call out to you from the line,
      but you didn't hear me&mdash;and I just climbed up to touch you on the arm&mdash;quite
      gently I meant to do it&mdash;and then I fell into the coals&mdash;and I
      am so sorry if I frightened you. Oh, don't be cross&mdash;oh, please
      don't!&rdquo; She sniffed again.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We ain't so much CROSS,&rdquo; said the fireman, &ldquo;as interested like. It ain't
      every day a little gell tumbles into our coal bunker outer the sky, is it,
      Bill? What did you DO it for&mdash;eh?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's the point,&rdquo; agreed the engine-driver; &ldquo;what did you do it FOR?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie found that she had not quite stopped crying. The engine-driver
      patted her on the back and said: &ldquo;Here, cheer up, Mate. It ain't so bad as
      all that 'ere, I'll be bound.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wanted,&rdquo; said Bobbie, much cheered to find herself addressed as 'Mate'&mdash;&ldquo;I
      only wanted to ask you if you'd be so kind as to mend this.&rdquo; She picked up
      the brown-paper parcel from among the coals and undid the string with hot,
      red fingers that trembled.
    </p>
    <p>
      Her feet and legs felt the scorch of the engine fire, but her shoulders
      felt the wild chill rush of the air. The engine lurched and shook and
      rattled, and as they shot under a bridge the engine seemed to shout in her
      ears.
    </p>
    <p>
      The fireman shovelled on coals.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie unrolled the brown paper and disclosed the toy engine.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I thought,&rdquo; she said wistfully, &ldquo;that perhaps you'd mend this for me&mdash;because
      you're an engineer, you know.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The engine-driver said he was blowed if he wasn't blest.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm blest if I ain't blowed,&rdquo; remarked the fireman.
    </p>
    <p>
      But the engine-driver took the little engine and looked at it&mdash;and
      the fireman ceased for an instant to shovel coal, and looked, too.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's like your precious cheek,&rdquo; said the engine-driver&mdash;&ldquo;whatever
      made you think we'd be bothered tinkering penny toys?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I didn't mean it for precious cheek,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;only everybody that
      has anything to do with railways is so kind and good, I didn't think you'd
      mind. You don't really&mdash;do you?&rdquo; she added, for she had seen a not
      unkindly wink pass between the two.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My trade's driving of an engine, not mending her, especially such a
      hout-size in engines as this 'ere,&rdquo; said Bill. &ldquo;An' 'ow are we a-goin' to
      get you back to your sorrowing friends and relations, and all be forgiven
      and forgotten?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If you'll put me down next time you stop,&rdquo; said Bobbie, firmly, though
      her heart beat fiercely against her arm as she clasped her hands, &ldquo;and
      lend me the money for a third-class ticket, I'll pay you back&mdash;honour
      bright. I'm not a confidence trick like in the newspapers&mdash;really,
      I'm not.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're a little lady, every inch,&rdquo; said Bill, relenting suddenly and
      completely. &ldquo;We'll see you gets home safe. An' about this engine&mdash;Jim&mdash;ain't
      you got ne'er a pal as can use a soldering iron? Seems to me that's about
      all the little bounder wants doing to it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's what Father said,&rdquo; Bobbie explained eagerly. &ldquo;What's that for?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She pointed to a little brass wheel that he had turned as he spoke.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's the injector.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;In&mdash;what?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Injector to fill up the boiler.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Bobbie, mentally registering the fact to tell the others; &ldquo;that
      IS interesting.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;This 'ere's the automatic brake,&rdquo; Bill went on, flattered by her
      enthusiasm. &ldquo;You just move this 'ere little handle&mdash;do it with one
      finger, you can&mdash;and the train jolly soon stops. That's what they
      call the Power of Science in the newspapers.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He showed her two little dials, like clock faces, and told her how one
      showed how much steam was going, and the other showed if the brake was
      working properly.
    </p>
    <p>
      By the time she had seen him shut off steam with a big shining steel
      handle, Bobbie knew more about the inside working of an engine than she
      had ever thought there was to know, and Jim had promised that his second
      cousin's wife's brother should solder the toy engine, or Jim would know
      the reason why. Besides all the knowledge she had gained Bobbie felt that
      she and Bill and Jim were now friends for life, and that they had wholly
      and forever forgiven her for stumbling uninvited among the sacred coals of
      their tender.
    </p>
    <p>
      At Stacklepoole Junction she parted from them with warm expressions of
      mutual regard. They handed her over to the guard of a returning train&mdash;a
      friend of theirs&mdash;and she had the joy of knowing what guards do in
      their secret fastnesses, and understood how, when you pull the
      communication cord in railway carriages, a wheel goes round under the
      guard's nose and a loud bell rings in his ears. She asked the guard why
      his van smelt so fishy, and learned that he had to carry a lot of fish
      every day, and that the wetness in the hollows of the corrugated floor had
      all drained out of boxes full of plaice and cod and mackerel and soles and
      smelts.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie got home in time for tea, and she felt as though her mind would
      burst with all that had been put into it since she parted from the others.
      How she blessed the nail that had torn her frock!
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Where have you been?&rdquo; asked the others.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;To the station, of course,&rdquo; said Roberta. But she would not tell a word
      of her adventures till the day appointed, when she mysteriously led them
      to the station at the hour of the 3.19's transit, and proudly introduced
      them to her friends, Bill and Jim. Jim's second cousin's wife's brother
      had not been unworthy of the sacred trust reposed in him. The toy engine
      was, literally, as good as new.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Good-bye&mdash;oh, good-bye,&rdquo; said Bobbie, just before the engine
      screamed ITS good-bye. &ldquo;I shall always, always love you&mdash;and Jim's
      second cousin's wife's brother as well!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And as the three children went home up the hill, Peter hugging the engine,
      now quite its own self again, Bobbie told, with joyous leaps of the heart,
      the story of how she had been an Engine-burglar.
    </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter V. Prisoners and captives.
    </h2>
    <p>
      It was one day when Mother had gone to Maidbridge. She had gone alone, but
      the children were to go to the station to meet her. And, loving the
      station as they did, it was only natural that they should be there a good
      hour before there was any chance of Mother's train arriving, even if the
      train were punctual, which was most unlikely. No doubt they would have
      been just as early, even if it had been a fine day, and all the delights
      of woods and fields and rocks and rivers had been open to them. But it
      happened to be a very wet day and, for July, very cold. There was a wild
      wind that drove flocks of dark purple clouds across the sky &ldquo;like herds of
      dream-elephants,&rdquo; as Phyllis said. And the rain stung sharply, so that the
      way to the station was finished at a run. Then the rain fell faster and
      harder, and beat slantwise against the windows of the booking office and
      of the chill place that had General Waiting Room on its door.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's like being in a besieged castle,&rdquo; Phyllis said; &ldquo;look at the arrows
      of the foe striking against the battlements!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's much more like a great garden-squirt,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      They decided to wait on the up side, for the down platform looked very wet
      indeed, and the rain was driving right into the little bleak shelter where
      down-passengers have to wait for their trains.
    </p>
    <p>
      The hour would be full of incident and of interest, for there would be two
      up trains and one down to look at before the one that should bring Mother
      back.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perhaps it'll have stopped raining by then,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;anyhow, I'm
      glad I brought Mother's waterproof and umbrella.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They went into the desert spot labelled General Waiting Room, and the time
      passed pleasantly enough in a game of advertisements. You know the game,
      of course? It is something like dumb Crambo. The players take it in turns
      to go out, and then come back and look as like some advertisement as they
      can, and the others have to guess what advertisement it is meant to be.
      Bobbie came in and sat down under Mother's umbrella and made a sharp face,
      and everyone knew she was the fox who sits under the umbrella in the
      advertisement. Phyllis tried to make a Magic Carpet of Mother's
      waterproof, but it would not stand out stiff and raft-like as a Magic
      Carpet should, and nobody could guess it. Everyone thought Peter was
      carrying things a little too far when he blacked his face all over with
      coal-dust and struck a spidery attitude and said he was the blot that
      advertises somebody's Blue Black Writing Fluid.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was Phyllis's turn again, and she was trying to look like the Sphinx
      that advertises What's-his-name's Personally Conducted Tours up the Nile
      when the sharp ting of the signal announced the up train. The children
      rushed out to see it pass. On its engine were the particular driver and
      fireman who were now numbered among the children's dearest friends.
      Courtesies passed between them. Jim asked after the toy engine, and Bobbie
      pressed on his acceptance a moist, greasy package of toffee that she had
      made herself.
    </p>
    <p>
      Charmed by this attention, the engine-driver consented to consider her
      request that some day he would take Peter for a ride on the engine.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Stand back, Mates,&rdquo; cried the engine-driver, suddenly, &ldquo;and horf she
      goes.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And sure enough, off the train went. The children watched the tail-lights
      of the train till it disappeared round the curve of the line, and then
      turned to go back to the dusty freedom of the General Waiting Room and the
      joys of the advertisement game.
    </p>
    <p>
      They expected to see just one or two people, the end of the procession of
      passengers who had given up their tickets and gone away. Instead, the
      platform round the door of the station had a dark blot round it, and the
      dark blot was a crowd of people.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; cried Peter, with a thrill of joyous excitement, &ldquo;something's
      happened! Come on!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They ran down the platform. When they got to the crowd, they could, of
      course, see nothing but the damp backs and elbows of the people on the
      crowd's outside. Everybody was talking at once. It was evident that
      something had happened.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's my belief he's nothing worse than a natural,&rdquo; said a
      farmerish-looking person. Peter saw his red, clean-shaven face as he
      spoke.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If you ask me, I should say it was a Police Court case,&rdquo; said a young man
      with a black bag.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not it; the Infirmary more like&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then the voice of the Station Master was heard, firm and official:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now, then&mdash;move along there. I'll attend to this, if YOU please.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But the crowd did not move. And then came a voice that thrilled the
      children through and through. For it spoke in a foreign language. And,
      what is more, it was a language that they had never heard. They had heard
      French spoken and German. Aunt Emma knew German, and used to sing a song
      about bedeuten and zeiten and bin and sin. Nor was it Latin. Peter had
      been in Latin for four terms.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was some comfort, anyhow, to find that none of the crowd understood the
      foreign language any better than the children did.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What's that he's saying?&rdquo; asked the farmer, heavily.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Sounds like French to me,&rdquo; said the Station Master, who had once been to
      Boulogne for the day.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It isn't French!&rdquo; cried Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What is it, then?&rdquo; asked more than one voice. The crowd fell back a
      little to see who had spoken, and Peter pressed forward, so that when the
      crowd closed up again he was in the front rank.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know what it is,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;but it isn't French. I know that.&rdquo;
       Then he saw what it was that the crowd had for its centre. It was a man&mdash;the
      man, Peter did not doubt, who had spoken in that strange tongue. A man
      with long hair and wild eyes, with shabby clothes of a cut Peter had not
      seen before&mdash;a man whose hands and lips trembled, and who spoke again
      as his eyes fell on Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, it's not French,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Try him with French if you know so much about it,&rdquo; said the farmer-man.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Parlay voo Frongsay?&rdquo; began Peter, boldly, and the next moment the crowd
      recoiled again, for the man with the wild eyes had left leaning against
      the wall, and had sprung forward and caught Peter's hands, and begun to
      pour forth a flood of words which, though he could not understand a word
      of them, Peter knew the sound of.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There!&rdquo; said he, and turned, his hands still clasped in the hands of the
      strange shabby figure, to throw a glance of triumph at the crowd; &ldquo;there;
      THAT'S French.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What does he say?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know.&rdquo; Peter was obliged to own it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here,&rdquo; said the Station Master again; &ldquo;you move on if you please. I'LL
      deal with this case.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      A few of the more timid or less inquisitive travellers moved slowly and
      reluctantly away. And Phyllis and Bobbie got near to Peter. All three had
      been TAUGHT French at school. How deeply they now wished that they had
      LEARNED it! Peter shook his head at the stranger, but he also shook his
      hands as warmly and looked at him as kindly as he could. A person in the
      crowd, after some hesitation, said suddenly, &ldquo;No comprenny!&rdquo; and then,
      blushing deeply, backed out of the press and went away.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Take him into your room,&rdquo; whispered Bobbie to the Station Master. &ldquo;Mother
      can talk French. She'll be here by the next train from Maidbridge.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The Station Master took the arm of the stranger, suddenly but not
      unkindly. But the man wrenched his arm away, and cowered back coughing and
      trembling and trying to push the Station Master away.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, don't!&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;don't you see how frightened he is? He thinks
      you're going to shut him up. I know he does&mdash;look at his eyes!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They're like a fox's eyes when the beast's in a trap,&rdquo; said the farmer.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, let me try!&rdquo; Bobbie went on; &ldquo;I do really know one or two French
      words if I could only think of them.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Sometimes, in moments of great need, we can do wonderful things&mdash;things
      that in ordinary life we could hardly even dream of doing. Bobbie had
      never been anywhere near the top of her French class, but she must have
      learned something without knowing it, for now, looking at those wild,
      hunted eyes, she actually remembered and, what is more, spoke, some French
      words. She said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Vous attendre. Ma mere parlez Francais. Nous&mdash;what's the French for
      'being kind'?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Nobody knew.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Bong is 'good,'&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nous etre bong pour vous.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      I do not know whether the man understood her words, but he understood the
      touch of the hand she thrust into his, and the kindness of the other hand
      that stroked his shabby sleeve.
    </p>
    <p>
      She pulled him gently towards the inmost sanctuary of the Station Master.
      The other children followed, and the Station Master shut the door in the
      face of the crowd, which stood a little while in the booking office
      talking and looking at the fast closed yellow door, and then by ones and
      twos went its way, grumbling.
    </p>
    <p>
      Inside the Station Master's room Bobbie still held the stranger's hand and
      stroked his sleeve.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here's a go,&rdquo; said the Station Master; &ldquo;no ticket&mdash;doesn't even know
      where he wants to go. I'm not sure now but what I ought to send for the
      police.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, DON'T!&rdquo; all the children pleaded at once. And suddenly Bobbie got
      between the others and the stranger, for she had seen that he was crying.
    </p>
    <p>
      By a most unusual piece of good fortune she had a handkerchief in her
      pocket. By a still more uncommon accident the handkerchief was moderately
      clean. Standing in front of the stranger, she got out the handkerchief and
      passed it to him so that the others did not see.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Wait till Mother comes,&rdquo; Phyllis was saying; &ldquo;she does speak French
      beautifully. You'd just love to hear her.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm sure he hasn't done anything like you're sent to prison for,&rdquo; said
      Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Looks like without visible means to me,&rdquo; said the Station Master. &ldquo;Well,
      I don't mind giving him the benefit of the doubt till your Mamma comes. I
      SHOULD like to know what nation's got the credit of HIM, that I should.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then Peter had an idea. He pulled an envelope out of his pocket, and
      showed that it was half full of foreign stamps.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look here,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;let's show him these&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie looked and saw that the stranger had dried his eyes with her
      handkerchief. So she said: &ldquo;All right.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They showed him an Italian stamp, and pointed from him to it and back
      again, and made signs of question with their eyebrows. He shook his head.
      Then they showed him a Norwegian stamp&mdash;the common blue kind it was&mdash;and
      again he signed No. Then they showed him a Spanish one, and at that he
      took the envelope from Peter's hand and searched among the stamps with a
      hand that trembled. The hand that he reached out at last, with a gesture
      as of one answering a question, contained a RUSSIAN stamp.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He's Russian,&rdquo; cried Peter, &ldquo;or else he's like 'the man who was'&mdash;in
      Kipling, you know.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The train from Maidbridge was signalled.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll stay with him till you bring Mother in,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're not afraid, Missie?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; said Bobbie, looking at the stranger, as she might have looked
      at a strange dog of doubtful temper. &ldquo;You wouldn't hurt me, would you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She smiled at him, and he smiled back, a queer crooked smile. And then he
      coughed again. And the heavy rattling swish of the incoming train swept
      past, and the Station Master and Peter and Phyllis went out to meet it.
      Bobbie was still holding the stranger's hand when they came back with
      Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Russian rose and bowed very ceremoniously.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then Mother spoke in French, and he replied, haltingly at first, but
      presently in longer and longer sentences.
    </p>
    <p>
      The children, watching his face and Mother's, knew that he was telling her
      things that made her angry and pitying, and sorry and indignant all at
      once.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, Mum, what's it all about?&rdquo; The Station Master could not restrain
      his curiosity any longer.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;it's all right. He's a Russian, and he's lost his
      ticket. And I'm afraid he's very ill. If you don't mind, I'll take him
      home with me now. He's really quite worn out. I'll run down and tell you
      all about him to-morrow.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I hope you won't find you're taking home a frozen viper,&rdquo; said the
      Station Master, doubtfully.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; Mother said brightly, and she smiled; &ldquo;I'm quite sure I'm not.
      Why, he's a great man in his own country, writes books&mdash;beautiful
      books&mdash;I've read some of them; but I'll tell you all about it
      to-morrow.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She spoke again in French to the Russian, and everyone could see the
      surprise and pleasure and gratitude in his eyes. He got up and politely
      bowed to the Station Master, and offered his arm most ceremoniously to
      Mother. She took it, but anybody could have seen that she was helping him
      along, and not he her.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You girls run home and light a fire in the sitting-room,&rdquo; Mother said,
      &ldquo;and Peter had better go for the Doctor.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But it was Bobbie who went for the Doctor.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I hate to tell you,&rdquo; she said breathlessly when she came upon him in his
      shirt sleeves, weeding his pansy-bed, &ldquo;but Mother's got a very shabby
      Russian, and I'm sure he'll have to belong to your Club. I'm certain he
      hasn't got any money. We found him at the station.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Found him! Was he lost, then?&rdquo; asked the Doctor, reaching for his coat.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie, unexpectedly, &ldquo;that's just what he was. He's been
      telling Mother the sad, sweet story of his life in French; and she said
      would you be kind enough to come directly if you were at home. He has a
      dreadful cough, and he's been crying.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The Doctor smiled.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, don't,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;please don't. You wouldn't if you'd seen him. I
      never saw a man cry before. You don't know what it's like.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Dr. Forrest wished then that he hadn't smiled.
    </p>
    <p>
      When Bobbie and the Doctor got to Three Chimneys, the Russian was sitting
      in the arm-chair that had been Father's, stretching his feet to the blaze
      of a bright wood fire, and sipping the tea Mother had made him.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The man seems worn out, mind and body,&rdquo; was what the Doctor said; &ldquo;the
      cough's bad, but there's nothing that can't be cured. He ought to go
      straight to bed, though&mdash;and let him have a fire at night.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll make one in my room; it's the only one with a fireplace,&rdquo; said
      Mother. She did, and presently the Doctor helped the stranger to bed.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was a big black trunk in Mother's room that none of the children had
      ever seen unlocked. Now, when she had lighted the fire, she unlocked it
      and took some clothes out&mdash;men's clothes&mdash;and set them to air by
      the newly lighted fire. Bobbie, coming in with more wood for the fire, saw
      the mark on the night-shirt, and looked over to the open trunk. All the
      things she could see were men's clothes. And the name marked on the shirt
      was Father's name. Then Father hadn't taken his clothes with him. And that
      night-shirt was one of Father's new ones. Bobbie remembered its being
      made, just before Peter's birthday. Why hadn't Father taken his clothes?
      Bobbie slipped from the room. As she went she heard the key turned in the
      lock of the trunk. Her heart was beating horribly. WHY hadn't Father taken
      his clothes? When Mother came out of the room, Bobbie flung tightly
      clasping arms round her waist, and whispered:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mother&mdash;Daddy isn't&mdash;isn't DEAD, is he?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My darling, no! What made you think of anything so horrible?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I&mdash;I don't know,&rdquo; said Bobbie, angry with herself, but still
      clinging to that resolution of hers, not to see anything that Mother
      didn't mean her to see.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother gave her a hurried hug. &ldquo;Daddy was quite, QUITE well when I heard
      from him last,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;and he'll come back to us some day. Don't fancy
      such horrible things, darling!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Later on, when the Russian stranger had been made comfortable for the
      night, Mother came into the girls' room. She was to sleep there in
      Phyllis's bed, and Phyllis was to have a mattress on the floor, a most
      amusing adventure for Phyllis. Directly Mother came in, two white figures
      started up, and two eager voices called:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now, Mother, tell us all about the Russian gentleman.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      A white shape hopped into the room. It was Peter, dragging his quilt
      behind him like the tail of a white peacock.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We have been patient,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and I had to bite my tongue not to go to
      sleep, and I just nearly went to sleep and I bit too hard, and it hurts
      ever so. DO tell us. Make a nice long story of it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I can't make a long story of it to-night,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;I'm very tired.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie knew by her voice that Mother had been crying, but the others
      didn't know.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, make it as long as you can,&rdquo; said Phil, and Bobbie got her arms
      round Mother's waist and snuggled close to her.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, it's a story long enough to make a whole book of. He's a writer;
      he's written beautiful books. In Russia at the time of the Czar one dared
      not say anything about the rich people doing wrong, or about the things
      that ought to be done to make poor people better and happier. If one did
      one was sent to prison.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But they CAN'T,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;people only go to prison when they've done
      wrong.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Or when the Judges THINK they've done wrong,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;Yes, that's
      so in England. But in Russia it was different. And he wrote a beautiful
      book about poor people and how to help them. I've read it. There's nothing
      in it but goodness and kindness. And they sent him to prison for it. He
      was three years in a horrible dungeon, with hardly any light, and all damp
      and dreadful. In prison all alone for three years.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother's voice trembled a little and stopped suddenly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But, Mother,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;that can't be true NOW. It sounds like
      something out of a history book&mdash;the Inquisition, or something.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It WAS true,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;it's all horribly true. Well, then they took
      him out and sent him to Siberia, a convict chained to other convicts&mdash;wicked
      men who'd done all sorts of crimes&mdash;a long chain of them, and they
      walked, and walked, and walked, for days and weeks, till he thought they'd
      never stop walking. And overseers went behind them with whips&mdash;yes,
      whips&mdash;to beat them if they got tired. And some of them went lame,
      and some fell down, and when they couldn't get up and go on, they beat
      them, and then left them to die. Oh, it's all too terrible! And at last he
      got to the mines, and he was condemned to stay there for life&mdash;for
      life, just for writing a good, noble, splendid book.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How did he get away?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;When the war came, some of the Russian prisoners were allowed to
      volunteer as soldiers. And he volunteered. But he deserted at the first
      chance he got and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But that's very cowardly, isn't it&rdquo;&mdash;said Peter&mdash;&ldquo;to desert?
      Especially when it's war.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Do you think he owed anything to a country that had done THAT to him? If
      he did, he owed more to his wife and children. He didn't know what had
      become of them.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; cried Bobbie, &ldquo;he had THEM to think about and be miserable about
      TOO, then, all the time he was in prison?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, he had them to think about and be miserable about all the time he
      was in prison. For anything he knew they might have been sent to prison,
      too. They did those things in Russia. But while he was in the mines some
      friends managed to get a message to him that his wife and children had
      escaped and come to England. So when he deserted he came here to look for
      them.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Had he got their address?&rdquo; said practical Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No; just England. He was going to London, and he thought he had to change
      at our station, and then he found he'd lost his ticket and his purse.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, DO you think he'll find them?&mdash;I mean his wife and children, not
      the ticket and things.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I hope so. Oh, I hope and pray that he'll find his wife and children
      again.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Even Phyllis now perceived that mother's voice was very unsteady.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why, Mother,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;how very sorry you seem to be for him!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother didn't answer for a minute. Then she just said, &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; and then she
      seemed to be thinking. The children were quiet.
    </p>
    <p>
      Presently she said, &ldquo;Dears, when you say your prayers, I think you might
      ask God to show His pity upon all prisoners and captives.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;To show His pity,&rdquo; Bobbie repeated slowly, &ldquo;upon all prisoners and
      captives. Is that right, Mother?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;upon all prisoners and captives. All prisoners and
      captives.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter VI. Saviours of the train.
    </h2>
    <p>
      The Russian gentleman was better the next day, and the day after that
      better still, and on the third day he was well enough to come into the
      garden. A basket chair was put for him and he sat there, dressed in
      clothes of Father's which were too big for him. But when Mother had hemmed
      up the ends of the sleeves and the trousers, the clothes did well enough.
      His was a kind face now that it was no longer tired and frightened, and he
      smiled at the children whenever he saw them. They wished very much that he
      could speak English. Mother wrote several letters to people she thought
      might know whereabouts in England a Russian gentleman's wife and family
      might possibly be; not to the people she used to know before she came to
      live at Three Chimneys&mdash;she never wrote to any of them&mdash;but
      strange people&mdash;Members of Parliament and Editors of papers, and
      Secretaries of Societies.
    </p>
    <p>
      And she did not do much of her story-writing, only corrected proofs as she
      sat in the sun near the Russian, and talked to him every now and then.
    </p>
    <p>
      The children wanted very much to show how kindly they felt to this man who
      had been sent to prison and to Siberia just for writing a beautiful book
      about poor people. They could smile at him, of course; they could and they
      did. But if you smile too constantly, the smile is apt to get fixed like
      the smile of the hyaena. And then it no longer looks friendly, but simply
      silly. So they tried other ways, and brought him flowers till the place
      where he sat was surrounded by little fading bunches of clover and roses
      and Canterbury bells.
    </p>
    <p>
      And then Phyllis had an idea. She beckoned mysteriously to the others and
      drew them into the back yard, and there, in a concealed spot, between the
      pump and the water-butt, she said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You remember Perks promising me the very first strawberries out of his
      own garden?&rdquo; Perks, you will recollect, was the Porter. &ldquo;Well, I should
      think they're ripe now. Let's go down and see.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother had been down as she had promised to tell the Station Master the
      story of the Russian Prisoner. But even the charms of the railway had been
      unable to tear the children away from the neighbourhood of the interesting
      stranger. So they had not been to the station for three days.
    </p>
    <p>
      They went now.
    </p>
    <p>
      And, to their surprise and distress, were very coldly received by Perks.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;'Ighly honoured, I'm sure,&rdquo; he said when they peeped in at the door of
      the Porters' room. And he went on reading his newspaper.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was an uncomfortable silence.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, dear,&rdquo; said Bobbie, with a sigh, &ldquo;I do believe you're CROSS.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What, me? Not me!&rdquo; said Perks loftily; &ldquo;it ain't nothing to me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What AIN'T nothing to you?&rdquo; said Peter, too anxious and alarmed to change
      the form of words.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nothing ain't nothing. What 'appens either 'ere or elsewhere,&rdquo; said
      Perks; &ldquo;if you likes to 'ave your secrets, 'ave 'em and welcome. That's
      what I say.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The secret-chamber of each heart was rapidly examined during the pause
      that followed. Three heads were shaken.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We haven't got any secrets from YOU,&rdquo; said Bobbie at last.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Maybe you 'ave, and maybe you 'aven't,&rdquo; said Perks; &ldquo;it ain't nothing to
      me. And I wish you all a very good afternoon.&rdquo; He held up the paper
      between him and them and went on reading.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, DON'T!&rdquo; said Phyllis, in despair; &ldquo;this is truly dreadful! Whatever
      it is, do tell us.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We didn't mean to do it whatever it was.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      No answer. The paper was refolded and Perks began on another column.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look here,&rdquo; said Peter, suddenly, &ldquo;it's not fair. Even people who do
      crimes aren't punished without being told what it's for&mdash;as once they
      were in Russia.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know nothing about Russia.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, yes, you do, when Mother came down on purpose to tell you and Mr.
      Gills all about OUR Russian.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Can't you fancy it?&rdquo; said Perks, indignantly; &ldquo;don't you see 'im a-asking
      of me to step into 'is room and take a chair and listen to what 'er
      Ladyship 'as to say?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Do you mean to say you've not heard?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not so much as a breath. I did go so far as to put a question. And he
      shuts me up like a rat-trap. 'Affairs of State, Perks,' says he. But I did
      think one o' you would 'a' nipped down to tell me&mdash;you're here sharp
      enough when you want to get anything out of old Perks&rdquo;&mdash;Phyllis
      flushed purple as she thought of the strawberries&mdash;&ldquo;information about
      locomotives or signals or the likes,&rdquo; said Perks.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We didn't know you didn't know.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We thought Mother had told you.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Wewantedtotellyouonlywethoughtitwouldbestalenews.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The three spoke all at once.
    </p>
    <p>
      Perks said it was all very well, and still held up the paper. Then Phyllis
      suddenly snatched it away, and threw her arms round his neck.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, let's kiss and be friends,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;we'll say we're sorry first,
      if you like, but we didn't really know that you didn't know.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We are so sorry,&rdquo; said the others.
    </p>
    <p>
      And Perks at last consented to accept their apologies.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then they got him to come out and sit in the sun on the green Railway
      Bank, where the grass was quite hot to touch, and there, sometimes
      speaking one at a time, and sometimes all together, they told the Porter
      the story of the Russian Prisoner.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, I must say,&rdquo; said Perks; but he did not say it&mdash;whatever it
      was.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, it is pretty awful, isn't it?&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and I don't wonder you
      were curious about who the Russian was.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wasn't curious, not so much as interested,&rdquo; said the Porter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, I do think Mr. Gills might have told you about it. It was horrid of
      him.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't keep no down on 'im for that, Missie,&rdquo; said the Porter; &ldquo;cos why?
      I see 'is reasons. 'E wouldn't want to give away 'is own side with a tale
      like that 'ere. It ain't human nature. A man's got to stand up for his own
      side whatever they does. That's what it means by Party Politics. I should
      'a' done the same myself if that long-'aired chap 'ad 'a' been a Jap.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But the Japs didn't do cruel, wicked things like that,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;P'r'aps not,&rdquo; said Perks, cautiously; &ldquo;still you can't be sure with
      foreigners. My own belief is they're all tarred with the same brush.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then why were you on the side of the Japs?&rdquo; Peter asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, you see, you must take one side or the other. Same as with Liberals
      and Conservatives. The great thing is to take your side and then stick to
      it, whatever happens.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      A signal sounded.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There's the 3.14 up,&rdquo; said Perks. &ldquo;You lie low till she's through, and
      then we'll go up along to my place, and see if there's any of them
      strawberries ripe what I told you about.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If there are any ripe, and you DO give them to me,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;you
      won't mind if I give them to the poor Russian, will you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Perks narrowed his eyes and then raised his eyebrows.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;So it was them strawberries you come down for this afternoon, eh?&rdquo; said
      he.
    </p>
    <p>
      This was an awkward moment for Phyllis. To say &ldquo;yes&rdquo; would seem rude and
      greedy, and unkind to Perks. But she knew if she said &ldquo;no,&rdquo; she would not
      be pleased with herself afterwards. So&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;it was.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well done!&rdquo; said the Porter; &ldquo;speak the truth and shame the&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But we'd have come down the very next day if we'd known you hadn't heard
      the story,&rdquo; Phyllis added hastily.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I believe you, Missie,&rdquo; said Perks, and sprang across the line six feet
      in front of the advancing train.
    </p>
    <p>
      The girls hated to see him do this, but Peter liked it. It was so
      exciting.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Russian gentleman was so delighted with the strawberries that the
      three racked their brains to find some other surprise for him. But all the
      racking did not bring out any idea more novel than wild cherries. And this
      idea occurred to them next morning. They had seen the blossom on the trees
      in the spring, and they knew where to look for wild cherries now that
      cherry time was here. The trees grew all up and along the rocky face of
      the cliff out of which the mouth of the tunnel opened. There were all
      sorts of trees there, birches and beeches and baby oaks and hazels, and
      among them the cherry blossom had shone like snow and silver.
    </p>
    <p>
      The mouth of the tunnel was some way from Three Chimneys, so Mother let
      them take their lunch with them in a basket. And the basket would do to
      bring the cherries back in if they found any. She also lent them her
      silver watch so that they should not be late for tea. Peter's Waterbury
      had taken it into its head not to go since the day when Peter dropped it
      into the water-butt. And they started. When they got to the top of the
      cutting, they leaned over the fence and looked down to where the railway
      lines lay at the bottom of what, as Phyllis said, was exactly like a
      mountain gorge.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If it wasn't for the railway at the bottom, it would be as though the
      foot of man had never been there, wouldn't it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The sides of the cutting were of grey stone, very roughly hewn. Indeed,
      the top part of the cutting had been a little natural glen that had been
      cut deeper to bring it down to the level of the tunnel's mouth. Among the
      rocks, grass and flowers grew, and seeds dropped by birds in the crannies
      of the stone had taken root and grown into bushes and trees that overhung
      the cutting. Near the tunnel was a flight of steps leading down to the
      line&mdash;just wooden bars roughly fixed into the earth&mdash;a very
      steep and narrow way, more like a ladder than a stair.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We'd better get down,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;I'm sure the cherries would be quite
      easy to get at from the side of the steps. You remember it was there we
      picked the cherry blossoms that we put on the rabbit's grave.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So they went along the fence towards the little swing gate that is at the
      top of these steps. And they were almost at the gate when Bobbie said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hush. Stop! What's that?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That&rdquo; was a very odd noise indeed&mdash;a soft noise, but quite plainly
      to be heard through the sound of the wind in tree branches, and the hum
      and whir of the telegraph wires. It was a sort of rustling, whispering
      sound. As they listened it stopped, and then it began again.
    </p>
    <p>
      And this time it did not stop, but it grew louder and more rustling and
      rumbling.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look&rdquo;&mdash;cried Peter, suddenly&mdash;&ldquo;the tree over there!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The tree he pointed at was one of those that have rough grey leaves and
      white flowers. The berries, when they come, are bright scarlet, but if you
      pick them, they disappoint you by turning black before you get them home.
      And, as Peter pointed, the tree was moving&mdash;not just the way trees
      ought to move when the wind blows through them, but all in one piece, as
      though it were a live creature and were walking down the side of the
      cutting.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's moving!&rdquo; cried Bobbie. &ldquo;Oh, look! and so are the others. It's like
      the woods in Macbeth.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's magic,&rdquo; said Phyllis, breathlessly. &ldquo;I always knew this railway was
      enchanted.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It really did seem a little like magic. For all the trees for about twenty
      yards of the opposite bank seemed to be slowly walking down towards the
      railway line, the tree with the grey leaves bringing up the rear like some
      old shepherd driving a flock of green sheep.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What is it? Oh, what is it?&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;it's much too magic for me. I
      don't like it. Let's go home.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But Bobbie and Peter clung fast to the rail and watched breathlessly. And
      Phyllis made no movement towards going home by herself.
    </p>
    <p>
      The trees moved on and on. Some stones and loose earth fell down and
      rattled on the railway metals far below.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's ALL coming down,&rdquo; Peter tried to say, but he found there was hardly
      any voice to say it with. And, indeed, just as he spoke, the great rock,
      on the top of which the walking trees were, leaned slowly forward. The
      trees, ceasing to walk, stood still and shivered. Leaning with the rock,
      they seemed to hesitate a moment, and then rock and trees and grass and
      bushes, with a rushing sound, slipped right away from the face of the
      cutting and fell on the line with a blundering crash that could have been
      heard half a mile off. A cloud of dust rose up.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Peter, in awestruck tones, &ldquo;isn't it exactly like when coals
      come in?&mdash;if there wasn't any roof to the cellar and you could see
      down.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look what a great mound it's made!&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Peter, slowly. He was still leaning on the fence. &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; he
      said again, still more slowly.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then he stood upright.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The 11.29 down hasn't gone by yet. We must let them know at the station,
      or there'll be a most frightful accident.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's run,&rdquo; said Bobbie, and began.
    </p>
    <p>
      But Peter cried, &ldquo;Come back!&rdquo; and looked at Mother's watch. He was very
      prompt and businesslike, and his face looked whiter than they had ever
      seen it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No time,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;it's two miles away, and it's past eleven.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Couldn't we,&rdquo; suggested Phyllis, breathlessly, &ldquo;couldn't we climb up a
      telegraph post and do something to the wires?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We don't know how,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They do it in war,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;I know I've heard of it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They only CUT them, silly,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and that doesn't do any good.
      And we couldn't cut them even if we got up, and we couldn't get up. If we
      had anything red, we could get down on the line and wave it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But the train wouldn't see us till it got round the corner, and then it
      could see the mound just as well as us,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;better, because
      it's much bigger than us.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If we only had something red,&rdquo; Peter repeated, &ldquo;we could go round the
      corner and wave to the train.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We might wave, anyway.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They'd only think it was just US, as usual. We've waved so often before.
      Anyway, let's get down.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They got down the steep stairs. Bobbie was pale and shivering. Peter's
      face looked thinner than usual. Phyllis was red-faced and damp with
      anxiety.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, how hot I am!&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;and I thought it was going to be cold; I
      wish we hadn't put on our&mdash;&rdquo; she stopped short, and then ended in
      quite a different tone&mdash;&ldquo;our flannel petticoats.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie turned at the bottom of the stairs.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; she cried; &ldquo;THEY'RE red! Let's take them off.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They did, and with the petticoats rolled up under their arms, ran along
      the railway, skirting the newly fallen mound of stones and rock and earth,
      and bent, crushed, twisted trees. They ran at their best pace. Peter led,
      but the girls were not far behind. They reached the corner that hid the
      mound from the straight line of railway that ran half a mile without curve
      or corner.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Peter, taking hold of the largest flannel petticoat.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're not&rdquo;&mdash;Phyllis faltered&mdash;&ldquo;you're not going to TEAR them?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Shut up,&rdquo; said Peter, with brief sternness.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;tear them into little bits if you like. Don't you
      see, Phil, if we can't stop the train, there'll be a real live accident,
      with people KILLED. Oh, horrible! Here, Peter, you'll never tear it
      through the band!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She took the red flannel petticoat from him and tore it off an inch from
      the band. Then she tore the other in the same way.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There!&rdquo; said Peter, tearing in his turn. He divided each petticoat into
      three pieces. &ldquo;Now, we've got six flags.&rdquo; He looked at the watch again.
      &ldquo;And we've got seven minutes. We must have flagstaffs.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The knives given to boys are, for some odd reason, seldom of the kind of
      steel that keeps sharp. The young saplings had to be broken off. Two came
      up by the roots. The leaves were stripped from them.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We must cut holes in the flags, and run the sticks through the holes,&rdquo;
       said Peter. And the holes were cut. The knife was sharp enough to cut
      flannel with. Two of the flags were set up in heaps of loose stones
      between the sleepers of the down line. Then Phyllis and Roberta took each
      a flag, and stood ready to wave it as soon as the train came in sight.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I shall have the other two myself,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;because it was my idea
      to wave something red.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They're our petticoats, though,&rdquo; Phyllis was beginning, but Bobbie
      interrupted&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, what does it matter who waves what, if we can only save the train?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Perhaps Peter had not rightly calculated the number of minutes it would
      take the 11.29 to get from the station to the place where they were, or
      perhaps the train was late. Anyway, it seemed a very long time that they
      waited.
    </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis grew impatient. &ldquo;I expect the watch is wrong, and the train's gone
      by,&rdquo; said she.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter relaxed the heroic attitude he had chosen to show off his two flags.
      And Bobbie began to feel sick with suspense.
    </p>
    <p>
      It seemed to her that they had been standing there for hours and hours,
      holding those silly little red flannel flags that no one would ever
      notice. The train wouldn't care. It would go rushing by them and tear
      round the corner and go crashing into that awful mound. And everyone would
      be killed. Her hands grew very cold and trembled so that she could hardly
      hold the flag. And then came the distant rumble and hum of the metals, and
      a puff of white steam showed far away along the stretch of line.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Stand firm,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and wave like mad! When it gets to that big
      furze bush step back, but go on waving! Don't stand ON the line, Bobbie!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The train came rattling along very, very fast.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They don't see us! They won't see us! It's all no good!&rdquo; cried Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      The two little flags on the line swayed as the nearing train shook and
      loosened the heaps of loose stones that held them up. One of them slowly
      leaned over and fell on the line. Bobbie jumped forward and caught it up,
      and waved it; her hands did not tremble now.
    </p>
    <p>
      It seemed that the train came on as fast as ever. It was very near now.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Keep off the line, you silly cuckoo!&rdquo; said Peter, fiercely.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's no good,&rdquo; Bobbie said again.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Stand back!&rdquo; cried Peter, suddenly, and he dragged Phyllis back by the
      arm.
    </p>
    <p>
      But Bobbie cried, &ldquo;Not yet, not yet!&rdquo; and waved her two flags right over
      the line. The front of the engine looked black and enormous. Its voice was
      loud and harsh.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, stop, stop, stop!&rdquo; cried Bobbie. No one heard her. At least Peter and
      Phyllis didn't, for the oncoming rush of the train covered the sound of
      her voice with a mountain of sound. But afterwards she used to wonder
      whether the engine itself had not heard her. It seemed almost as though it
      had&mdash;for it slackened swiftly, slackened and stopped, not twenty
      yards from the place where Bobbie's two flags waved over the line. She saw
      the great black engine stop dead, but somehow she could not stop waving
      the flags. And when the driver and the fireman had got off the engine and
      Peter and Phyllis had gone to meet them and pour out their excited tale of
      the awful mound just round the corner, Bobbie still waved the flags but
      more and more feebly and jerkily.
    </p>
    <p>
      When the others turned towards her she was lying across the line with her
      hands flung forward and still gripping the sticks of the little red
      flannel flags.
    </p>
    <p>
      The engine-driver picked her up, carried her to the train, and laid her on
      the cushions of a first-class carriage.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Gone right off in a faint,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;poor little woman. And no wonder.
      I'll just 'ave a look at this 'ere mound of yours, and then we'll run you
      back to the station and get her seen to.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It was horrible to see Bobbie lying so white and quiet, with her lips
      blue, and parted.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I believe that's what people look like when they're dead,&rdquo; whispered
      Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;DON'T!&rdquo; said Peter, sharply.
    </p>
    <p>
      They sat by Bobbie on the blue cushions, and the train ran back. Before it
      reached their station Bobbie had sighed and opened her eyes, and rolled
      herself over and begun to cry. This cheered the others wonderfully. They
      had seen her cry before, but they had never seen her faint, nor anyone
      else, for the matter of that. They had not known what to do when she was
      fainting, but now she was only crying they could thump her on the back and
      tell her not to, just as they always did. And presently, when she stopped
      crying, they were able to laugh at her for being such a coward as to
      faint.
    </p>
    <p>
      When the station was reached, the three were the heroes of an agitated
      meeting on the platform.
    </p>
    <p>
      The praises they got for their &ldquo;prompt action,&rdquo; their &ldquo;common sense,&rdquo;
       their &ldquo;ingenuity,&rdquo; were enough to have turned anybody's head. Phyllis
      enjoyed herself thoroughly. She had never been a real heroine before, and
      the feeling was delicious. Peter's ears got very red. Yet he, too, enjoyed
      himself. Only Bobbie wished they all wouldn't. She wanted to get away.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You'll hear from the Company about this, I expect,&rdquo; said the Station
      Master.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie wished she might never hear of it again. She pulled at Peter's
      jacket.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, come away, come away! I want to go home,&rdquo; she said.
    </p>
    <p>
      So they went. And as they went Station Master and Porter and guards and
      driver and fireman and passengers sent up a cheer.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, listen,&rdquo; cried Phyllis; &ldquo;that's for US!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;I say, I am glad I thought about something red, and
      waving it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How lucky we DID put on our red flannel petticoats!&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie said nothing. She was thinking of the horrible mound, and the
      trustful train rushing towards it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And it was US that saved them,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How dreadful if they had all been killed!&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;wouldn't it,
      Bobbie?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We never got any cherries, after all,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      The others thought her rather heartless.
    </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter VII. For valour.
    </h2>
    <p>
      I hope you don't mind my telling you a good deal about Roberta. The fact
      is I am growing very fond of her. The more I observe her the more I love
      her. And I notice all sorts of things about her that I like.
    </p>
    <p>
      For instance, she was quite oddly anxious to make other people happy. And
      she could keep a secret, a tolerably rare accomplishment. Also she had the
      power of silent sympathy. That sounds rather dull, I know, but it's not so
      dull as it sounds. It just means that a person is able to know that you
      are unhappy, and to love you extra on that account, without bothering you
      by telling you all the time how sorry she is for you. That was what Bobbie
      was like. She knew that Mother was unhappy&mdash;and that Mother had not
      told her the reason. So she just loved Mother more and never said a single
      word that could let Mother know how earnestly her little girl wondered
      what Mother was unhappy about. This needs practice. It is not so easy as
      you might think.
    </p>
    <p>
      Whatever happened&mdash;and all sorts of nice, pleasant ordinary things
      happened&mdash;such as picnics, games, and buns for tea, Bobbie always had
      these thoughts at the back of her mind. &ldquo;Mother's unhappy. Why? I don't
      know. She doesn't want me to know. I won't try to find out. But she IS
      unhappy. Why? I don't know. She doesn't&mdash;&rdquo; and so on, repeating and
      repeating like a tune that you don't know the stopping part of.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Russian gentleman still took up a good deal of everybody's thoughts.
      All the editors and secretaries of Societies and Members of Parliament had
      answered Mother's letters as politely as they knew how; but none of them
      could tell where the wife and children of Mr. Szezcpansky would be likely
      to be. (Did I tell you that the Russian's very Russian name was that?)
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie had another quality which you will hear differently described by
      different people. Some of them call it interfering in other people's
      business&mdash;and some call it &ldquo;helping lame dogs over stiles,&rdquo; and some
      call it &ldquo;loving-kindness.&rdquo; It just means trying to help people.
    </p>
    <p>
      She racked her brains to think of some way of helping the Russian
      gentleman to find his wife and children. He had learned a few words of
      English now. He could say &ldquo;Good morning,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Good night,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Please,&rdquo;
       and &ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Pretty,&rdquo; when the children brought him flowers, and
      &ldquo;Ver' good,&rdquo; when they asked him how he had slept.
    </p>
    <p>
      The way he smiled when he &ldquo;said his English,&rdquo; was, Bobbie felt, &ldquo;just too
      sweet for anything.&rdquo; She used to think of his face because she fancied it
      would help her to some way of helping him. But it did not. Yet his being
      there cheered her because she saw that it made Mother happier.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;She likes to have someone to be good to, even beside us,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
      &ldquo;And I know she hated to let him have Father's clothes. But I suppose it
      'hurt nice,' or she wouldn't have.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      For many and many a night after the day when she and Peter and Phyllis had
      saved the train from wreck by waving their little red flannel flags,
      Bobbie used to wake screaming and shivering, seeing again that horrible
      mound, and the poor, dear trustful engine rushing on towards it&mdash;just
      thinking that it was doing its swift duty, and that everything was clear
      and safe. And then a warm thrill of pleasure used to run through her at
      the remembrance of how she and Peter and Phyllis and the red flannel
      petticoats had really saved everybody.
    </p>
    <p>
      One morning a letter came. It was addressed to Peter and Bobbie and
      Phyllis. They opened it with enthusiastic curiosity, for they did not
      often get letters.
    </p>
    <p>
      The letter said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Dear Sir, and Ladies,&mdash;It is proposed to make a small presentation
      to you, in commemoration of your prompt and courageous action in warning
      the train on the &mdash;- inst., and thus averting what must, humanly
      speaking, have been a terrible accident. The presentation will take place
      at the &mdash;- Station at three o'clock on the 30th inst., if this time
      and place will be convenient to you.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          &ldquo;Yours faithfully,

                    &ldquo;Jabez Inglewood.
&ldquo;Secretary, Great Northern and Southern Railway Co.&rdquo;
 </pre>
    <p>
      There never had been a prouder moment in the lives of the three children.
      They rushed to Mother with the letter, and she also felt proud and said
      so, and this made the children happier than ever.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But if the presentation is money, you must say, 'Thank you, but we'd
      rather not take it,'&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;I'll wash your Indian muslins at
      once,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;You must look tidy on an occasion like this.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Phil and I can wash them,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;if you'll iron them, Mother.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Washing is rather fun. I wonder whether you've ever done it? This
      particular washing took place in the back kitchen, which had a stone floor
      and a very big stone sink under its window.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's put the bath on the sink,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;then we can pretend we're
      out-of-doors washerwomen like Mother saw in France.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But they were washing in the cold river,&rdquo; said Peter, his hands in his
      pockets, &ldquo;not in hot water.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;This is a HOT river, then,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;lend a hand with the bath,
      there's a dear.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I should like to see a deer lending a hand,&rdquo; said Peter, but he lent his.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now to rub and scrub and scrub and rub,&rdquo; said Phyllis, hopping joyously
      about as Bobbie carefully carried the heavy kettle from the kitchen fire.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, no!&rdquo; said Bobbie, greatly shocked; &ldquo;you don't rub muslin. You put the
      boiled soap in the hot water and make it all frothy-lathery&mdash;and then
      you shake the muslin and squeeze it, ever so gently, and all the dirt
      comes out. It's only clumsy things like tablecloths and sheets that have
      to be rubbed.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The lilac and the Gloire de Dijon roses outside the window swayed in the
      soft breeze.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's a nice drying day&mdash;that's one thing,&rdquo; said Bobbie, feeling very
      grown up. &ldquo;Oh, I do wonder what wonderful feelings we shall have when we
      WEAR the Indian muslin dresses!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, so do I,&rdquo; said Phyllis, shaking and squeezing the muslin in quite a
      professional manner.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;NOW we squeeze out the soapy water. NO&mdash;we mustn't twist them&mdash;and
      then rinse them. I'll hold them while you and Peter empty the bath and get
      clean water.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;A presentation! That means presents,&rdquo; said Peter, as his sisters, having
      duly washed the pegs and wiped the line, hung up the dresses to dry.
      &ldquo;Whatever will it be?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It might be anything,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;what I've always wanted is a Baby
      elephant&mdash;but I suppose they wouldn't know that.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Suppose it was gold models of steam-engines?&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Or a big model of the scene of the prevented accident,&rdquo; suggested Peter,
      &ldquo;with a little model train, and dolls dressed like us and the
      engine-driver and fireman and passengers.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Do you LIKE,&rdquo; said Bobbie, doubtfully, drying her hands on the rough
      towel that hung on a roller at the back of the scullery door, &ldquo;do you LIKE
      us being rewarded for saving a train?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, I do,&rdquo; said Peter, downrightly; &ldquo;and don't you try to come it over
      us that you don't like it, too. Because I know you do.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie, doubtfully, &ldquo;I know I do. But oughtn't we to be
      satisfied with just having done it, and not ask for anything more?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who did ask for anything more, silly?&rdquo; said her brother; &ldquo;Victoria Cross
      soldiers don't ASK for it; but they're glad enough to get it all the same.
      Perhaps it'll be medals. Then, when I'm very old indeed, I shall show them
      to my grandchildren and say, 'We only did our duty,' and they'll be
      awfully proud of me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You have to be married,&rdquo; warned Phyllis, &ldquo;or you don't have any
      grandchildren.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I suppose I shall HAVE to be married some day,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;but it will
      be an awful bother having her round all the time. I'd like to marry a lady
      who had trances, and only woke up once or twice a year.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Just to say you were the light of her life and then go to sleep again.
      Yes. That wouldn't be bad,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;When <i>I</i> get married,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;I shall want him to want me to
      be awake all the time, so that I can hear him say how nice I am.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I think it would be nice,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;to marry someone very poor, and
      then you'd do all the work and he'd love you most frightfully, and see the
      blue wood smoke curling up among the trees from the domestic hearth as he
      came home from work every night. I say&mdash;we've got to answer that
      letter and say that the time and place WILL be convenient to us. There's
      the soap, Peter. WE'RE both as clean as clean. That pink box of writing
      paper you had on your birthday, Phil.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It took some time to arrange what should be said. Mother had gone back to
      her writing, and several sheets of pink paper with scalloped gilt edges
      and green four-leaved shamrocks in the corner were spoiled before the
      three had decided what to say. Then each made a copy and signed it with
      its own name.
    </p>
    <p>
      The threefold letter ran:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Dear Mr. Jabez Inglewood,&mdash;Thank you very much. We did not want to
      be rewarded but only to save the train, but we are glad you think so and
      thank you very much. The time and place you say will be quite convenient
      to us. Thank you very much.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          &ldquo;Your affecate little friend,&rdquo;
 </pre>
    <p>
      Then came the name, and after it:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;P.S. Thank you very much.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Washing is much easier than ironing,&rdquo; said Bobbie, taking the clean dry
      dresses off the line. &ldquo;I do love to see things come clean. Oh&mdash;I
      don't know how we shall wait till it's time to know what presentation
      they're going to present!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      When at last&mdash;it seemed a very long time after&mdash;it was THE day,
      the three children went down to the station at the proper time. And
      everything that happened was so odd that it seemed like a dream. The
      Station Master came out to meet them&mdash;in his best clothes, as Peter
      noticed at once&mdash;and led them into the waiting room where once they
      had played the advertisement game. It looked quite different now. A carpet
      had been put down&mdash;and there were pots of roses on the mantelpiece
      and on the window ledges&mdash;green branches stuck up, like holly and
      laurel are at Christmas, over the framed advertisement of Cook's Tours and
      the Beauties of Devon and the Paris Lyons Railway. There were quite a
      number of people there besides the Porter&mdash;two or three ladies in
      smart dresses, and quite a crowd of gentlemen in high hats and frock coats&mdash;besides
      everybody who belonged to the station. They recognized several people who
      had been in the train on the red-flannel-petticoat day. Best of all their
      own old gentleman was there, and his coat and hat and collar seemed more
      than ever different from anyone else's. He shook hands with them and then
      everybody sat down on chairs, and a gentleman in spectacles&mdash;they
      found out afterwards that he was the District Superintendent&mdash;began
      quite a long speech&mdash;very clever indeed. I am not going to write the
      speech down. First, because you would think it dull; and secondly, because
      it made all the children blush so, and get so hot about the ears that I am
      quite anxious to get away from this part of the subject; and thirdly,
      because the gentleman took so many words to say what he had to say that I
      really haven't time to write them down. He said all sorts of nice things
      about the children's bravery and presence of mind, and when he had done he
      sat down, and everyone who was there clapped and said, &ldquo;Hear, hear.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And then the old gentleman got up and said things, too. It was very like a
      prize-giving. And then he called the children one by one, by their names,
      and gave each of them a beautiful gold watch and chain. And inside the
      watches were engraved after the name of the watch's new owner:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;From the Directors of the Northern and Southern Railway in grateful
      recognition of the courageous and prompt action which averted an accident
      on &mdash;- 1905.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The watches were the most beautiful you can possibly imagine, and each one
      had a blue leather case to live in when it was at home.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You must make a speech now and thank everyone for their kindness,&rdquo;
       whispered the Station Master in Peter's ear and pushed him forward. &ldquo;Begin
      'Ladies and Gentlemen,'&rdquo; he added.
    </p>
    <p>
      Each of the children had already said &ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; quite properly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, dear,&rdquo; said Peter, but he did not resist the push.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Ladies and Gentlemen,&rdquo; he said in a rather husky voice. Then there was a
      pause, and he heard his heart beating in his throat. &ldquo;Ladies and
      Gentlemen,&rdquo; he went on with a rush, &ldquo;it's most awfully good of you, and we
      shall treasure the watches all our lives&mdash;but really we don't deserve
      it because what we did wasn't anything, really. At least, I mean it was
      awfully exciting, and what I mean to say&mdash;thank you all very, very
      much.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The people clapped Peter more than they had done the District
      Superintendent, and then everybody shook hands with them, and as soon as
      politeness would let them, they got away, and tore up the hill to Three
      Chimneys with their watches in their hands.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was a wonderful day&mdash;the kind of day that very seldom happens to
      anybody and to most of us not at all.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I did want to talk to the old gentleman about something else,&rdquo; said
      Bobbie, &ldquo;but it was so public&mdash;like being in church.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What did you want to say?&rdquo; asked Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll tell you when I've thought about it more,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      So when she had thought a little more she wrote a letter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My dearest old gentleman,&rdquo; it said; &ldquo;I want most awfully to ask you
      something. If you could get out of the train and go by the next, it would
      do. I do not want you to give me anything. Mother says we ought not to.
      And besides, we do not want any THINGS. Only to talk to you about a
      Prisoner and Captive. Your loving little friend,
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          &ldquo;Bobbie.&rdquo;
 </pre>
    <p>
      She got the Station Master to give the letter to the old gentleman, and
      next day she asked Peter and Phyllis to come down to the station with her
      at the time when the train that brought the old gentleman from town would
      be passing through.
    </p>
    <p>
      She explained her idea to them&mdash;and they approved thoroughly.
    </p>
    <p>
      They had all washed their hands and faces, and brushed their hair, and
      were looking as tidy as they knew how. But Phyllis, always unlucky, had
      upset a jug of lemonade down the front of her dress. There was no time to
      change&mdash;and the wind happening to blow from the coal yard, her frock
      was soon powdered with grey, which stuck to the sticky lemonade stains and
      made her look, as Peter said, &ldquo;like any little gutter child.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It was decided that she should keep behind the others as much as possible.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perhaps the old gentleman won't notice,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;The aged are often
      weak in the eyes.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      There was no sign of weakness, however, in the eyes, or in any other part
      of the old gentleman, as he stepped from the train and looked up and down
      the platform.
    </p>
    <p>
      The three children, now that it came to the point, suddenly felt that rush
      of deep shyness which makes your ears red and hot, your hands warm and
      wet, and the tip of your nose pink and shiny.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;my heart's thumping like a steam-engine&mdash;right
      under my sash, too.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nonsense,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;people's hearts aren't under their sashes.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't care&mdash;mine is,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If you're going to talk like a poetry-book,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;my heart's in
      my mouth.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My heart's in my boots&mdash;if you come to that,&rdquo; said Roberta; &ldquo;but do
      come on&mdash;he'll think we're idiots.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He won't be far wrong,&rdquo; said Peter, gloomily. And they went forward to
      meet the old gentleman.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hullo,&rdquo; he said, shaking hands with them all in turn. &ldquo;This is a very
      great pleasure.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It WAS good of you to get out,&rdquo; Bobbie said, perspiring and polite.
    </p>
    <p>
      He took her arm and drew her into the waiting room where she and the
      others had played the advertisement game the day they found the Russian.
      Phyllis and Peter followed. &ldquo;Well?&rdquo; said the old gentleman, giving
      Bobbie's arm a kind little shake before he let it go. &ldquo;Well? What is it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, please!&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes?&rdquo; said the old gentleman.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What I mean to say&mdash;&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well?&rdquo; said the old gentleman.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's all very nice and kind,&rdquo; said she.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But?&rdquo; he said.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wish I might say something,&rdquo; she said.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Say it,&rdquo; said he.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, then,&rdquo; said Bobbie&mdash;and out came the story of the Russian who
      had written the beautiful book about poor people, and had been sent to
      prison and to Siberia for just that.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And what we want more than anything in the world is to find his wife and
      children for him,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;but we don't know how. But you must be
      most horribly clever, or you wouldn't be a Direction of the Railway. And
      if YOU knew how&mdash;and would? We'd rather have that than anything else
      in the world. We'd go without the watches, even, if you could sell them
      and find his wife with the money.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And the others said so, too, though not with so much enthusiasm.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hum,&rdquo; said the old gentleman, pulling down the white waistcoat that had
      the big gilt buttons on it, &ldquo;what did you say the name was&mdash;Fryingpansky?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, no,&rdquo; said Bobbie earnestly. &ldquo;I'll write it down for you. It doesn't
      really look at all like that except when you say it. Have you a bit of
      pencil and the back of an envelope?&rdquo; she asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      The old gentleman got out a gold pencil-case and a beautiful,
      sweet-smelling, green Russian leather note-book and opened it at a new
      page.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;write here.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She wrote down &ldquo;Szezcpansky,&rdquo; and said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's how you write it. You CALL it Shepansky.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The old gentleman took out a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles and fitted
      them on his nose. When he had read the name, he looked quite different.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;THAT man? Bless my soul!&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Why, I've read his book! It's
      translated into every European language. A fine book&mdash;a noble book.
      And so your mother took him in&mdash;like the good Samaritan. Well, well.
      I'll tell you what, youngsters&mdash;your mother must be a very good
      woman.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course she is,&rdquo; said Phyllis, in astonishment.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And you're a very good man,&rdquo; said Bobbie, very shy, but firmly resolved
      to be polite.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You flatter me,&rdquo; said the old gentleman, taking off his hat with a
      flourish. &ldquo;And now am I to tell you what I think of you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, please don't,&rdquo; said Bobbie, hastily.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why?&rdquo; asked the old gentleman.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't exactly know,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Only&mdash;if it's horrid, I don't
      want you to; and if it's nice, I'd rather you didn't.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The old gentleman laughed.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, then,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I'll only just say that I'm very glad you came to
      me about this&mdash;very glad, indeed. And I shouldn't be surprised if I
      found out something very soon. I know a great many Russians in London, and
      every Russian knows HIS name. Now tell me all about yourselves.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He turned to the others, but there was only one other, and that was Peter.
      Phyllis had disappeared.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Tell me all about yourself,&rdquo; said the old gentleman again. And, quite
      naturally, Peter was stricken dumb.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;All right, we'll have an examination,&rdquo; said the old gentleman; &ldquo;you two
      sit on the table, and I'll sit on the bench and ask questions.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He did, and out came their names and ages&mdash;their Father's name and
      business&mdash;how long they had lived at Three Chimneys and a great deal
      more.
    </p>
    <p>
      The questions were beginning to turn on a herring and a half for three
      halfpence, and a pound of lead and a pound of feathers, when the door of
      the waiting room was kicked open by a boot; as the boot entered everyone
      could see that its lace was coming undone&mdash;and in came Phyllis, very
      slowly and carefully.
    </p>
    <p>
      In one hand she carried a large tin can, and in the other a thick slice of
      bread and butter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Afternoon tea,&rdquo; she announced proudly, and held the can and the bread and
      butter out to the old gentleman, who took them and said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Bless my soul!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's very thoughtful of you,&rdquo; said the old gentleman, &ldquo;very.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But you might have got a cup,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;and a plate.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perks always drinks out of the can,&rdquo; said Phyllis, flushing red. &ldquo;I think
      it was very nice of him to give it me at all&mdash;let alone cups and
      plates,&rdquo; she added.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;So do I,&rdquo; said the old gentleman, and he drank some of the tea and tasted
      the bread and butter.
    </p>
    <p>
      And then it was time for the next train, and he got into it with many
      good-byes and kind last words.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Peter, when they were left on the platform, and the
      tail-lights of the train disappeared round the corner, &ldquo;it's my belief
      that we've lighted a candle to-day&mdash;like Latimer, you know, when he
      was being burned&mdash;and there'll be fireworks for our Russian before
      long.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And so there were.
    </p>
    <p>
      It wasn't ten days after the interview in the waiting room that the three
      children were sitting on the top of the biggest rock in the field below
      their house watching the 5.15 steam away from the station along the bottom
      of the valley. They saw, too, the few people who had got out at the
      station straggling up the road towards the village&mdash;and they saw one
      person leave the road and open the gate that led across the fields to
      Three Chimneys and to nowhere else.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who on earth!&rdquo; said Peter, scrambling down.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's go and see,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      So they did. And when they got near enough to see who the person was, they
      saw it was their old gentleman himself, his brass buttons winking in the
      afternoon sunshine, and his white waistcoat looking whiter than ever
      against the green of the field.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hullo!&rdquo; shouted the children, waving their hands.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hullo!&rdquo; shouted the old gentleman, waving his hat.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then the three started to run&mdash;and when they got to him they hardly
      had breath left to say:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How do you do?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Good news,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;I've found your Russian friend's wife and child&mdash;and
      I couldn't resist the temptation of giving myself the pleasure of telling
      him.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But as he looked at Bobbie's face he felt that he COULD resist that
      temptation.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here,&rdquo; he said to her, &ldquo;you run on and tell him. The other two will show
      me the way.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie ran. But when she had breathlessly panted out the news to the
      Russian and Mother sitting in the quiet garden&mdash;when Mother's face
      had lighted up so beautifully, and she had said half a dozen quick French
      words to the Exile&mdash;Bobbie wished that she had NOT carried the news.
      For the Russian sprang up with a cry that made Bobbie's heart leap and
      then tremble&mdash;a cry of love and longing such as she had never heard.
      Then he took Mother's hand and kissed it gently and reverently&mdash;and
      then he sank down in his chair and covered his face with his hands and
      sobbed. Bobbie crept away. She did not want to see the others just then.
    </p>
    <p>
      But she was as gay as anybody when the endless French talking was over,
      when Peter had torn down to the village for buns and cakes, and the girls
      had got tea ready and taken it out into the garden.
    </p>
    <p>
      The old gentleman was most merry and delightful. He seemed to be able to
      talk in French and English almost at the same moment, and Mother did
      nearly as well. It was a delightful time. Mother seemed as if she could
      not make enough fuss about the old gentleman, and she said yes at once
      when he asked if he might present some &ldquo;goodies&rdquo; to his little friends.
    </p>
    <p>
      The word was new to the children&mdash;but they guessed that it meant
      sweets, for the three large pink and green boxes, tied with green ribbon,
      which he took out of his bag, held unheard-of layers of beautiful
      chocolates.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Russian's few belongings were packed, and they all saw him off at the
      station.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then Mother turned to the old gentleman and said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know how to thank you for EVERYTHING. It has been a real pleasure
      to me to see you. But we live very quietly. I am so sorry that I can't ask
      you to come and see us again.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The children thought this very hard. When they HAD made a friend&mdash;and
      such a friend&mdash;they would dearly have liked him to come and see them
      again.
    </p>
    <p>
      What the old gentleman thought they couldn't tell. He only said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I consider myself very fortunate, Madam, to have been received once at
      your house.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Ah,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;I know I must seem surly and ungrateful&mdash;but&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You could never seem anything but a most charming and gracious lady,&rdquo;
       said the old gentleman, with another of his bows.
    </p>
    <p>
      And as they turned to go up the hill, Bobbie saw her Mother's face.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How tired you look, Mammy,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;lean on me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's my place to give Mother my arm,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;I'm the head man of
      the family when Father's away.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother took an arm of each.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How awfully nice,&rdquo; said Phyllis, skipping joyfully, &ldquo;to think of the dear
      Russian embracing his long-lost wife. The baby must have grown a lot since
      he saw it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wonder whether Father will think I'VE grown,&rdquo; Phyllis went on, skipping
      still more gaily. &ldquo;I have grown already, haven't I, Mother?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;oh, yes,&rdquo; and Bobbie and Peter felt her hands tighten
      on their arms.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Poor old Mammy, you ARE tired,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie said, &ldquo;Come on, Phil; I'll race you to the gate.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And she started the race, though she hated doing it. YOU know why Bobbie
      did that. Mother only thought that Bobbie was tired of walking slowly.
      Even Mothers, who love you better than anyone else ever will, don't always
      understand.
    </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter VIII. The amateur firemen.
    </h2>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's a likely little brooch you've got on, Miss,&rdquo; said Perks the
      Porter; &ldquo;I don't know as ever I see a thing more like a buttercup without
      it WAS a buttercup.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie, glad and flushed by this approval. &ldquo;I always thought
      it was more like a buttercup almost than even a real one&mdash;and I NEVER
      thought it would come to be mine, my very own&mdash;and then Mother gave
      it to me for my birthday.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, have you had a birthday?&rdquo; said Perks; and he seemed quite surprised,
      as though a birthday were a thing only granted to a favoured few.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;when's your birthday, Mr. Perks?&rdquo; The children were
      taking tea with Mr. Perks in the Porters' room among the lamps and the
      railway almanacs. They had brought their own cups and some jam turnovers.
      Mr. Perks made tea in a beer can, as usual, and everyone felt very happy
      and confidential.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My birthday?&rdquo; said Perks, tipping some more dark brown tea out of the can
      into Peter's cup. &ldquo;I give up keeping of my birthday afore you was born.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But you must have been born SOMETIME, you know,&rdquo; said Phyllis,
      thoughtfully, &ldquo;even if it was twenty years ago&mdash;or thirty or sixty or
      seventy.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not so long as that, Missie,&rdquo; Perks grinned as he answered. &ldquo;If you
      really want to know, it was thirty-two years ago, come the fifteenth of
      this month.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then why don't you keep it?&rdquo; asked Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I've got something else to keep besides birthdays,&rdquo; said Perks, briefly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh! What?&rdquo; asked Phyllis, eagerly. &ldquo;Not secrets?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Perks, &ldquo;the kids and the Missus.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It was this talk that set the children thinking, and, presently, talking.
      Perks was, on the whole, the dearest friend they had made. Not so grand as
      the Station Master, but more approachable&mdash;less powerful than the old
      gentleman, but more confidential.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It seems horrid that nobody keeps his birthday,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Couldn't
      WE do something?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's go up to the Canal bridge and talk it over,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;I got a
      new gut line from the postman this morning. He gave it me for a bunch of
      roses that I gave him for his sweetheart. She's ill.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then I do think you might have given her the roses for nothing,&rdquo; said
      Bobbie, indignantly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nyang, nyang!&rdquo; said Peter, disagreeably, and put his hands in his
      pockets.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He did, of course,&rdquo; said Phyllis, in haste; &ldquo;directly we heard she was
      ill we got the roses ready and waited by the gate. It was when you were
      making the brekker-toast. And when he'd said 'Thank you' for the roses so
      many times&mdash;much more than he need have&mdash;he pulled out the line
      and gave it to Peter. It wasn't exchange. It was the grateful heart.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, I BEG your pardon, Peter,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;I AM so sorry.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't mention it,&rdquo; said Peter, grandly, &ldquo;I knew you would be.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So then they all went up to the Canal bridge. The idea was to fish from
      the bridge, but the line was not quite long enough.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Never mind,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Let's just stay here and look at things.
      Everything's so beautiful.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It was. The sun was setting in red splendour over the grey and purple
      hills, and the canal lay smooth and shiny in the shadow&mdash;no ripple
      broke its surface. It was like a grey satin ribbon between the dusky green
      silk of the meadows that were on each side of its banks.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's all right,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;but somehow I can always see how pretty
      things are much better when I've something to do. Let's get down on to the
      towpath and fish from there.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis and Bobbie remembered how the boys on the canal-boats had thrown
      coal at them, and they said so.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, nonsense,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;There aren't any boys here now. If there
      were, I'd fight them.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter's sisters were kind enough not to remind him how he had NOT fought
      the boys when coal had last been thrown. Instead they said, &ldquo;All right,
      then,&rdquo; and cautiously climbed down the steep bank to the towing-path. The
      line was carefully baited, and for half an hour they fished patiently and
      in vain. Not a single nibble came to nourish hope in their hearts.
    </p>
    <p>
      All eyes were intent on the sluggish waters that earnestly pretended they
      had never harboured a single minnow when a loud rough shout made them
      start.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hi!&rdquo; said the shout, in most disagreeable tones, &ldquo;get out of that, can't
      you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      An old white horse coming along the towing-path was within half a dozen
      yards of them. They sprang to their feet and hastily climbed up the bank.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We'll slip down again when they've gone by,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      But, alas, the barge, after the manner of barges, stopped under the
      bridge.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;She's going to anchor,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;just our luck!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The barge did not anchor, because an anchor is not part of a canal-boat's
      furniture, but she was moored with ropes fore and aft&mdash;and the ropes
      were made fast to the palings and to crowbars driven into the ground.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What you staring at?&rdquo; growled the Bargee, crossly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We weren't staring,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;we wouldn't be so rude.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Rude be blessed,&rdquo; said the man; &ldquo;get along with you!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Get along yourself,&rdquo; said Peter. He remembered what he had said about
      fighting boys, and, besides, he felt safe halfway up the bank. &ldquo;We've as
      much right here as anyone else.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, 'AVE you, indeed!&rdquo; said the man. &ldquo;We'll soon see about that.&rdquo; And he
      came across his deck and began to climb down the side of his barge.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, come away, Peter, come away!&rdquo; said Bobbie and Phyllis, in agonised
      unison.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not me,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;but YOU'D better.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The girls climbed to the top of the bank and stood ready to bolt for home
      as soon as they saw their brother out of danger. The way home lay all down
      hill. They knew that they all ran well. The Bargee did not look as if HE
      did. He was red-faced, heavy, and beefy.
    </p>
    <p>
      But as soon as his foot was on the towing-path the children saw that they
      had misjudged him.
    </p>
    <p>
      He made one spring up the bank and caught Peter by the leg, dragged him
      down&mdash;set him on his feet with a shake&mdash;took him by the ear&mdash;and
      said sternly:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now, then, what do you mean by it? Don't you know these 'ere waters is
      preserved? You ain't no right catching fish 'ere&mdash;not to say nothing
      of your precious cheek.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter was always proud afterwards when he remembered that, with the
      Bargee's furious fingers tightening on his ear, the Bargee's crimson
      countenance close to his own, the Bargee's hot breath on his neck, he had
      the courage to speak the truth.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I WASN'T catching fish,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's not YOUR fault, I'll be bound,&rdquo; said the man, giving Peter's ear a
      twist&mdash;not a hard one&mdash;but still a twist.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter could not say that it was. Bobbie and Phyllis had been holding on to
      the railings above and skipping with anxiety. Now suddenly Bobbie slipped
      through the railings and rushed down the bank towards Peter, so
      impetuously that Phyllis, following more temperately, felt certain that
      her sister's descent would end in the waters of the canal. And so it would
      have done if the Bargee hadn't let go of Peter's ear&mdash;and caught her
      in his jerseyed arm.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who are you a-shoving of?&rdquo; he said, setting her on her feet.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Bobbie, breathless, &ldquo;I'm not shoving anybody. At least, not on
      purpose. Please don't be cross with Peter. Of course, if it's your canal,
      we're sorry and we won't any more. But we didn't know it was yours.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Go along with you,&rdquo; said the Bargee.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, we will; indeed we will,&rdquo; said Bobbie, earnestly; &ldquo;but we do beg
      your pardon&mdash;and really we haven't caught a single fish. I'd tell you
      directly if we had, honour bright I would.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She held out her hands and Phyllis turned out her little empty pocket to
      show that really they hadn't any fish concealed about them.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the Bargee, more gently, &ldquo;cut along, then, and don't you do
      it again, that's all.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The children hurried up the bank.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Chuck us a coat, M'ria,&rdquo; shouted the man. And a red-haired woman in a
      green plaid shawl came out from the cabin door with a baby in her arms and
      threw a coat to him. He put it on, climbed the bank, and slouched along
      across the bridge towards the village.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You'll find me up at the 'Rose and Crown' when you've got the kid to
      sleep,&rdquo; he called to her from the bridge.
    </p>
    <p>
      When he was out of sight the children slowly returned. Peter insisted on
      this.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The canal may belong to him,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;though I don't believe it does.
      But the bridge is everybody's. Doctor Forrest told me it's public
      property. I'm not going to be bounced off the bridge by him or anyone
      else, so I tell you.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter's ear was still sore and so were his feelings.
    </p>
    <p>
      The girls followed him as gallant soldiers might follow the leader of a
      forlorn hope.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I do wish you wouldn't,&rdquo; was all they said.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Go home if you're afraid,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;leave me alone. I'M not afraid.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The sound of the man's footsteps died away along the quiet road. The peace
      of the evening was not broken by the notes of the sedge-warblers or by the
      voice of the woman in the barge, singing her baby to sleep. It was a sad
      song she sang. Something about Bill Bailey and how she wanted him to come
      home.
    </p>
    <p>
      The children stood leaning their arms on the parapet of the bridge; they
      were glad to be quiet for a few minutes because all three hearts were
      beating much more quickly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm not going to be driven away by any old bargeman, I'm not,&rdquo; said
      Peter, thickly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course not,&rdquo; Phyllis said soothingly; &ldquo;you didn't give in to him! So
      now we might go home, don't you think?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;NO,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      Nothing more was said till the woman got off the barge, climbed the bank,
      and came across the bridge.
    </p>
    <p>
      She hesitated, looking at the three backs of the children, then she said,
      &ldquo;Ahem.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter stayed as he was, but the girls looked round.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You mustn't take no notice of my Bill,&rdquo; said the woman; &ldquo;'is bark's
      worse'n 'is bite. Some of the kids down Farley way is fair terrors. It was
      them put 'is back up calling out about who ate the puppy-pie under Marlow
      bridge.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who DID?&rdquo; asked Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>I</i> dunno,&rdquo; said the woman. &ldquo;Nobody don't know! But somehow, and I
      don't know the why nor the wherefore of it, them words is p'ison to a
      barge-master. Don't you take no notice. 'E won't be back for two hours
      good. You might catch a power o' fish afore that. The light's good an'
      all,&rdquo; she added.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;You're very kind. Where's your baby?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Asleep in the cabin,&rdquo; said the woman. &ldquo;'E's all right. Never wakes afore
      twelve. Reg'lar as a church clock, 'e is.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm sorry,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;I would have liked to see him, close to.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And a finer you never did see, Miss, though I says it.&rdquo; The woman's face
      brightened as she spoke.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Aren't you afraid to leave it?&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Lor' love you, no,&rdquo; said the woman; &ldquo;who'd hurt a little thing like 'im?
      Besides, Spot's there. So long!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The woman went away.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Shall we go home?&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You can. I'm going to fish,&rdquo; said Peter briefly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I thought we came up here to talk about Perks's birthday,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perks's birthday'll keep.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So they got down on the towing-path again and Peter fished. He did not
      catch anything.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was almost quite dark, the girls were getting tired, and as Bobbie
      said, it was past bedtime, when suddenly Phyllis cried, &ldquo;What's that?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And she pointed to the canal boat. Smoke was coming from the chimney of
      the cabin, had indeed been curling softly into the soft evening air all
      the time&mdash;but now other wreaths of smoke were rising, and these were
      from the cabin door.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's on fire&mdash;that's all,&rdquo; said Peter, calmly. &ldquo;Serve him right.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh&mdash;how CAN you?&rdquo; cried Phyllis. &ldquo;Think of the poor dear dog.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The BABY!&rdquo; screamed Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      In an instant all three made for the barge.
    </p>
    <p>
      Her mooring ropes were slack, and the little breeze, hardly strong enough
      to be felt, had yet been strong enough to drift her stern against the
      bank. Bobbie was first&mdash;then came Peter, and it was Peter who slipped
      and fell. He went into the canal up to his neck, and his feet could not
      feel the bottom, but his arm was on the edge of the barge. Phyllis caught
      at his hair. It hurt, but it helped him to get out. Next minute he had
      leaped on to the barge, Phyllis following.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not you!&rdquo; he shouted to Bobbie; &ldquo;ME, because I'm wet.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He caught up with Bobbie at the cabin door, and flung her aside very
      roughly indeed; if they had been playing, such roughness would have made
      Bobbie weep with tears of rage and pain. Now, though he flung her on to
      the edge of the hold, so that her knee and her elbow were grazed and
      bruised, she only cried:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No&mdash;not you&mdash;ME,&rdquo; and struggled up again. But not quickly
      enough.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter had already gone down two of the cabin steps into the cloud of thick
      smoke. He stopped, remembered all he had ever heard of fires, pulled his
      soaked handkerchief out of his breast pocket and tied it over his mouth.
      As he pulled it out he said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's all right, hardly any fire at all.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And this, though he thought it was a lie, was rather good of Peter. It was
      meant to keep Bobbie from rushing after him into danger. Of course it
      didn't.
    </p>
    <p>
      The cabin glowed red. A paraffin lamp was burning calmly in an orange
      mist.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hi,&rdquo; said Peter, lifting the handkerchief from his mouth for a moment.
      &ldquo;Hi, Baby&mdash;where are you?&rdquo; He choked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, let ME go,&rdquo; cried Bobbie, close behind him. Peter pushed her back
      more roughly than before, and went on.
    </p>
    <p>
      Now what would have happened if the baby hadn't cried I don't know&mdash;but
      just at that moment it DID cry. Peter felt his way through the dark smoke,
      found something small and soft and warm and alive, picked it up and backed
      out, nearly tumbling over Bobbie who was close behind. A dog snapped at
      his leg&mdash;tried to bark, choked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I've got the kid,&rdquo; said Peter, tearing off the handkerchief and
      staggering on to the deck.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie caught at the place where the bark came from, and her hands met on
      the fat back of a smooth-haired dog. It turned and fastened its teeth on
      her hand, but very gently, as much as to say:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm bound to bark and bite if strangers come into my master's cabin, but
      I know you mean well, so I won't REALLY bite.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie dropped the dog.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;All right, old man. Good dog,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;Here&mdash;give me the baby,
      Peter; you're so wet you'll give it cold.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter was only too glad to hand over the strange little bundle that
      squirmed and whimpered in his arms.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Bobbie, quickly, &ldquo;you run straight to the 'Rose and Crown' and
      tell them. Phil and I will stay here with the precious. Hush, then, a
      dear, a duck, a darling! Go NOW, Peter! Run!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I can't run in these things,&rdquo; said Peter, firmly; &ldquo;they're as heavy as
      lead. I'll walk.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then I'LL run,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Get on the bank, Phil, and I'll hand you
      the dear.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The baby was carefully handed. Phyllis sat down on the bank and tried to
      hush the baby. Peter wrung the water from his sleeves and knickerbocker
      legs as well as he could, and it was Bobbie who ran like the wind across
      the bridge and up the long white quiet twilight road towards the 'Rose and
      Crown.'
    </p>
    <p>
      There is a nice old-fashioned room at the 'Rose and Crown; where Bargees
      and their wives sit of an evening drinking their supper beer, and toasting
      their supper cheese at a glowing basketful of coals that sticks out into
      the room under a great hooded chimney and is warmer and prettier and more
      comforting than any other fireplace <i>I</i> ever saw.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was a pleasant party of barge people round the fire. You might not
      have thought it pleasant, but they did; for they were all friends or
      acquaintances, and they liked the same sort of things, and talked the same
      sort of talk. This is the real secret of pleasant society. The Bargee
      Bill, whom the children had found so disagreeable, was considered
      excellent company by his mates. He was telling a tale of his own wrongs&mdash;always
      a thrilling subject. It was his barge he was speaking about.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And 'e sent down word 'paint her inside hout,' not namin' no colour, d'ye
      see? So I gets a lotter green paint and I paints her stem to stern, and I
      tell yer she looked A1. Then 'E comes along and 'e says, 'Wot yer paint
      'er all one colour for?' 'e says. And I says, says I, 'Cause I thought
      she'd look fust-rate,' says I, 'and I think so still.' An' he says, 'DEW
      yer? Then ye can just pay for the bloomin' paint yerself,' says he. An' I
      'ad to, too.&rdquo; A murmur of sympathy ran round the room. Breaking noisily in
      on it came Bobbie. She burst open the swing door&mdash;crying
      breathlessly:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Bill! I want Bill the Bargeman.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      There was a stupefied silence. Pots of beer were held in mid-air,
      paralysed on their way to thirsty mouths.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Bobbie, seeing the bargewoman and making for her. &ldquo;Your barge
      cabin's on fire. Go quickly.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The woman started to her feet, and put a big red hand to her waist, on the
      left side, where your heart seems to be when you are frightened or
      miserable.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Reginald Horace!&rdquo; she cried in a terrible voice; &ldquo;my Reginald Horace!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;if you mean the baby; got him out safe. Dog,
      too.&rdquo; She had no breath for more, except, &ldquo;Go on&mdash;it's all alight.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then she sank on the ale-house bench and tried to get that breath of
      relief after running which people call the 'second wind.' But she felt as
      though she would never breathe again.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bill the Bargee rose slowly and heavily. But his wife was a hundred yards
      up the road before he had quite understood what was the matter.
    </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis, shivering by the canal side, had hardly heard the quick
      approaching feet before the woman had flung herself on the railing, rolled
      down the bank, and snatched the baby from her.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't,&rdquo; said Phyllis, reproachfully; &ldquo;I'd just got him to sleep.&rdquo;
     </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          *          *          *          *          *          *
</pre>
    <p>
      Bill came up later talking in a language with which the children were
      wholly unfamiliar. He leaped on to the barge and dipped up pails of water.
      Peter helped him and they put out the fire. Phyllis, the bargewoman, and
      the baby&mdash;and presently Bobbie, too&mdash;cuddled together in a heap
      on the bank.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Lord help me, if it was me left anything as could catch alight,&rdquo; said the
      woman again and again.
    </p>
    <p>
      But it wasn't she. It was Bill the Bargeman, who had knocked his pipe out
      and the red ash had fallen on the hearth-rug and smouldered there and at
      last broken into flame. Though a stern man he was just. He did not blame
      his wife for what was his own fault, as many bargemen, and other men, too,
      would have done.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
         *          *          *          *          *          *
</pre>
    <p>
      Mother was half wild with anxiety when at last the three children turned
      up at Three Chimneys, all very wet by now, for Peter seemed to have come
      off on the others. But when she had disentangled the truth of what had
      happened from their mixed and incoherent narrative, she owned that they
      had done quite right, and could not possibly have done otherwise. Nor did
      she put any obstacles in the way of their accepting the cordial invitation
      with which the bargeman had parted from them.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Ye be here at seven to-morrow,&rdquo; he had said, &ldquo;and I'll take you the
      entire trip to Farley and back, so I will, and not a penny to pay.
      Nineteen locks!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They did not know what locks were; but they were at the bridge at seven,
      with bread and cheese and half a soda cake, and quite a quarter of a leg
      of mutton in a basket.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was a glorious day. The old white horse strained at the ropes, the
      barge glided smoothly and steadily through the still water. The sky was
      blue overhead. Mr. Bill was as nice as anyone could possibly be. No one
      would have thought that he could be the same man who had held Peter by the
      ear. As for Mrs. Bill, she had always been nice, as Bobbie said, and so
      had the baby, and even Spot, who might have bitten them quite badly if he
      had liked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It was simply ripping, Mother,&rdquo; said Peter, when they reached home very
      happy, very tired, and very dirty, &ldquo;right over that glorious aqueduct. And
      locks&mdash;you don't know what they're like. You sink into the ground and
      then, when you feel you're never going to stop going down, two great black
      gates open slowly, slowly&mdash;you go out, and there you are on the canal
      just like you were before.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I know,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;there are locks on the Thames. Father and I used
      to go on the river at Marlow before we were married.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And the dear, darling, ducky baby,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;it let me nurse it for
      ages and ages&mdash;and it WAS so good. Mother, I wish we had a baby to
      play with.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And everybody was so nice to us,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;everybody we met. And
      they say we may fish whenever we like. And Bill is going to show us the
      way next time he's in these parts. He says we don't know really.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He said YOU didn't know,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;but, Mother, he said he'd tell all
      the bargees up and down the canal that we were the real, right sort, and
      they were to treat us like good pals, as we were.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;So then I said,&rdquo; Phyllis interrupted, &ldquo;we'd always each wear a red ribbon
      when we went fishing by the canal, so they'd know it was US, and we were
      the real, right sort, and be nice to us!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;So you've made another lot of friends,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;first the railway
      and then the canal!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;I think everyone in the world is friends if you
      can only get them to see you don't want to be UN-friends.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perhaps you're right,&rdquo; said Mother; and she sighed. &ldquo;Come, Chicks. It's
      bedtime.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;Oh dear&mdash;and we went up there to talk about
      what we'd do for Perks's birthday. And we haven't talked a single thing
      about it!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No more we have,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;but Peter's saved Reginald Horace's life.
      I think that's about good enough for one evening.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Bobbie would have saved him if I hadn't knocked her down; twice I did,&rdquo;
       said Peter, loyally.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;So would I,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;if I'd known what to do.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;you've saved a little child's life. I do think that's
      enough for one evening. Oh, my darlings, thank God YOU'RE all safe!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter IX. The pride of Perks.
    </h2>
    <p>
      It was breakfast-time. Mother's face was very bright as she poured the
      milk and ladled out the porridge.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I've sold another story, Chickies,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;the one about the King of
      the Mussels, so there'll be buns for tea. You can go and get them as soon
      as they're baked. About eleven, isn't it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter, Phyllis, and Bobbie exchanged glances with each other, six glances
      in all. Then Bobbie said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mother, would you mind if we didn't have the buns for tea to-night, but
      on the fifteenth? That's next Thursday.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>I</i> don't mind when you have them, dear,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;but why?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Because it's Perks's birthday,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;he's thirty-two, and he
      says he doesn't keep his birthday any more, because he's got other things
      to keep&mdash;not rabbits or secrets&mdash;but the kids and the missus.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You mean his wife and children,&rdquo; said Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;it's the same thing, isn't it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And we thought we'd make a nice birthday for him. He's been so awfully
      jolly decent to us, you know, Mother,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and we agreed that
      next bun-day we'd ask you if we could.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But suppose there hadn't been a bun-day before the fifteenth?&rdquo; said
      Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, then, we meant to ask you to let us anti&mdash;antipate it, and go
      without when the bun-day came.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Anticipate,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;I see. Certainly. It would be nice to put his
      name on the buns with pink sugar, wouldn't it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perks,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;it's not a pretty name.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;His other name's Albert,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;I asked him once.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We might put A. P.,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;I'll show you how when the day comes.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      This was all very well as far as it went. But even fourteen halfpenny buns
      with A. P. on them in pink sugar do not of themselves make a very grand
      celebration.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There are always flowers, of course,&rdquo; said Bobbie, later, when a really
      earnest council was being held on the subject in the hay-loft where the
      broken chaff-cutting machine was, and the row of holes to drop hay through
      into the hay-racks over the mangers of the stables below.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He's got lots of flowers of his own,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But it's always nice to have them given you,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;however many
      you've got of your own. We can use flowers for trimmings to the birthday.
      But there must be something to trim besides buns.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's all be quiet and think,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;no one's to speak until
      it's thought of something.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So they were all quiet and so very still that a brown rat thought that
      there was no one in the loft and came out very boldly. When Bobbie
      sneezed, the rat was quite shocked and hurried away, for he saw that a
      hay-loft where such things could happen was no place for a respectable
      middle-aged rat that liked a quiet life.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hooray!&rdquo; cried Peter, suddenly, &ldquo;I've got it.&rdquo; He jumped up and kicked at
      the loose hay.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What?&rdquo; said the others, eagerly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why, Perks is so nice to everybody. There must be lots of people in the
      village who'd like to help to make him a birthday. Let's go round and ask
      everybody.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mother said we weren't to ask people for things,&rdquo; said Bobbie,
      doubtfully.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;For ourselves, she meant, silly, not for other people. I'll ask the old
      gentleman too. You see if I don't,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's ask Mother first,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, what's the use of bothering Mother about every little thing?&rdquo; said
      Peter, &ldquo;especially when she's busy. Come on. Let's go down to the village
      now and begin.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So they went. The old lady at the Post-office said she didn't see why
      Perks should have a birthday any more than anyone else.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;I should like everyone to have one. Only we know when
      his is.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mine's to-morrow,&rdquo; said the old lady, &ldquo;and much notice anyone will take
      of it. Go along with you.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So they went.
    </p>
    <p>
      And some people were kind, and some were crusty. And some would give and
      some would not. It is rather difficult work asking for things, even for
      other people, as you have no doubt found if you have ever tried it.
    </p>
    <p>
      When the children got home and counted up what had been given and what had
      been promised, they felt that for the first day it was not so bad. Peter
      wrote down the lists of the things in the little pocket-book where he kept
      the numbers of his engines. These were the lists:&mdash;
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     GIVEN.
     A tobacco pipe from the sweet shop.
     Half a pound of tea from the grocer's.
     A woollen scarf slightly faded from the draper's, which was the
         other side of the grocer's.
     A stuffed squirrel from the Doctor.

     PROMISED.
     A piece of meat from the butcher.
     Six fresh eggs from the woman who lived in the old turnpike cottage.
     A piece of honeycomb and six bootlaces from the cobbler, and an
         iron shovel from the blacksmith's.
</pre>
    <p>
      Very early next morning Bobbie got up and woke Phyllis. This had been
      agreed on between them. They had not told Peter because they thought he
      would think it silly. But they told him afterwards, when it had turned out
      all right.
    </p>
    <p>
      They cut a big bunch of roses, and put it in a basket with the needle-book
      that Phyllis had made for Bobbie on her birthday, and a very pretty blue
      necktie of Phyllis's. Then they wrote on a paper: 'For Mrs. Ransome, with
      our best love, because it is her birthday,' and they put the paper in the
      basket, and they took it to the Post-office, and went in and put it on the
      counter and ran away before the old woman at the Post-office had time to
      get into her shop.
    </p>
    <p>
      When they got home Peter had grown confidential over helping Mother to get
      the breakfast and had told her their plans.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There's no harm in it,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;but it depends HOW you do it. I
      only hope he won't be offended and think it's CHARITY. Poor people are
      very proud, you know.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It isn't because he's poor,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;it's because we're fond of
      him.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll find some things that Phyllis has outgrown,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;if you're
      quite sure you can give them to him without his being offended. I should
      like to do some little thing for him because he's been so kind to you. I
      can't do much because we're poor ourselves. What are you writing, Bobbie?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nothing particular,&rdquo; said Bobbie, who had suddenly begun to scribble.
      &ldquo;I'm sure he'd like the things, Mother.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The morning of the fifteenth was spent very happily in getting the buns
      and watching Mother make A. P. on them with pink sugar. You know how it's
      done, of course? You beat up whites of eggs and mix powdered sugar with
      them, and put in a few drops of cochineal. And then you make a cone of
      clean, white paper with a little hole at the pointed end, and put the pink
      egg-sugar in at the big end. It runs slowly out at the pointed end, and
      you write the letters with it just as though it were a great fat pen full
      of pink sugar-ink.
    </p>
    <p>
      The buns looked beautiful with A. P. on every one, and, when they were put
      in a cool oven to set the sugar, the children went up to the village to
      collect the honey and the shovel and the other promised things.
    </p>
    <p>
      The old lady at the Post-office was standing on her doorstep. The children
      said &ldquo;Good morning,&rdquo; politely, as they passed.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here, stop a bit,&rdquo; she said.
    </p>
    <p>
      So they stopped.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Those roses,&rdquo; said she.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Did you like them?&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;they were as fresh as fresh. <i>I</i>
      made the needle-book, but it was Bobbie's present.&rdquo; She skipped joyously
      as she spoke.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here's your basket,&rdquo; said the Post-office woman. She went in and brought
      out the basket. It was full of fat, red gooseberries.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I dare say Perks's children would like them,&rdquo; said she.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You ARE an old dear,&rdquo; said Phyllis, throwing her arms around the old
      lady's fat waist. &ldquo;Perks WILL be pleased.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He won't be half so pleased as I was with your needle-book and the tie
      and the pretty flowers and all,&rdquo; said the old lady, patting Phyllis's
      shoulder. &ldquo;You're good little souls, that you are. Look here. I've got a
      pram round the back in the wood-lodge. It was got for my Emmie's first,
      that didn't live but six months, and she never had but that one. I'd like
      Mrs. Perks to have it. It 'ud be a help to her with that great boy of
      hers. Will you take it along?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;OH!&rdquo; said all the children together.
    </p>
    <p>
      When Mrs. Ransome had got out the perambulator and taken off the careful
      papers that covered it, and dusted it all over, she said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, there it is. I don't know but what I'd have given it to her before
      if I'd thought of it. Only I didn't quite know if she'd accept of it from
      me. You tell her it was my Emmie's little one's pram&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, ISN'T it nice to think there is going to be a real live baby in it
      again!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ransome, sighing, and then laughing; &ldquo;here, I'll give you
      some peppermint cushions for the little ones, and then you run along
      before I give you the roof off my head and the clothes off my back.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      All the things that had been collected for Perks were packed into the
      perambulator, and at half-past three Peter and Bobbie and Phyllis wheeled
      it down to the little yellow house where Perks lived.
    </p>
    <p>
      The house was very tidy. On the window ledge was a jug of wild-flowers,
      big daisies, and red sorrel, and feathery, flowery grasses.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was a sound of splashing from the wash-house, and a partly washed
      boy put his head round the door.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mother's a-changing of herself,&rdquo; he said.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Down in a minute,&rdquo; a voice sounded down the narrow, freshly scrubbed
      stairs.
    </p>
    <p>
      The children waited. Next moment the stairs creaked and Mrs. Perks came
      down, buttoning her bodice. Her hair was brushed very smooth and tight,
      and her face shone with soap and water.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm a bit late changing, Miss,&rdquo; she said to Bobbie, &ldquo;owing to me having
      had a extry clean-up to-day, along o' Perks happening to name its being
      his birthday. I don't know what put it into his head to think of such a
      thing. We keeps the children's birthdays, of course; but him and me&mdash;we're
      too old for such like, as a general rule.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We knew it was his birthday,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and we've got some presents
      for him outside in the perambulator.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      As the presents were being unpacked, Mrs. Perks gasped. When they were all
      unpacked, she surprised and horrified the children by sitting suddenly
      down on a wooden chair and bursting into tears.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, don't!&rdquo; said everybody; &ldquo;oh, please don't!&rdquo; And Peter added, perhaps
      a little impatiently: &ldquo;What on earth is the matter? You don't mean to say
      you don't like it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mrs. Perks only sobbed. The Perks children, now as shiny-faced as anyone
      could wish, stood at the wash-house door, and scowled at the intruders.
      There was a silence, an awkward silence.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;DON'T you like it?&rdquo; said Peter, again, while his sisters patted Mrs.
      Perks on the back.
    </p>
    <p>
      She stopped crying as suddenly as she had begun.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There, there, don't you mind me. I'M all right!&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Like it? Why,
      it's a birthday such as Perks never 'ad, not even when 'e was a boy and
      stayed with his uncle, who was a corn chandler in his own account. He
      failed afterwards. Like it? Oh&mdash;&rdquo; and then she went on and said all
      sorts of things that I won't write down, because I am sure that Peter and
      Bobbie and Phyllis would not like me to. Their ears got hotter and hotter,
      and their faces redder and redder, at the kind things Mrs. Perks said.
      They felt they had done nothing to deserve all this praise.
    </p>
    <p>
      At last Peter said: &ldquo;Look here, we're glad you're pleased. But if you go
      on saying things like that, we must go home. And we did want to stay and
      see if Mr. Perks is pleased, too. But we can't stand this.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I won't say another single word,&rdquo; said Mrs. Perks, with a beaming face,
      &ldquo;but that needn't stop me thinking, need it? For if ever&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Can we have a plate for the buns?&rdquo; Bobbie asked abruptly. And then Mrs.
      Perks hastily laid the table for tea, and the buns and the honey and the
      gooseberries were displayed on plates, and the roses were put in two glass
      jam jars, and the tea-table looked, as Mrs. Perks said, &ldquo;fit for a
      Prince.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;To think!&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;me getting the place tidy early, and the little
      'uns getting the wild-flowers and all&mdash;when never did I think there'd
      be anything more for him except the ounce of his pet particular that I got
      o' Saturday and been saving up for 'im ever since. Bless us! 'e IS early!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Perks had indeed unlatched the latch of the little front gate.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; whispered Bobbie, &ldquo;let's hide in the back kitchen, and YOU tell him
      about it. But give him the tobacco first, because you got it for him. And
      when you've told him, we'll all come in and shout, 'Many happy returns!'&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It was a very nice plan, but it did not quite come off. To begin with,
      there was only just time for Peter and Bobbie and Phyllis to rush into the
      wash-house, pushing the young and open-mouthed Perks children in front of
      them. There was not time to shut the door, so that, without at all meaning
      it, they had to listen to what went on in the kitchen. The wash-house was
      a tight fit for the Perks children and the Three Chimneys children, as
      well as all the wash-house's proper furniture, including the mangle and
      the copper.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hullo, old woman!&rdquo; they heard Mr. Perks's voice say; &ldquo;here's a pretty
      set-out!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's your birthday tea, Bert,&rdquo; said Mrs. Perks, &ldquo;and here's a ounce of
      your extry particular. I got it o' Saturday along o' your happening to
      remember it was your birthday to-day.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Good old girl!&rdquo; said Mr. Perks, and there was a sound of a kiss.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But what's that pram doing here? And what's all these bundles? And where
      did you get the sweetstuff, and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The children did not hear what Mrs. Perks replied, because just then
      Bobbie gave a start, put her hand in her pocket, and all her body grew
      stiff with horror.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; she whispered to the others, &ldquo;whatever shall we do? I forgot to put
      the labels on any of the things! He won't know what's from who. He'll
      think it's all US, and that we're trying to be grand or charitable or
      something horrid.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hush!&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      And then they heard the voice of Mr. Perks, loud and rather angry.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't care,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;I won't stand it, and so I tell you straight.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But,&rdquo; said Mrs. Perks, &ldquo;it's them children you make such a fuss about&mdash;the
      children from the Three Chimneys.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't care,&rdquo; said Perks, firmly, &ldquo;not if it was a angel from Heaven.
      We've got on all right all these years and no favours asked. I'm not going
      to begin these sort of charity goings-on at my time of life, so don't you
      think it, Nell.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, hush!&rdquo; said poor Mrs Perks; &ldquo;Bert, shut your silly tongue, for
      goodness' sake. The all three of 'ems in the wash-house a-listening to
      every word you speaks.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then I'll give them something to listen to,&rdquo; said the angry Perks; &ldquo;I've
      spoke my mind to them afore now, and I'll do it again,&rdquo; he added, and he
      took two strides to the wash-house door, and flung it wide open&mdash;as
      wide, that is, as it would go, with the tightly packed children behind it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Come out,&rdquo; said Perks, &ldquo;come out and tell me what you mean by it. 'Ave I
      ever complained to you of being short, as you comes this charity lay over
      me?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;OH!&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;I thought you'd be so pleased; I'll never try to be
      kind to anyone else as long as I live. No, I won't, not never.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She burst into tears.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We didn't mean any harm,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It ain't what you means so much as what you does,&rdquo; said Perks.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, DON'T!&rdquo; cried Bobbie, trying hard to be braver than Phyllis, and to
      find more words than Peter had done for explaining in. &ldquo;We thought you'd
      love it. We always have things on our birthdays.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; said Perks, &ldquo;your own relations; that's different.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; Bobbie answered. &ldquo;NOT our own relations. All the servants always
      gave us things at home, and us to them when it was their birthdays. And
      when it was mine, and Mother gave me the brooch like a buttercup, Mrs.
      Viney gave me two lovely glass pots, and nobody thought she was coming the
      charity lay over us.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If it had been glass pots here,&rdquo; said Perks, &ldquo;I wouldn't ha' said so
      much. It's there being all this heaps and heaps of things I can't stand.
      No&mdash;nor won't, neither.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But they're not all from us&mdash;&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;only we forgot to put
      the labels on. They're from all sorts of people in the village.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who put 'em up to it, I'd like to know?&rdquo; asked Perks.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why, we did,&rdquo; sniffed Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      Perks sat down heavily in the elbow-chair and looked at them with what
      Bobbie afterwards described as withering glances of gloomy despair.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;So you've been round telling the neighbours we can't make both ends meet?
      Well, now you've disgraced us as deep as you can in the neighbourhood, you
      can just take the whole bag of tricks back w'ere it come from. Very much
      obliged, I'm sure. I don't doubt but what you meant it kind, but I'd
      rather not be acquainted with you any longer if it's all the same to you.&rdquo;
       He deliberately turned the chair round so that his back was turned to the
      children. The legs of the chair grated on the brick floor, and that was
      the only sound that broke the silence.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then suddenly Bobbie spoke.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look here,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;this is most awful.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's what I says,&rdquo; said Perks, not turning round.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look here,&rdquo; said Bobbie, desperately, &ldquo;we'll go if you like&mdash;and you
      needn't be friends with us any more if you don't want, but&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;WE shall always be friends with YOU, however nasty you are to us,&rdquo;
       sniffed Phyllis, wildly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Be quiet,&rdquo; said Peter, in a fierce aside.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But before we go,&rdquo; Bobbie went on desperately, &ldquo;do let us show you the
      labels we wrote to put on the things.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't want to see no labels,&rdquo; said Perks, &ldquo;except proper luggage ones
      in my own walk of life. Do you think I've kept respectable and outer debt
      on what I gets, and her having to take in washing, to be give away for a
      laughing-stock to all the neighbours?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Laughing?&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;you don't know.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're a very hasty gentleman,&rdquo; whined Phyllis; &ldquo;you know you were wrong
      once before, about us not telling you the secret about the Russian. Do let
      Bobbie tell you about the labels!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well. Go ahead!&rdquo; said Perks, grudgingly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, then,&rdquo; said Bobbie, fumbling miserably, yet not without hope, in
      her tightly stuffed pocket, &ldquo;we wrote down all the things everybody said
      when they gave us the things, with the people's names, because Mother said
      we ought to be careful&mdash;because&mdash;but I wrote down what she said&mdash;and
      you'll see.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But Bobbie could not read the labels just at once. She had to swallow once
      or twice before she could begin.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mrs. Perks had been crying steadily ever since her husband had opened the
      wash-house door. Now she caught her breath, choked, and said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't you upset yourself, Missy. <i>I</i> know you meant it kind if he
      doesn't.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;May I read the labels?&rdquo; said Bobbie, crying on to the slips as she tried
      to sort them. &ldquo;Mother's first. It says:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;'Little Clothes for Mrs. Perks's children.' Mother said, 'I'll find some
      of Phyllis's things that she's grown out of if you're quite sure Mr. Perks
      wouldn't be offended and think it's meant for charity. I'd like to do some
      little thing for him, because he's so kind to you. I can't do much because
      we're poor ourselves.'&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie paused.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's all right,&rdquo; said Perks, &ldquo;your Ma's a born lady. We'll keep the
      little frocks, and what not, Nell.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then there's the perambulator and the gooseberries, and the sweets,&rdquo; said
      Bobbie, &ldquo;they're from Mrs. Ransome. She said: 'I dare say Mr. Perks's
      children would like the sweets. And the perambulator was got for my
      Emmie's first&mdash;it didn't live but six months, and she's never had but
      that one. I'd like Mrs. Perks to have it. It would be a help with her fine
      boy. I'd have given it before if I'd been sure she'd accept of it from
      me.' She told me to tell you,&rdquo; Bobbie added, &ldquo;that it was her Emmie's
      little one's pram.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I can't send that pram back, Bert,&rdquo; said Mrs Perks, firmly, &ldquo;and I won't.
      So don't you ask me&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm not a-asking anything,&rdquo; said Perks, gruffly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then the shovel,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Mr. James made it for you himself. And he
      said&mdash;where is it? Oh, yes, here! He said, 'You tell Mr. Perks it's a
      pleasure to make a little trifle for a man as is so much respected,' and
      then he said he wished he could shoe your children and his own children,
      like they do the horses, because, well, he knew what shoe leather was.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;James is a good enough chap,&rdquo; said Perks.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then the honey,&rdquo; said Bobbie, in haste, &ldquo;and the boot-laces. HE said he
      respected a man that paid his way&mdash;and the butcher said the same. And
      the old turnpike woman said many was the time you'd lent her a hand with
      her garden when you were a lad&mdash;and things like that came home to
      roost&mdash;I don't know what she meant. And everybody who gave anything
      said they liked you, and it was a very good idea of ours; and nobody said
      anything about charity or anything horrid like that. And the old gentleman
      gave Peter a gold pound for you, and said you were a man who knew your
      work. And I thought you'd LOVE to know how fond people are of you, and I
      never was so unhappy in my life. Good-bye. I hope you'll forgive us some
      day&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She could say no more, and she turned to go.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Stop,&rdquo; said Perks, still with his back to them; &ldquo;I take back every word
      I've said contrary to what you'd wish. Nell, set on the kettle.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We'll take the things away if you're unhappy about them,&rdquo; said Peter;
      &ldquo;but I think everybody'll be most awfully disappointed, as well as us.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm not unhappy about them,&rdquo; said Perks; &ldquo;I don't know,&rdquo; he added,
      suddenly wheeling the chair round and showing a very odd-looking
      screwed-up face, &ldquo;I don't know as ever I was better pleased. Not so much
      with the presents&mdash;though they're an A1 collection&mdash;but the kind
      respect of our neighbours. That's worth having, eh, Nell?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I think it's all worth having,&rdquo; said Mrs. Perks, &ldquo;and you've made a most
      ridiculous fuss about nothing, Bert, if you ask me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, I ain't,&rdquo; said Perks, firmly; &ldquo;if a man didn't respect hisself, no
      one wouldn't do it for him.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But everyone respects you,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;they all said so.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I knew you'd like it when you really understood,&rdquo; said Phyllis, brightly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Humph! You'll stay to tea?&rdquo; said Mr. Perks.
    </p>
    <p>
      Later on Peter proposed Mr. Perks's health. And Mr. Perks proposed a
      toast, also honoured in tea, and the toast was, &ldquo;May the garland of
      friendship be ever green,&rdquo; which was much more poetical than anyone had
      expected from him.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          *          *          *          *          *          *
</pre>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Jolly good little kids, those,&rdquo; said Mr. Perks to his wife as they went
      to bed.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, they're all right, bless their hearts,&rdquo; said his wife; &ldquo;it's you
      that's the aggravatingest old thing that ever was. I was ashamed of you&mdash;I
      tell you&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You didn't need to be, old gal. I climbed down handsome soon as I
      understood it wasn't charity. But charity's what I never did abide, and
      won't neither.&rdquo;
     </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          *          *          *          *          *          *
</pre>
    <p>
      All sorts of people were made happy by that birthday party. Mr. Perks and
      Mrs. Perks and the little Perkses by all the nice things and by the kind
      thoughts of their neighbours; the Three Chimneys children by the success,
      undoubted though unexpectedly delayed, of their plan; and Mrs. Ransome
      every time she saw the fat Perks baby in the perambulator. Mrs. Perks made
      quite a round of visits to thank people for their kind birthday presents,
      and after each visit felt that she had a better friend than she had
      thought.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Perks, reflectively, &ldquo;it's not so much what you does as what
      you means; that's what I say. Now if it had been charity&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, drat charity,&rdquo; said Mrs. Perks; &ldquo;nobody won't offer you charity,
      Bert, however much you was to want it, I lay. That was just friendliness,
      that was.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      When the clergyman called on Mrs. Perks, she told him all about it. &ldquo;It
      WAS friendliness, wasn't it, Sir?&rdquo; said she.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I think,&rdquo; said the clergyman, &ldquo;it was what is sometimes called
      loving-kindness.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So you see it was all right in the end. But if one does that sort of
      thing, one has to be careful to do it in the right way. For, as Mr. Perks
      said, when he had time to think it over, it's not so much what you do, as
      what you mean.
    </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter X. The terrible secret.
    </h2>
    <p>
      When they first went to live at Three Chimneys, the children had talked a
      great deal about their Father, and had asked a great many questions about
      him, and what he was doing and where he was and when he would come home.
      Mother always answered their questions as well as she could. But as the
      time went on they grew to speak less of him. Bobbie had felt almost from
      the first that for some strange miserable reason these questions hurt
      Mother and made her sad. And little by little the others came to have this
      feeling, too, though they could not have put it into words.
    </p>
    <p>
      One day, when Mother was working so hard that she could not leave off even
      for ten minutes, Bobbie carried up her tea to the big bare room that they
      called Mother's workshop. It had hardly any furniture. Just a table and a
      chair and a rug. But always big pots of flowers on the window-sills and on
      the mantelpiece. The children saw to that. And from the three long
      uncurtained windows the beautiful stretch of meadow and moorland, the far
      violet of the hills, and the unchanging changefulness of cloud and sky.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here's your tea, Mother-love,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;do drink it while it's hot.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother laid down her pen among the pages that were scattered all over the
      table, pages covered with her writing, which was almost as plain as print,
      and much prettier. She ran her hands into her hair, as if she were going
      to pull it out by handfuls.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Poor dear head,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;does it ache?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No&mdash;yes&mdash;not much,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;Bobbie, do you think Peter
      and Phil are FORGETTING Father?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;NO,&rdquo; said Bobbie, indignantly. &ldquo;Why?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You none of you ever speak of him now.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie stood first on one leg and then on the other.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We often talk about him when we're by ourselves,&rdquo; she said.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But not to me,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;Why?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie did not find it easy to say why.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I&mdash;you&mdash;&rdquo; she said and stopped. She went over to the window and
      looked out.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Bobbie, come here,&rdquo; said her Mother, and Bobbie came.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Mother, putting her arm round Bobbie and laying her ruffled
      head against Bobbie's shoulder, &ldquo;try to tell me, dear.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie fidgeted.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Tell Mother.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, then,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;I thought you were so unhappy about Daddy not
      being here, it made you worse when I talked about him. So I stopped doing
      it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And the others?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know about the others,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;I never said anything about
      THAT to them. But I expect they felt the same about it as me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Bobbie dear,&rdquo; said Mother, still leaning her head against her, &ldquo;I'll tell
      you. Besides parting from Father, he and I have had a great sorrow&mdash;oh,
      terrible&mdash;worse than anything you can think of, and at first it did
      hurt to hear you all talking of him as if everything were just the same.
      But it would be much more terrible if you were to forget him. That would
      be worse than anything.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The trouble,&rdquo; said Bobbie, in a very little voice&mdash;&ldquo;I promised I
      would never ask you any questions, and I never have, have I? But&mdash;the
      trouble&mdash;it won't last always?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;the worst will be over when Father comes home to us.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wish I could comfort you,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, my dear, do you suppose you don't? Do you think I haven't noticed how
      good you've all been, not quarrelling nearly as much as you used to&mdash;and
      all the little kind things you do for me&mdash;the flowers, and cleaning
      my shoes, and tearing up to make my bed before I get time to do it
      myself?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie HAD sometimes wondered whether Mother noticed these things.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's nothing,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;to what&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I MUST get on with my work,&rdquo; said Mother, giving Bobbie one last squeeze.
      &ldquo;Don't say anything to the others.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      That evening in the hour before bed-time instead of reading to the
      children Mother told them stories of the games she and Father used to have
      when they were children and lived near each other in the country&mdash;tales
      of the adventures of Father with Mother's brothers when they were all boys
      together. Very funny stories they were, and the children laughed as they
      listened.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Uncle Edward died before he was grown up, didn't he?&rdquo; said Phyllis, as
      Mother lighted the bedroom candles.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, dear,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;you would have loved him. He was such a brave
      boy, and so adventurous. Always in mischief, and yet friends with
      everybody in spite of it. And your Uncle Reggie's in Ceylon&mdash;yes, and
      Father's away, too. But I think they'd all like to think we'd enjoyed
      talking about the things they used to do. Don't you think so?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not Uncle Edward,&rdquo; said Phyllis, in a shocked tone; &ldquo;he's in Heaven.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You don't suppose he's forgotten us and all the old times, because God
      has taken him, any more than I forget him. Oh, no, he remembers. He's only
      away for a little time. We shall see him some day.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And Uncle Reggie&mdash;and Father, too?&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;Uncle Reggie and Father, too. Good night, my
      darlings.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Good night,&rdquo; said everyone. Bobbie hugged her mother more closely even
      than usual, and whispered in her ear, &ldquo;Oh, I do love you so, Mummy&mdash;I
      do&mdash;I do&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      When Bobbie came to think it all over, she tried not to wonder what the
      great trouble was. But she could not always help it. Father was not dead&mdash;like
      poor Uncle Edward&mdash;Mother had said so. And he was not ill, or Mother
      would have been with him. Being poor wasn't the trouble. Bobbie knew it
      was something nearer the heart than money could be.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I mustn't try to think what it is,&rdquo; she told herself; &ldquo;no, I mustn't. I
      AM glad Mother noticed about us not quarrelling so much. We'll keep that
      up.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And alas, that very afternoon she and Peter had what Peter called a
      first-class shindy.
    </p>
    <p>
      They had not been a week at Three Chimneys before they had asked Mother to
      let them have a piece of garden each for their very own, and she had
      agreed, and the south border under the peach trees had been divided into
      three pieces and they were allowed to plant whatever they liked there.
    </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis had planted mignonette and nasturtium and Virginia Stock in hers.
      The seeds came up, and though they looked just like weeds, Phyllis
      believed that they would bear flowers some day. The Virginia Stock
      justified her faith quite soon, and her garden was gay with a band of
      bright little flowers, pink and white and red and mauve.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I can't weed for fear I pull up the wrong things,&rdquo; she used to say
      comfortably; &ldquo;it saves such a lot of work.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter sowed vegetable seeds in his&mdash;carrots and onions and turnips.
      The seed was given to him by the farmer who lived in the nice
      black-and-white, wood-and-plaster house just beyond the bridge. He kept
      turkeys and guinea fowls, and was a most amiable man. But Peter's
      vegetables never had much of a chance, because he liked to use the earth
      of his garden for digging canals, and making forts and earthworks for his
      toy soldiers. And the seeds of vegetables rarely come to much in a soil
      that is constantly disturbed for the purposes of war and irrigation.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie planted rose-bushes in her garden, but all the little new leaves of
      the rose-bushes shrivelled and withered, perhaps because she moved them
      from the other part of the garden in May, which is not at all the right
      time of year for moving roses. But she would not own that they were dead,
      and hoped on against hope, until the day when Perks came up to see the
      garden, and told her quite plainly that all her roses were as dead as
      doornails.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Only good for bonfires, Miss,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You just dig 'em up and burn
      'em, and I'll give you some nice fresh roots outer my garden; pansies, and
      stocks, and sweet willies, and forget-me-nots. I'll bring 'em along
      to-morrow if you get the ground ready.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So next day she set to work, and that happened to be the day when Mother
      had praised her and the others about not quarrelling. She moved the
      rose-bushes and carried them to the other end of the garden, where the
      rubbish heap was that they meant to make a bonfire of when Guy Fawkes' Day
      came.
    </p>
    <p>
      Meanwhile Peter had decided to flatten out all his forts and earthworks,
      with a view to making a model of the railway-tunnel, cutting, embankment,
      canal, aqueduct, bridges, and all.
    </p>
    <p>
      So when Bobbie came back from her last thorny journey with the dead
      rose-bushes, he had got the rake and was using it busily.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>I</i> was using the rake,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, I'm using it now,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But I had it first,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then it's my turn now,&rdquo; said Peter. And that was how the quarrel began.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're always being disagreeable about nothing,&rdquo; said Peter, after some
      heated argument.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I had the rake first,&rdquo; said Bobbie, flushed and defiant, holding on to
      its handle.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't&mdash;I tell you I said this morning I meant to have it. Didn't I,
      Phil?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis said she didn't want to be mixed up in their rows. And instantly,
      of course, she was.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If you remember, you ought to say.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course she doesn't remember&mdash;but she might say so.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wish I'd had a brother instead of two whiny little kiddy sisters,&rdquo; said
      Peter. This was always recognised as indicating the high-water mark of
      Peter's rage.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie made the reply she always made to it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I can't think why little boys were ever invented,&rdquo; and just as she said
      it she looked up, and saw the three long windows of Mother's workshop
      flashing in the red rays of the sun. The sight brought back those words of
      praise:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You don't quarrel like you used to do.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;OH!&rdquo; cried Bobbie, just as if she had been hit, or had caught her finger
      in a door, or had felt the hideous sharp beginnings of toothache.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What's the matter?&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie wanted to say: &ldquo;Don't let's quarrel. Mother hates it so,&rdquo; but
      though she tried hard, she couldn't. Peter was looking too disagreeable
      and insulting.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Take the horrid rake, then,&rdquo; was the best she could manage. And she
      suddenly let go her hold on the handle. Peter had been holding on to it
      too firmly and pullingly, and now that the pull the other way was suddenly
      stopped, he staggered and fell over backward, the teeth of the rake
      between his feet.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Serve you right,&rdquo; said Bobbie, before she could stop herself.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter lay still for half a moment&mdash;long enough to frighten Bobbie a
      little. Then he frightened her a little more, for he sat up&mdash;screamed
      once&mdash;turned rather pale, and then lay back and began to shriek,
      faintly but steadily. It sounded exactly like a pig being killed a quarter
      of a mile off.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother put her head out of the window, and it wasn't half a minute after
      that she was in the garden kneeling by the side of Peter, who never for an
      instant ceased to squeal.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What happened, Bobbie?&rdquo; Mother asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It was the rake,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;Peter was pulling at it, so was Bobbie,
      and she let go and he went over.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Stop that noise, Peter,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;Come. Stop at once.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter used up what breath he had left in a last squeal and stopped.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;are you hurt?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If he was really hurt, he wouldn't make such a fuss,&rdquo; said Bobbie, still
      trembling with fury; &ldquo;he's not a coward!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I think my foot's broken off, that's all,&rdquo; said Peter, huffily, and sat
      up. Then he turned quite white. Mother put her arm round him.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He IS hurt,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;he's fainted. Here, Bobbie, sit down and take his
      head on your lap.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then Mother undid Peter's boots. As she took the right one off, something
      dripped from his foot on to the ground. It was red blood. And when the
      stocking came off there were three red wounds in Peter's foot and ankle,
      where the teeth of the rake had bitten him, and his foot was covered with
      red smears.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Run for water&mdash;a basinful,&rdquo; said Mother, and Phyllis ran. She upset
      most of the water out of the basin in her haste, and had to fetch more in
      a jug.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter did not open his eyes again till Mother had tied her handkerchief
      round his foot, and she and Bobbie had carried him in and laid him on the
      brown wooden settle in the dining-room. By this time Phyllis was halfway
      to the Doctor's.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother sat by Peter and bathed his foot and talked to him, and Bobbie went
      out and got tea ready, and put on the kettle.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's all I can do,&rdquo; she told herself. &ldquo;Oh, suppose Peter should die, or
      be a helpless cripple for life, or have to walk with crutches, or wear a
      boot with a sole like a log of wood!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She stood by the back door reflecting on these gloomy possibilities, her
      eyes fixed on the water-butt.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wish I'd never been born,&rdquo; she said, and she said it out loud.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why, lawk a mercy, what's that for?&rdquo; asked a voice, and Perks stood
      before her with a wooden trug basket full of green-leaved things and soft,
      loose earth.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, it's you,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Peter's hurt his foot with a rake&mdash;three
      great gaping wounds, like soldiers get. And it was partly my fault.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That it wasn't, I'll go bail,&rdquo; said Perks. &ldquo;Doctor seen him?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Phyllis has gone for the Doctor.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He'll be all right; you see if he isn't,&rdquo; said Perks. &ldquo;Why, my father's
      second cousin had a hay-fork run into him, right into his inside, and he
      was right as ever in a few weeks, all except his being a bit weak in the
      head afterwards, and they did say that it was along of his getting a touch
      of the sun in the hay-field, and not the fork at all. I remember him well.
      A kind-'earted chap, but soft, as you might say.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie tried to let herself be cheered by this heartening reminiscence.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Perks, &ldquo;you won't want to be bothered with gardening just
      this minute, I dare say. You show me where your garden is, and I'll pop
      the bits of stuff in for you. And I'll hang about, if I may make so free,
      to see the Doctor as he comes out and hear what he says. You cheer up,
      Missie. I lay a pound he ain't hurt, not to speak of.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But he was. The Doctor came and looked at the foot and bandaged it
      beautifully, and said that Peter must not put it to the ground for at
      least a week.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He won't be lame, or have to wear crutches or a lump on his foot, will
      he?&rdquo; whispered Bobbie, breathlessly, at the door.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My aunt! No!&rdquo; said Dr. Forrest; &ldquo;he'll be as nimble as ever on his pins
      in a fortnight. Don't you worry, little Mother Goose.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      It was when Mother had gone to the gate with the Doctor to take his last
      instructions and Phyllis was filling the kettle for tea, that Peter and
      Bobbie found themselves alone.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He says you won't be lame or anything,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, course I shan't, silly,&rdquo; said Peter, very much relieved all the same.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, Peter, I AM so sorry,&rdquo; said Bobbie, after a pause.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's all right,&rdquo; said Peter, gruffly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It was ALL my fault,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Rot,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If we hadn't quarrelled, it wouldn't have happened. I knew it was wrong
      to quarrel. I wanted to say so, but somehow I couldn't.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't drivel,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;I shouldn't have stopped if you HAD said it.
      Not likely. And besides, us rowing hadn't anything to do with it. I might
      have caught my foot in the hoe, or taken off my fingers in the
      chaff-cutting machine or blown my nose off with fireworks. It would have
      been hurt just the same whether we'd been rowing or not.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But I knew it was wrong to quarrel,&rdquo; said Bobbie, in tears, &ldquo;and now
      you're hurt and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now look here,&rdquo; said Peter, firmly, &ldquo;you just dry up. If you're not
      careful, you'll turn into a beastly little Sunday-school prig, so I tell
      you.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't mean to be a prig. But it's so hard not to be when you're really
      trying to be good.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      (The Gentle Reader may perhaps have suffered from this difficulty.)
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not it,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;it's a jolly good thing it wasn't you was hurt. I'm
      glad it was ME. There! If it had been you, you'd have been lying on the
      sofa looking like a suffering angel and being the light of the anxious
      household and all that. And I couldn't have stood it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, I shouldn't,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, you would,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I tell you I shouldn't.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I tell you you would.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, children,&rdquo; said Mother's voice at the door. &ldquo;Quarrelling again?
      Already?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We aren't quarrelling&mdash;not really,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;I wish you wouldn't
      think it's rows every time we don't agree!&rdquo; When Mother had gone out
      again, Bobbie broke out:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Peter, I AM sorry you're hurt. But you ARE a beast to say I'm a prig.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Peter unexpectedly, &ldquo;perhaps I am. You did say I wasn't a
      coward, even when you were in such a wax. The only thing is&mdash;don't
      you be a prig, that's all. You keep your eyes open and if you feel
      priggishness coming on just stop in time. See?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;I see.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then let's call it Pax,&rdquo; said Peter, magnanimously: &ldquo;bury the hatchet in
      the fathoms of the past. Shake hands on it. I say, Bobbie, old chap, I am
      tired.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He was tired for many days after that, and the settle seemed hard and
      uncomfortable in spite of all the pillows and bolsters and soft folded
      rugs. It was terrible not to be able to go out. They moved the settle to
      the window, and from there Peter could see the smoke of the trains winding
      along the valley. But he could not see the trains.
    </p>
    <p>
      At first Bobbie found it quite hard to be as nice to him as she wanted to
      be, for fear he should think her priggish. But that soon wore off, and
      both she and Phyllis were, as he observed, jolly good sorts. Mother sat
      with him when his sisters were out. And the words, &ldquo;he's not a coward,&rdquo;
       made Peter determined not to make any fuss about the pain in his foot,
      though it was rather bad, especially at night.
    </p>
    <p>
      Praise helps people very much, sometimes.
    </p>
    <p>
      There were visitors, too. Mrs. Perks came up to ask how he was, and so did
      the Station Master, and several of the village people. But the time went
      slowly, slowly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I do wish there was something to read,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;I've read all our
      books fifty times over.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll go to the Doctor's,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;he's sure to have some.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Only about how to be ill, and about people's nasty insides, I expect,&rdquo;
       said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perks has a whole heap of Magazines that came out of trains when people
      are tired of them,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;I'll run down and ask him.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So the girls went their two ways.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie found Perks busy cleaning lamps.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And how's the young gent?&rdquo; said he.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Better, thanks,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;but he's most frightfully bored. I came to
      ask if you'd got any Magazines you could lend him.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There, now,&rdquo; said Perks, regretfully, rubbing his ear with a black and
      oily lump of cotton waste, &ldquo;why didn't I think of that, now? I was trying
      to think of something as 'ud amuse him only this morning, and I couldn't
      think of anything better than a guinea-pig. And a young chap I know's
      going to fetch that over for him this tea-time.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How lovely! A real live guinea! He will be pleased. But he'd like the
      Magazines as well.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's just it,&rdquo; said Perks. &ldquo;I've just sent the pick of 'em to Snigson's
      boy&mdash;him what's just getting over the pewmonia. But I've lots of
      illustrated papers left.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He turned to the pile of papers in the corner and took up a heap six
      inches thick.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There!&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I'll just slip a bit of string and a bit of paper round
      'em.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He pulled an old newspaper from the pile and spread it on the table, and
      made a neat parcel of it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;there's lots of pictures, and if he likes to mess 'em
      about with his paint-box, or coloured chalks or what not, why, let him. <i>I</i>
      don't want 'em.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're a dear,&rdquo; said Bobbie, took the parcel, and started. The papers
      were heavy, and when she had to wait at the level-crossing while a train
      went by, she rested the parcel on the top of the gate. And idly she looked
      at the printing on the paper that the parcel was wrapped in.
    </p>
    <p>
      Suddenly she clutched the parcel tighter and bent her head over it. It
      seemed like some horrible dream. She read on&mdash;the bottom of the
      column was torn off&mdash;she could read no farther.
    </p>
    <p>
      She never remembered how she got home. But she went on tiptoe to her room
      and locked the door. Then she undid the parcel and read that printed
      column again, sitting on the edge of her bed, her hands and feet icy cold
      and her face burning. When she had read all there was, she drew a long,
      uneven breath.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;So now I know,&rdquo; she said.
    </p>
    <p>
      What she had read was headed, 'End of the Trial. Verdict. Sentence.'
    </p>
    <p>
      The name of the man who had been tried was the name of her Father. The
      verdict was 'Guilty.' And the sentence was 'Five years' Penal Servitude.'
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, Daddy,&rdquo; she whispered, crushing the paper hard, &ldquo;it's not true&mdash;I
      don't believe it. You never did it! Never, never, never!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      There was a hammering on the door.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's me,&rdquo; said the voice of Phyllis; &ldquo;tea's ready, and a boy's brought
      Peter a guinea-pig. Come along down.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And Bobbie had to.
    </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter XI. The hound in the red jersey.
    </h2>
    <p>
      Bobbie knew the secret now. A sheet of old newspaper wrapped round a
      parcel&mdash;just a little chance like that&mdash;had given the secret to
      her. And she had to go down to tea and pretend that there was nothing the
      matter. The pretence was bravely made, but it wasn't very successful.
    </p>
    <p>
      For when she came in, everyone looked up from tea and saw her pink-lidded
      eyes and her pale face with red tear-blotches on it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My darling,&rdquo; cried Mother, jumping up from the tea-tray, &ldquo;whatever IS the
      matter?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My head aches, rather,&rdquo; said Bobbie. And indeed it did.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Has anything gone wrong?&rdquo; Mother asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm all right, really,&rdquo; said Bobbie, and she telegraphed to her Mother
      from her swollen eyes this brief, imploring message&mdash;&ldquo;NOT before the
      others!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Tea was not a cheerful meal. Peter was so distressed by the obvious fact
      that something horrid had happened to Bobbie that he limited his speech to
      repeating, &ldquo;More bread and butter, please,&rdquo; at startlingly short
      intervals. Phyllis stroked her sister's hand under the table to express
      sympathy, and knocked her cup over as she did it. Fetching a cloth and
      wiping up the spilt milk helped Bobbie a little. But she thought that tea
      would never end. Yet at last it did end, as all things do at last, and
      when Mother took out the tray, Bobbie followed her.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;She's gone to own up,&rdquo; said Phyllis to Peter; &ldquo;I wonder what she's done.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Broken something, I suppose,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;but she needn't be so silly
      over it. Mother never rows for accidents. Listen! Yes, they're going
      upstairs. She's taking Mother up to show her&mdash;the water-jug with
      storks on it, I expect it is.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie, in the kitchen, had caught hold of Mother's hand as she set down
      the tea-things.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; Mother asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      But Bobbie only said, &ldquo;Come upstairs, come up where nobody can hear us.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      When she had got Mother alone in her room she locked the door and then
      stood quite still, and quite without words.
    </p>
    <p>
      All through tea she had been thinking of what to say; she had decided that
      &ldquo;I know all,&rdquo; or &ldquo;All is known to me,&rdquo; or &ldquo;The terrible secret is a secret
      no longer,&rdquo; would be the proper thing. But now that she and her Mother and
      that awful sheet of newspaper were alone in the room together, she found
      that she could say nothing.
    </p>
    <p>
      Suddenly she went to Mother and put her arms round her and began to cry
      again. And still she could find no words, only, &ldquo;Oh, Mammy, oh, Mammy, oh,
      Mammy,&rdquo; over and over again.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother held her very close and waited.
    </p>
    <p>
      Suddenly Bobbie broke away from her and went to her bed. From under her
      mattress she pulled out the paper she had hidden there, and held it out,
      pointing to her Father's name with a finger that shook.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, Bobbie,&rdquo; Mother cried, when one little quick look had shown her what
      it was, &ldquo;you don't BELIEVE it? You don't believe Daddy did it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;NO,&rdquo; Bobbie almost shouted. She had stopped crying.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's all right,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;It's not true. And they've shut him up
      in prison, but he's done nothing wrong. He's good and noble and
      honourable, and he belongs to us. We have to think of that, and be proud
      of him, and wait.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Again Bobbie clung to her Mother, and again only one word came to her, but
      now that word was &ldquo;Daddy,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Oh, Daddy, oh, Daddy, oh, Daddy!&rdquo; again
      and again.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why didn't you tell me, Mammy?&rdquo; she asked presently.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Are you going to tell the others?&rdquo; Mother asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Because&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Exactly,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;so you understand why I didn't tell you. We two
      must help each other to be brave.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;Mother, will it make you more unhappy if you tell me
      all about it? I want to understand.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So then, sitting cuddled up close to her Mother, Bobbie heard &ldquo;all about
      it.&rdquo; She heard how those men, who had asked to see Father on that
      remembered last night when the Engine was being mended, had come to arrest
      him, charging him with selling State secrets to the Russians&mdash;with
      being, in fact, a spy and a traitor. She heard about the trial, and about
      the evidence&mdash;letters, found in Father's desk at the office, letters
      that convinced the jury that Father was guilty.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, how could they look at him and believe it!&rdquo; cried Bobbie; &ldquo;and how
      could ANY one do such a thing!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;SOMEONE did it,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;and all the evidence was against Father.
      Those letters&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes. How did the letters get into his desk?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Someone put them there. And the person who put them there was the person
      who was really guilty.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;HE must be feeling pretty awful all this time,&rdquo; said Bobbie,
      thoughtfully.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't believe he had any feelings,&rdquo; Mother said hotly; &ldquo;he couldn't
      have done a thing like that if he had.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perhaps he just shoved the letters into the desk to hide them when he
      thought he was going to be found out. Why don't you tell the lawyers, or
      someone, that it must have been that person? There wasn't anyone that
      would have hurt Father on purpose, was there?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know&mdash;I don't know. The man under him who got Daddy's place
      when he&mdash;when the awful thing happened&mdash;he was always jealous of
      your Father because Daddy was so clever and everyone thought such a lot of
      him. And Daddy never quite trusted that man.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Couldn't we explain all that to someone?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nobody will listen,&rdquo; said Mother, very bitterly, &ldquo;nobody at all. Do you
      suppose I've not tried everything? No, my dearest, there's nothing to be
      done. All we can do, you and I and Daddy, is to be brave, and patient, and&mdash;&rdquo;
       she spoke very softly&mdash;&ldquo;to pray, Bobbie, dear.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mother, you've got very thin,&rdquo; said Bobbie, abruptly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;A little, perhaps.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And oh,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;I do think you're the bravest person in the world
      as well as the nicest!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We won't talk of all this any more, will we, dear?&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;we must
      bear it and be brave. And, darling, try not to think of it. Try to be
      cheerful, and to amuse yourself and the others. It's much easier for me if
      you can be a little bit happy and enjoy things. Wash your poor little
      round face, and let's go out into the garden for a bit.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The other two were very gentle and kind to Bobbie. And they did not ask
      her what was the matter. This was Peter's idea, and he had drilled
      Phyllis, who would have asked a hundred questions if she had been left to
      herself.
    </p>
    <p>
      A week later Bobbie managed to get away alone. And once more she wrote a
      letter. And once more it was to the old gentleman.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My dear Friend,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you see what is in this paper. It is not
      true. Father never did it. Mother says someone put the papers in Father's
      desk, and she says the man under him that got Father's place afterwards
      was jealous of Father, and Father suspected him a long time. But nobody
      listens to a word she says, but you are so good and clever, and you found
      out about the Russian gentleman's wife directly. Can't you find out who
      did the treason because he wasn't Father upon my honour; he is an
      Englishman and uncapable to do such things, and then they would let Father
      out of prison. It is dreadful, and Mother is getting so thin. She told us
      once to pray for all prisoners and captives. I see now. Oh, do help me&mdash;there
      is only just Mother and me know, and we can't do anything. Peter and Phil
      don't know. I'll pray for you twice every day as long as I live if you'll
      only try&mdash;just try to find out. Think if it was YOUR Daddy, what you
      would feel. Oh, do, do, DO help me. With love
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
&ldquo;I remain Your affectionately little friend

&ldquo;Roberta.
</pre>
    <p>
      P.S. Mother would send her kind regards if she knew I am writing&mdash;but
      it is no use telling her I am, in case you can't do anything. But I know
      you will. Bobbie with best love.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She cut the account of her Father's trial out of the newspaper with
      Mother's big cutting-out scissors, and put it in the envelope with her
      letter.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then she took it down to the station, going out the back way and round by
      the road, so that the others should not see her and offer to come with
      her, and she gave the letter to the Station Master to give to the old
      gentleman next morning.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Where HAVE you been?&rdquo; shouted Peter, from the top of the yard wall where
      he and Phyllis were.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;To the station, of course,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;give us a hand, Pete.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She set her foot on the lock of the yard door. Peter reached down a hand.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What on earth?&rdquo; she asked as she reached the wall-top&mdash;for Phyllis
      and Peter were very muddy. A lump of wet clay lay between them on the
      wall, they had each a slip of slate in a very dirty hand, and behind
      Peter, out of the reach of accidents, were several strange rounded objects
      rather like very fat sausages, hollow, but closed up at one end.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's nests,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;swallows' nests. We're going to dry them in the
      oven and hang them up with string under the eaves of the coach-house.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;and then we're going to save up all the wool and
      hair we can get, and in the spring we'll line them, and then how pleased
      the swallows will be!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I've often thought people don't do nearly enough for dumb animals,&rdquo; said
      Peter with an air of virtue. &ldquo;I do think people might have thought of
      making nests for poor little swallows before this.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Bobbie, vaguely, &ldquo;if everybody thought of everything, there'd
      be nothing left for anybody else to think about.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look at the nests&mdash;aren't they pretty?&rdquo; said Phyllis, reaching
      across Peter to grasp a nest.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look out, Phil, you goat,&rdquo; said her brother. But it was too late; her
      strong little fingers had crushed the nest.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There now,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Never mind,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It IS one of my own,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;so you needn't jaw, Peter. Yes,
      we've put our initial names on the ones we've done, so that the swallows
      will know who they've got to be so grateful to and fond of.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Swallows can't read, silly,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Silly yourself,&rdquo; retorted Phyllis; &ldquo;how do you know?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who thought of making the nests, anyhow?&rdquo; shouted Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I did,&rdquo; screamed Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nya,&rdquo; rejoined Peter, &ldquo;you only thought of making hay ones and sticking
      them in the ivy for the sparrows, and they'd have been sopping LONG before
      egg-laying time. It was me said clay and swallows.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't care what you said.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;I've made the nest all right again. Give me the bit
      of stick to mark your initial name on it. But how can you? Your letter and
      Peter's are the same. P. for Peter, P. for Phyllis.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I put F. for Phyllis,&rdquo; said the child of that name. &ldquo;That's how it
      sounds. The swallows wouldn't spell Phyllis with a P., I'm certain-sure.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They can't spell at all,&rdquo; Peter was still insisting.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then why do you see them always on Christmas cards and valentines with
      letters round their necks? How would they know where to go if they
      couldn't read?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's only in pictures. You never saw one really with letters round its
      neck.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, I have a pigeon, then; at least Daddy told me they did. Only it was
      under their wings and not round their necks, but it comes to the same
      thing, and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say,&rdquo; interrupted Bobbie, &ldquo;there's to be a paperchase to-morrow.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who?&rdquo; Peter asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Grammar School. Perks thinks the hare will go along by the line at first.
      We might go along the cutting. You can see a long way from there.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The paperchase was found to be a more amusing subject of conversation than
      the reading powers of swallows. Bobbie had hoped it might be. And next
      morning Mother let them take their lunch and go out for the day to see the
      paperchase.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If we go to the cutting,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;we shall see the workmen, even if
      we miss the paperchase.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Of course it had taken some time to get the line clear from the rocks and
      earth and trees that had fallen on it when the great landslip happened.
      That was the occasion, you will remember, when the three children saved
      the train from being wrecked by waving six little red-flannel-petticoat
      flags. It is always interesting to watch people working, especially when
      they work with such interesting things as spades and picks and shovels and
      planks and barrows, when they have cindery red fires in iron pots with
      round holes in them, and red lamps hanging near the works at night. Of
      course the children were never out at night; but once, at dusk, when Peter
      had got out of his bedroom skylight on to the roof, he had seen the red
      lamp shining far away at the edge of the cutting. The children had often
      been down to watch the work, and this day the interest of picks and
      spades, and barrows being wheeled along planks, completely put the
      paperchase out of their heads, so that they quite jumped when a voice just
      behind them panted, &ldquo;Let me pass, please.&rdquo; It was the hare&mdash;a
      big-boned, loose-limbed boy, with dark hair lying flat on a very damp
      forehead. The bag of torn paper under his arm was fastened across one
      shoulder by a strap. The children stood back. The hare ran along the line,
      and the workmen leaned on their picks to watch him. He ran on steadily and
      disappeared into the mouth of the tunnel.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's against the by-laws,&rdquo; said the foreman.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why worry?&rdquo; said the oldest workman; &ldquo;live and let live's what I always
      say. Ain't you never been young yourself, Mr. Bates?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I ought to report him,&rdquo; said the foreman.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Why spoil sport's what I always say.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Passengers are forbidden to cross the line on any pretence,&rdquo; murmured the
      foreman, doubtfully.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He ain't no passenger,&rdquo; said one of the workmen.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nor 'e ain't crossed the line, not where we could see 'im do it,&rdquo; said
      another.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nor yet 'e ain't made no pretences,&rdquo; said a third.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And,&rdquo; said the oldest workman, &ldquo;'e's outer sight now. What the eye don't
      see the 'art needn't take no notice of's what I always say.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And now, following the track of the hare by the little white blots of
      scattered paper, came the hounds. There were thirty of them, and they all
      came down the steep, ladder-like steps by ones and twos and threes and
      sixes and sevens. Bobbie and Phyllis and Peter counted them as they
      passed. The foremost ones hesitated a moment at the foot of the ladder,
      then their eyes caught the gleam of scattered whiteness along the line and
      they turned towards the tunnel, and, by ones and twos and threes and sixes
      and sevens, disappeared in the dark mouth of it. The last one, in a red
      jersey, seemed to be extinguished by the darkness like a candle that is
      blown out.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They don't know what they're in for,&rdquo; said the foreman; &ldquo;it isn't so easy
      running in the dark. The tunnel takes two or three turns.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They'll take a long time to get through, you think?&rdquo; Peter asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;An hour or more, I shouldn't wonder.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then let's cut across the top and see them come out at the other end,&rdquo;
       said Peter; &ldquo;we shall get there long before they do.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The counsel seemed good, and they went.
    </p>
    <p>
      They climbed the steep steps from which they had picked the wild cherry
      blossom for the grave of the little wild rabbit, and reaching the top of
      the cutting, set their faces towards the hill through which the tunnel was
      cut. It was stiff work.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's like Alps,&rdquo; said Bobbie, breathlessly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Or Andes,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's like Himmy what's its names?&rdquo; gasped Phyllis. &ldquo;Mount Everlasting. Do
      let's stop.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Stick to it,&rdquo; panted Peter; &ldquo;you'll get your second wind in a minute.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis consented to stick to it&mdash;and on they went, running when the
      turf was smooth and the slope easy, climbing over stones, helping
      themselves up rocks by the branches of trees, creeping through narrow
      openings between tree trunks and rocks, and so on and on, up and up, till
      at last they stood on the very top of the hill where they had so often
      wished to be.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Halt!&rdquo; cried Peter, and threw himself flat on the grass. For the very top
      of the hill was a smooth, turfed table-land, dotted with mossy rocks and
      little mountain-ash trees.
    </p>
    <p>
      The girls also threw themselves down flat.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Plenty of time,&rdquo; Peter panted; &ldquo;the rest's all down hill.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      When they were rested enough to sit up and look round them, Bobbie cried:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, look!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What at?&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The view,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I hate views,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;don't you, Peter?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's get on,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But this isn't like a view they take you to in carriages when you're at
      the seaside, all sea and sand and bare hills. It's like the 'coloured
      counties' in one of Mother's poetry books.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's not so dusty,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;look at the Aqueduct straddling slap
      across the valley like a giant centipede, and then the towns sticking
      their church spires up out of the trees like pens out of an inkstand. <i>I</i>
      think it's more like
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     &ldquo;There could he see the banners
      Of twelve fair cities shine.&rdquo;
 </pre>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I love it,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;it's worth the climb.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The paperchase is worth the climb,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;if we don't lose it.
      Let's get on. It's all down hill now.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>I</i> said that ten minutes ago,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, I'VE said it now,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;come on.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Loads of time,&rdquo; said Peter. And there was. For when they had got down to
      a level with the top of the tunnel's mouth&mdash;they were a couple of
      hundred yards out of their reckoning and had to creep along the face of
      the hill&mdash;there was no sign of the hare or the hounds.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They've gone long ago, of course,&rdquo; said Phyllis, as they leaned on the
      brick parapet above the tunnel.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't think so,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;but even if they had, it's ripping here,
      and we shall see the trains come out of the tunnel like dragons out of
      lairs. We've never seen that from the top side before.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No more we have,&rdquo; said Phyllis, partially appeased.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was really a most exciting place to be in. The top of the tunnel seemed
      ever so much farther from the line than they had expected, and it was like
      being on a bridge, but a bridge overgrown with bushes and creepers and
      grass and wild-flowers.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I KNOW the paperchase has gone long ago,&rdquo; said Phyllis every two minutes,
      and she hardly knew whether she was pleased or disappointed when Peter,
      leaning over the parapet, suddenly cried:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look out. Here he comes!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They all leaned over the sun-warmed brick wall in time to see the hare,
      going very slowly, come out from the shadow of the tunnel.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There, now,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;what did I tell you? Now for the hounds!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Very soon came the hounds&mdash;by ones and twos and threes and sixes and
      sevens&mdash;and they also were going slowly and seemed very tired. Two or
      three who lagged far behind came out long after the others.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;that's all&mdash;now what shall we do?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Go along into the tulgy wood over there and have lunch,&rdquo; said Phyllis;
      &ldquo;we can see them for miles from up here.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not yet,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;That's not the last. There's the one in the red
      jersey to come yet. Let's see the last of them come out.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But though they waited and waited and waited, the boy in the red jersey
      did not appear.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, let's have lunch,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;I've got a pain in my front with
      being so hungry. You must have missed seeing the red-jerseyed one when he
      came out with the others&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But Bobbie and Peter agreed that he had not come out with the others.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's get down to the tunnel mouth,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;then perhaps we shall
      see him coming along from the inside. I expect he felt spun-chuck, and
      rested in one of the manholes. You stay up here and watch, Bob, and when I
      signal from below, you come down. We might miss seeing him on the way
      down, with all these trees.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So the others climbed down and Bobbie waited till they signalled to her
      from the line below. And then she, too, scrambled down the roundabout
      slippery path among roots and moss till she stepped out between two
      dogwood trees and joined the others on the line. And still there was no
      sign of the hound with the red jersey.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, do, DO let's have something to eat,&rdquo; wailed Phyllis. &ldquo;I shall die if
      you don't, and then you'll be sorry.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Give her the sandwiches, for goodness' sake, and stop her silly mouth,&rdquo;
       said Peter, not quite unkindly. &ldquo;Look here,&rdquo; he added, turning to Bobbie,
      &ldquo;perhaps we'd better have one each, too. We may need all our strength. Not
      more than one, though. There's no time.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What?&rdquo; asked Bobbie, her mouth already full, for she was just as hungry
      as Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't you see,&rdquo; replied Peter, impressively, &ldquo;that red-jerseyed hound has
      had an accident&mdash;that's what it is. Perhaps even as we speak he's
      lying with his head on the metals, an unresisting prey to any passing
      express&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, don't try to talk like a book,&rdquo; cried Bobbie, bolting what was left
      of her sandwich; &ldquo;come on. Phil, keep close behind me, and if a train
      comes, stand flat against the tunnel wall and hold your petticoats close
      to you.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Give me one more sandwich,&rdquo; pleaded Phyllis, &ldquo;and I will.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm going first,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;it was my idea,&rdquo; and he went.
    </p>
    <p>
      Of course you know what going into a tunnel is like? The engine gives a
      scream and then suddenly the noise of the running, rattling train changes
      and grows different and much louder. Grown-up people pull up the windows
      and hold them by the strap. The railway carriage suddenly grows like night&mdash;with
      lamps, of course, unless you are in a slow local train, in which case
      lamps are not always provided. Then by and by the darkness outside the
      carriage window is touched by puffs of cloudy whiteness, then you see a
      blue light on the walls of the tunnel, then the sound of the moving train
      changes once more, and you are out in the good open air again, and
      grown-ups let the straps go. The windows, all dim with the yellow breath
      of the tunnel, rattle down into their places, and you see once more the
      dip and catch of the telegraph wires beside the line, and the straight-cut
      hawthorn hedges with the tiny baby trees growing up out of them every
      thirty yards.
    </p>
    <p>
      All this, of course, is what a tunnel means when you are in a train. But
      everything is quite different when you walk into a tunnel on your own
      feet, and tread on shifting, sliding stones and gravel on a path that
      curves downwards from the shining metals to the wall. Then you see slimy,
      oozy trickles of water running down the inside of the tunnel, and you
      notice that the bricks are not red or brown, as they are at the tunnel's
      mouth, but dull, sticky, sickly green. Your voice, when you speak, is
      quite changed from what it was out in the sunshine, and it is a long time
      before the tunnel is quite dark.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was not yet quite dark in the tunnel when Phyllis caught at Bobbie's
      skirt, ripping out half a yard of gathers, but no one noticed this at the
      time.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I want to go back,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I don't like it. It'll be pitch dark in a
      minute. I WON'T go on in the dark. I don't care what you say, I WON'T.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't be a silly cuckoo,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;I've got a candle end and matches,
      and&mdash;what's that?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That&rdquo; was a low, humming sound on the railway line, a trembling of the
      wires beside it, a buzzing, humming sound that grew louder and louder as
      they listened.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's a train,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Which line?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let me go back,&rdquo; cried Phyllis, struggling to get away from the hand by
      which Bobbie held her.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't be a coward,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;it's quite safe. Stand back.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Come on,&rdquo; shouted Peter, who was a few yards ahead. &ldquo;Quick! Manhole!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The roar of the advancing train was now louder than the noise you hear
      when your head is under water in the bath and both taps are running, and
      you are kicking with your heels against the bath's tin sides. But Peter
      had shouted for all he was worth, and Bobbie heard him. She dragged
      Phyllis along to the manhole. Phyllis, of course, stumbled over the wires
      and grazed both her legs. But they dragged her in, and all three stood in
      the dark, damp, arched recess while the train roared louder and louder. It
      seemed as if it would deafen them. And, in the distance, they could see
      its eyes of fire growing bigger and brighter every instant.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It IS a dragon&mdash;I always knew it was&mdash;it takes its own shape in
      here, in the dark,&rdquo; shouted Phyllis. But nobody heard her. You see the
      train was shouting, too, and its voice was bigger than hers.
    </p>
    <p>
      And now, with a rush and a roar and a rattle and a long dazzling flash of
      lighted carriage windows, a smell of smoke, and blast of hot air, the
      train hurtled by, clanging and jangling and echoing in the vaulted roof of
      the tunnel. Phyllis and Bobbie clung to each other. Even Peter caught hold
      of Bobbie's arm, &ldquo;in case she should be frightened,&rdquo; as he explained
      afterwards.
    </p>
    <p>
      And now, slowly and gradually, the tail-lights grew smaller and smaller,
      and so did the noise, till with one last WHIZ the train got itself out of
      the tunnel, and silence settled again on its damp walls and dripping roof.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;OH!&rdquo; said the children, all together in a whisper.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter was lighting the candle end with a hand that trembled.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Come on,&rdquo; he said; but he had to clear his throat before he could speak
      in his natural voice.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;if the red-jerseyed one was in the way of the train!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We've got to go and see,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Couldn't we go and send someone from the station?&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Would you rather wait here for us?&rdquo; asked Bobbie, severely, and of course
      that settled the question.
    </p>
    <p>
      So the three went on into the deeper darkness of the tunnel. Peter led,
      holding his candle end high to light the way. The grease ran down his
      fingers, and some of it right up his sleeve. He found a long streak from
      wrist to elbow when he went to bed that night.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was not more than a hundred and fifty yards from the spot where they
      had stood while the train went by that Peter stood still, shouted &ldquo;Hullo,&rdquo;
       and then went on much quicker than before. When the others caught him up,
      he stopped. And he stopped within a yard of what they had come into the
      tunnel to look for. Phyllis saw a gleam of red, and shut her eyes tight.
      There, by the curved, pebbly down line, was the red-jerseyed hound. His
      back was against the wall, his arms hung limply by his sides, and his eyes
      were shut.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Was the red, blood? Is he all killed?&rdquo; asked Phyllis, screwing her
      eyelids more tightly together.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Killed? Nonsense!&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;There's nothing red about him except his
      jersey. He's only fainted. What on earth are we to do?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Can we move him?&rdquo; asked Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know; he's a big chap.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Suppose we bathe his forehead with water. No, I know we haven't any, but
      milk's just as wet. There's a whole bottle.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and they rub people's hands, I believe.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They burn feathers, I know,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What's the good of saying that when we haven't any feathers?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;As it happens,&rdquo; said Phyllis, in a tone of exasperated triumph, &ldquo;I've got
      a shuttlecock in my pocket. So there!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And now Peter rubbed the hands of the red-jerseyed one. Bobbie burned the
      feathers of the shuttlecock one by one under his nose, Phyllis splashed
      warmish milk on his forehead, and all three kept on saying as fast and as
      earnestly as they could:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, look up, speak to me! For my sake, speak!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter XII. What Bobbie brought home.
    </h2>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, look up! Speak to me! For MY sake, speak!&rdquo; The children said the
      words over and over again to the unconscious hound in a red jersey, who
      sat with closed eyes and pale face against the side of the tunnel.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Wet his ears with milk,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;I know they do it to people that
      faint&mdash;with eau-de-Cologne. But I expect milk's just as good.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So they wetted his ears, and some of the milk ran down his neck under the
      red jersey. It was very dark in the tunnel. The candle end Peter had
      carried, and which now burned on a flat stone, gave hardly any light at
      all.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, DO look up,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;For MY sake! I believe he's dead.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;For MY sake,&rdquo; repeated Bobbie. &ldquo;No, he isn't.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;For ANY sake,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;come out of it.&rdquo; And he shook the sufferer by
      the arm.
    </p>
    <p>
      And then the boy in the red jersey sighed, and opened his eyes, and shut
      them again and said in a very small voice, &ldquo;Chuck it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, he's NOT dead,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;I KNEW he wasn't,&rdquo; and she began to
      cry.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What's up? I'm all right,&rdquo; said the boy.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Drink this,&rdquo; said Peter, firmly, thrusting the nose of the milk bottle
      into the boy's mouth. The boy struggled, and some of the milk was upset
      before he could get his mouth free to say:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What is it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's milk,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;Fear not, you are in the hands of friends. Phil,
      you stop bleating this minute.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Do drink it,&rdquo; said Bobbie, gently; &ldquo;it'll do you good.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So he drank. And the three stood by without speaking to him.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let him be a minute,&rdquo; Peter whispered; &ldquo;he'll be all right as soon as the
      milk begins to run like fire through his veins.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He was.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm better now,&rdquo; he announced. &ldquo;I remember all about it.&rdquo; He tried to
      move, but the movement ended in a groan. &ldquo;Bother! I believe I've broken my
      leg,&rdquo; he said.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Did you tumble down?&rdquo; asked Phyllis, sniffing.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course not&mdash;I'm not a kiddie,&rdquo; said the boy, indignantly; &ldquo;it was
      one of those beastly wires tripped me up, and when I tried to get up again
      I couldn't stand, so I sat down. Gee whillikins! it does hurt, though. How
      did YOU get here?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We saw you all go into the tunnel and then we went across the hill to see
      you all come out. And the others did&mdash;all but you, and you didn't. So
      we are a rescue party,&rdquo; said Peter, with pride.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You've got some pluck, I will say,&rdquo; remarked the boy.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, that's nothing,&rdquo; said Peter, with modesty. &ldquo;Do you think you could
      walk if we helped you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I could try,&rdquo; said the boy.
    </p>
    <p>
      He did try. But he could only stand on one foot; the other dragged in a
      very nasty way.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here, let me sit down. I feel like dying,&rdquo; said the boy. &ldquo;Let go of me&mdash;let
      go, quick&mdash;&rdquo; He lay down and closed his eyes. The others looked at
      each other by the dim light of the little candle.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What on earth!&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Look here,&rdquo; said Bobbie, quickly, &ldquo;you must go and get help. Go to the
      nearest house.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, that's the only thing,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;Come on.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If you take his feet and Phil and I take his head, we could carry him to
      the manhole.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They did it. It was perhaps as well for the sufferer that he had fainted
      again.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;I'll stay with him. You take the longest bit of
      candle, and, oh&mdash;be quick, for this bit won't burn long.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't think Mother would like me leaving you,&rdquo; said Peter, doubtfully.
      &ldquo;Let me stay, and you and Phil go.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, no,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;you and Phil go&mdash;and lend me your knife. I'll
      try to get his boot off before he wakes up again.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I hope it's all right what we're doing,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course it's right,&rdquo; said Bobbie, impatiently. &ldquo;What else WOULD you do?
      Leave him here all alone because it's dark? Nonsense. Hurry up, that's
      all.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So they hurried up.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie watched their dark figures and the little light of the little
      candle with an odd feeling of having come to the end of everything. She
      knew now, she thought, what nuns who were bricked up alive in convent
      walls felt like. Suddenly she gave herself a little shake.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't be a silly little girl,&rdquo; she said. She was always very angry when
      anyone else called her a little girl, even if the adjective that went
      first was not &ldquo;silly&rdquo; but &ldquo;nice&rdquo; or &ldquo;good&rdquo; or &ldquo;clever.&rdquo; And it was only
      when she was very angry with herself that she allowed Roberta to use that
      expression to Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      She fixed the little candle end on a broken brick near the red-jerseyed
      boy's feet. Then she opened Peter's knife. It was always hard to manage&mdash;a
      halfpenny was generally needed to get it open at all. This time Bobbie
      somehow got it open with her thumbnail. She broke the nail, and it hurt
      horribly. Then she cut the boy's bootlace, and got the boot off. She tried
      to pull off his stocking, but his leg was dreadfully swollen, and it did
      not seem to be the proper shape. So she cut the stocking down, very slowly
      and carefully. It was a brown, knitted stocking, and she wondered who had
      knitted it, and whether it was the boy's mother, and whether she was
      feeling anxious about him, and how she would feel when he was brought home
      with his leg broken. When Bobbie had got the stocking off and saw the poor
      leg, she felt as though the tunnel was growing darker, and the ground felt
      unsteady, and nothing seemed quite real.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;SILLY little girl!&rdquo; said Roberta to Bobbie, and felt better.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The poor leg,&rdquo; she told herself; &ldquo;it ought to have a cushion&mdash;ah!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She remembered the day when she and Phyllis had torn up their red flannel
      petticoats to make danger signals to stop the train and prevent an
      accident. Her flannel petticoat to-day was white, but it would be quite as
      soft as a red one. She took it off.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, what useful things flannel petticoats are!&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;the man who
      invented them ought to have a statue directed to him.&rdquo; And she said it
      aloud, because it seemed that any voice, even her own, would be a comfort
      in that darkness.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;WHAT ought to be directed? Who to?&rdquo; asked the boy, suddenly and very
      feebly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;now you're better! Hold your teeth and don't let it
      hurt too much. Now!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She had folded the petticoat, and lifting his leg laid it on the cushion
      of folded flannel.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't faint again, PLEASE don't,&rdquo; said Bobbie, as he groaned. She hastily
      wetted her handkerchief with milk and spread it over the poor leg.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, that hurts,&rdquo; cried the boy, shrinking. &ldquo;Oh&mdash;no, it doesn't&mdash;it's
      nice, really.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What's your name?&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Jim.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Mine's Bobbie.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But you're a girl, aren't you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, my long name's Roberta.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say&mdash;Bobbie.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Wasn't there some more of you just now?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, Peter and Phil&mdash;that's my brother and sister. They've gone to
      get someone to carry you out.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What rum names. All boys'.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes&mdash;I wish I was a boy, don't you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I think you're all right as you are.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I didn't mean that&mdash;I meant don't you wish YOU were a boy, but of
      course you are without wishing.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're just as brave as a boy. Why didn't you go with the others?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Somebody had to stay with you,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Tell you what, Bobbie,&rdquo; said Jim, &ldquo;you're a brick. Shake.&rdquo; He reached out
      a red-jerseyed arm and Bobbie squeezed his hand.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I won't shake it,&rdquo; she explained, &ldquo;because it would shake YOU, and that
      would shake your poor leg, and that would hurt. Have you got a hanky?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't expect I have.&rdquo; He felt in his pocket. &ldquo;Yes, I have. What for?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      She took it and wetted it with milk and put it on his forehead.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's jolly,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;what is it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Milk,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;We haven't any water&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're a jolly good little nurse,&rdquo; said Jim.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I do it for Mother sometimes,&rdquo; said Bobbie&mdash;&ldquo;not milk, of course,
      but scent, or vinegar and water. I say, I must put the candle out now,
      because there mayn't be enough of the other one to get you out by.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;By George,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;you think of everything.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie blew. Out went the candle. You have no idea how black-velvety the
      darkness was.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say, Bobbie,&rdquo; said a voice through the blackness, &ldquo;aren't you afraid of
      the dark?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not&mdash;not very, that is&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's hold hands,&rdquo; said the boy, and it was really rather good of him,
      because he was like most boys of his age and hated all material tokens of
      affection, such as kissing and holding of hands. He called all such things
      &ldquo;pawings,&rdquo; and detested them.
    </p>
    <p>
      The darkness was more bearable to Bobbie now that her hand was held in the
      large rough hand of the red-jerseyed sufferer; and he, holding her little
      smooth hot paw, was surprised to find that he did not mind it so much as
      he expected. She tried to talk, to amuse him, and &ldquo;take his mind off&rdquo; his
      sufferings, but it is very difficult to go on talking in the dark, and
      presently they found themselves in a silence, only broken now and then by
      a&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You all right, Bobbie?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      or an&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm afraid it's hurting you most awfully, Jim. I AM so sorry.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And it was very cold.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          *          *          *          *          *          *
</pre>
    <p>
      Peter and Phyllis tramped down the long way of the tunnel towards
      daylight, the candle-grease dripping over Peter's fingers. There were no
      accidents unless you count Phyllis's catching her frock on a wire, and
      tearing a long, jagged slit in it, and tripping over her bootlace when it
      came undone, or going down on her hands and knees, all four of which were
      grazed.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There's no end to this tunnel,&rdquo; said Phyllis&mdash;and indeed it did seem
      very very long.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Stick to it,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;everything has an end, and you get to it if
      you only keep all on.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Which is quite true, if you come to think of it, and a useful thing to
      remember in seasons of trouble&mdash;such as measles, arithmetic,
      impositions, and those times when you are in disgrace, and feel as though
      no one would ever love you again, and you could never&mdash;never again&mdash;love
      anybody.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hurray,&rdquo; said Peter, suddenly, &ldquo;there's the end of the tunnel&mdash;looks
      just like a pin-hole in a bit of black paper, doesn't it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The pin-hole got larger&mdash;blue lights lay along the sides of the
      tunnel. The children could see the gravel way that lay in front of them;
      the air grew warmer and sweeter. Another twenty steps and they were out in
      the good glad sunshine with the green trees on both sides.
    </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis drew a long breath.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll never go into a tunnel again as long as ever I live,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;not
      if there are twenty hundred thousand millions hounds inside with red
      jerseys and their legs broken.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't be a silly cuckoo,&rdquo; said Peter, as usual. &ldquo;You'd HAVE to.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I think it was very brave and good of me,&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not it,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;you didn't go because you were brave, but because
      Bobbie and I aren't skunks. Now where's the nearest house, I wonder? You
      can't see anything here for the trees.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There's a roof over there,&rdquo; said Phyllis, pointing down the line.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's the signal-box,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and you know you're not allowed to
      speak to signalmen on duty. It's wrong.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm not near so afraid of doing wrong as I was of going into that
      tunnel,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;Come on,&rdquo; and she started to run along the line.
      So Peter ran, too.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was very hot in the sunshine, and both children were hot and breathless
      by the time they stopped, and bending their heads back to look up at the
      open windows of the signal-box, shouted &ldquo;Hi!&rdquo; as loud as their breathless
      state allowed. But no one answered. The signal-box stood quiet as an empty
      nursery, and the handrail of its steps was hot to the hands of the
      children as they climbed softly up. They peeped in at the open door. The
      signalman was sitting on a chair tilted back against the wall. His head
      leaned sideways, and his mouth was open. He was fast asleep.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My hat!&rdquo; cried Peter; &ldquo;wake up!&rdquo; And he cried it in a terrible voice, for
      he knew that if a signalman sleeps on duty, he risks losing his situation,
      let alone all the other dreadful risks to trains which expect him to tell
      them when it is safe for them to go their ways.
    </p>
    <p>
      The signalman never moved. Then Peter sprang to him and shook him. And
      slowly, yawning and stretching, the man awoke. But the moment he WAS awake
      he leapt to his feet, put his hands to his head &ldquo;like a mad maniac,&rdquo; as
      Phyllis said afterwards, and shouted:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, my heavens&mdash;what's o'clock?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Twelve thirteen,&rdquo; said Peter, and indeed it was by the white-faced,
      round-faced clock on the wall of the signal-box.
    </p>
    <p>
      The man looked at the clock, sprang to the levers, and wrenched them this
      way and that. An electric bell tingled&mdash;the wires and cranks creaked,
      and the man threw himself into a chair. He was very pale, and the sweat
      stood on his forehead &ldquo;like large dewdrops on a white cabbage,&rdquo; as Phyllis
      remarked later. He was trembling, too; the children could see his big
      hairy hands shake from side to side, &ldquo;with quite extra-sized trembles,&rdquo; to
      use the subsequent words of Peter. He drew long breaths. Then suddenly he
      cried, &ldquo;Thank God, thank God you come in when you did&mdash;oh, thank
      God!&rdquo; and his shoulders began to heave and his face grew red again, and he
      hid it in those large hairy hands of his.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, don't cry&mdash;don't,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;it's all right now,&rdquo; and she
      patted him on one big, broad shoulder, while Peter conscientiously thumped
      the other.
    </p>
    <p>
      But the signalman seemed quite broken down, and the children had to pat
      him and thump him for quite a long time before he found his handkerchief&mdash;a
      red one with mauve and white horseshoes on it&mdash;and mopped his face
      and spoke. During this patting and thumping interval a train thundered by.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm downright shamed, that I am,&rdquo; were the words of the big signalman
      when he had stopped crying; &ldquo;snivelling like a kid.&rdquo; Then suddenly he
      seemed to get cross. &ldquo;And what was you doing up here, anyway?&rdquo; he said;
      &ldquo;you know it ain't allowed.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;we knew it was wrong&mdash;but I wasn't afraid of
      doing wrong, and so it turned out right. You aren't sorry we came.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Lor' love you&mdash;if you hadn't 'a' come&mdash;&rdquo; he stopped and then
      went on. &ldquo;It's a disgrace, so it is, sleeping on duty. If it was to come
      to be known&mdash;even as it is, when no harm's come of it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It won't come to be known,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;we aren't sneaks. All the same,
      you oughtn't to sleep on duty&mdash;it's dangerous.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Tell me something I don't know,&rdquo; said the man, &ldquo;but I can't help it. I
      know'd well enough just how it 'ud be. But I couldn't get off. They
      couldn't get no one to take on my duty. I tell you I ain't had ten
      minutes' sleep this last five days. My little chap's ill&mdash;pewmonia,
      the Doctor says&mdash;and there's no one but me and 'is little sister to
      do for him. That's where it is. The gell must 'ave her sleep. Dangerous?
      Yes, I believe you. Now go and split on me if you like.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course we won't,&rdquo; said Peter, indignantly, but Phyllis ignored the
      whole of the signalman's speech, except the first six words.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You asked us,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;to tell you something you don't know. Well, I
      will. There's a boy in the tunnel over there with a red jersey and his leg
      broken.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What did he want to go into the blooming tunnel for, then?&rdquo; said the man.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't you be so cross,&rdquo; said Phyllis, kindly. &ldquo;WE haven't done anything
      wrong except coming and waking you up, and that was right, as it happens.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Then Peter told how the boy came to be in the tunnel.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the man, &ldquo;I don't see as I can do anything. I can't leave the
      box.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You might tell us where to go after someone who isn't in a box, though,&rdquo;
       said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There's Brigden's farm over yonder&mdash;where you see the smoke a-coming
      up through the trees,&rdquo; said the man, more and more grumpy, as Phyllis
      noticed.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, good-bye, then,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      But the man said, &ldquo;Wait a minute.&rdquo; He put his hand in his pocket and
      brought out some money&mdash;a lot of pennies and one or two shillings and
      sixpences and half-a-crown. He picked out two shillings and held them out.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Here,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I'll give you this to hold your tongues about what's
      taken place to-day.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      There was a short, unpleasant pause. Then:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You ARE a nasty man, though, aren't you?&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter took a step forward and knocked the man's hand up, so that the
      shillings leapt out of it and rolled on the floor.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If anything COULD make me sneak, THAT would!&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Come, Phil,&rdquo; and
      marched out of the signal-box with flaming cheeks.
    </p>
    <p>
      Phyllis hesitated. Then she took the hand, still held out stupidly, that
      the shillings had been in.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I forgive you,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;even if Peter doesn't. You're not in your
      proper senses, or you'd never have done that. I know want of sleep sends
      people mad. Mother told me. I hope your little boy will soon be better,
      and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Come on, Phil,&rdquo; cried Peter, eagerly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I give you my sacred honour-word we'll never tell anyone. Kiss and be
      friends,&rdquo; said Phyllis, feeling how noble it was of her to try to make up
      a quarrel in which she was not to blame.
    </p>
    <p>
      The signalman stooped and kissed her.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I do believe I'm a bit off my head, Sissy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Now run along home
      to Mother. I didn't mean to put you about&mdash;there.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So Phil left the hot signal-box and followed Peter across the fields to
      the farm.
    </p>
    <p>
      When the farm men, led by Peter and Phyllis and carrying a hurdle covered
      with horse-cloths, reached the manhole in the tunnel, Bobbie was fast
      asleep and so was Jim. Worn out with the pain, the Doctor said afterwards.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Where does he live?&rdquo; the bailiff from the farm asked, when Jim had been
      lifted on to the hurdle.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;In Northumberland,&rdquo; answered Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm at school at Maidbridge,&rdquo; said Jim. &ldquo;I suppose I've got to get back
      there, somehow.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Seems to me the Doctor ought to have a look in first,&rdquo; said the bailiff.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, bring him up to our house,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;It's only a little way by
      the road. I'm sure Mother would say we ought to.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Will your Ma like you bringing home strangers with broken legs?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;She took the poor Russian home herself,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;I know she'd say
      we ought.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;All right,&rdquo; said the bailiff, &ldquo;you ought to know what your Ma 'ud like. I
      wouldn't take it upon me to fetch him up to our place without I asked the
      Missus first, and they call me the Master, too.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Are you sure your Mother won't mind?&rdquo; whispered Jim.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Certain,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then we're to take him up to Three Chimneys?&rdquo; said the bailiff.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then my lad shall nip up to Doctor's on his bike, and tell him to come
      down there. Now, lads, lift him quiet and steady. One, two, three!&rdquo;
     </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          *          *          *          *          *          *
</pre>
    <p>
      Thus it happened that Mother, writing away for dear life at a story about
      a Duchess, a designing villain, a secret passage, and a missing will,
      dropped her pen as her work-room door burst open, and turned to see Bobbie
      hatless and red with running.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, Mother,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;do come down. We found a hound in a red jersey
      in the tunnel, and he's broken his leg and they're bringing him home.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They ought to take him to the vet,&rdquo; said Mother, with a worried frown; &ldquo;I
      really CAN'T have a lame dog here.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He's not a dog, really&mdash;he's a boy,&rdquo; said Bobbie, between laughing
      and choking.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then he ought to be taken home to his mother.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;His mother's dead,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;and his father's in Northumberland. Oh,
      Mother, you will be nice to him? I told him I was sure you'd want us to
      bring him home. You always want to help everybody.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Mother smiled, but she sighed, too. It is nice that your children should
      believe you willing to open house and heart to any and every one who needs
      help. But it is rather embarrassing sometimes, too, when they act on their
      belief.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, well,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;we must make the best of it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      When Jim was carried in, dreadfully white and with set lips whose red had
      faded to a horrid bluey violet colour, Mother said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I am glad you brought him here. Now, Jim, let's get you comfortable in
      bed before the Doctor comes!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And Jim, looking at her kind eyes, felt a little, warm, comforting flush
      of new courage.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It'll hurt rather, won't it?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I don't mean to be a coward. You
      won't think I'm a coward if I faint again, will you? I really and truly
      don't do it on purpose. And I do hate to give you all this trouble.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't you worry,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;it's you that have the trouble, you poor
      dear&mdash;not us.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And she kissed him just as if he had been Peter. &ldquo;We love to have you here&mdash;don't
      we, Bobbie?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Bobbie&mdash;and she saw by her Mother's face how right she
      had been to bring home the wounded hound in the red jersey.
    </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter XIII. The hound's grandfather.
    </h2>
    <p>
      Mother did not get back to her writing all that day, for the red-jerseyed
      hound whom the children had brought to Three Chimneys had to be put to
      bed. And then the Doctor came, and hurt him most horribly. Mother was with
      him all through it, and that made it a little better than it would have
      been, but &ldquo;bad was the best,&rdquo; as Mrs. Viney said.
    </p>
    <p>
      The children sat in the parlour downstairs and heard the sound of the
      Doctor's boots going backwards and forwards over the bedroom floor. And
      once or twice there was a groan.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's horrible,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Oh, I wish Dr. Forrest would make haste.
      Oh, poor Jim!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It IS horrible,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;but it's very exciting. I wish Doctors
      weren't so stuck-up about who they'll have in the room when they're doing
      things. I should most awfully like to see a leg set. I believe the bones
      crunch like anything.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't!&rdquo; said the two girls at once.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Rubbish!&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;How are you going to be Red Cross Nurses, like you
      were talking of coming home, if you can't even stand hearing me say about
      bones crunching? You'd have to HEAR them crunch on the field of battle&mdash;and
      be steeped in gore up to the elbows as likely as not, and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Stop it!&rdquo; cried Bobbie, with a white face; &ldquo;you don't know how funny
      you're making me feel.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Me, too,&rdquo; said Phyllis, whose face was pink.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Cowards!&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm not,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;I helped Mother with your rake-wounded foot, and
      so did Phil&mdash;you know we did.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, then!&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;Now look here. It would be a jolly good thing
      for you if I were to talk to you every day for half an hour about broken
      bones and people's insides, so as to get you used to it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      A chair was moved above.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Listen,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;that's the bone crunching.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I do wish you wouldn't,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;Bobbie doesn't like it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll tell you what they do,&rdquo; said Peter. I can't think what made him so
      horrid. Perhaps it was because he had been so very nice and kind all the
      earlier part of the day, and now he had to have a change. This is called
      reaction. One notices it now and then in oneself. Sometimes when one has
      been extra good for a longer time than usual, one is suddenly attacked by
      a violent fit of not being good at all. &ldquo;I'll tell you what they do,&rdquo; said
      Peter; &ldquo;they strap the broken man down so that he can't resist or
      interfere with their doctorish designs, and then someone holds his head,
      and someone holds his leg&mdash;the broken one, and pulls it till the
      bones fit in&mdash;with a crunch, mind you! Then they strap it up and&mdash;let's
      play at bone-setting!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, no!&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      But Bobbie said suddenly: &ldquo;All right&mdash;LET'S! I'll be the doctor, and
      Phil can be the nurse. You can be the broken boner; we can get at your
      legs more easily, because you don't wear petticoats.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll get the splints and bandages,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;you get the couch of
      suffering ready.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The ropes that had tied up the boxes that had come from home were all in a
      wooden packing-case in the cellar. When Peter brought in a trailing tangle
      of them, and two boards for splints, Phyllis was excitedly giggling.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now, then,&rdquo; he said, and lay down on the settle, groaning most
      grievously.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not so loud!&rdquo; said Bobbie, beginning to wind the rope round him and the
      settle. &ldquo;You pull, Phil.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not so tight,&rdquo; moaned Peter. &ldquo;You'll break my other leg.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie worked on in silence, winding more and more rope round him.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's enough,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;I can't move at all. Oh, my poor leg!&rdquo; He
      groaned again.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;SURE you can't move?&rdquo; asked Bobbie, in a rather strange tone.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Quite sure,&rdquo; replied Peter. &ldquo;Shall we play it's bleeding freely or not?&rdquo;
       he asked cheerfully.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;YOU can play what you like,&rdquo; said Bobbie, sternly, folding her arms and
      looking down at him where he lay all wound round and round with cord.
      &ldquo;Phil and I are going away. And we shan't untie you till you promise
      never, never to talk to us about blood and wounds unless we say you may.
      Come, Phil!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You beast!&rdquo; said Peter, writhing. &ldquo;I'll never promise, never. I'll yell,
      and Mother will come.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Do,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;and tell her why we tied you up! Come on, Phil. No,
      I'm not a beast, Peter. But you wouldn't stop when we asked you and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yah,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;it wasn't even your own idea. You got it out of
      Stalky!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie and Phil, retiring in silent dignity, were met at the door by the
      Doctor. He came in rubbing his hands and looking pleased with himself.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;THAT job's done. It's a nice clean fracture, and it'll
      go on all right, I've no doubt. Plucky young chap, too&mdash;hullo! what's
      all this?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      His eye had fallen on Peter who lay mousy-still in his bonds on the
      settle.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Playing at prisoners, eh?&rdquo; he said; but his eyebrows had gone up a
      little. Somehow he had not thought that Bobbie would be playing while in
      the room above someone was having a broken bone set.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, no!&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;not at PRISONERS. We were playing at setting
      bones. Peter's the broken boner, and I was the doctor.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The Doctor frowned.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then I must say,&rdquo; he said, and he said it rather sternly, &ldquo;that's it's a
      very heartless game. Haven't you enough imagination even to faintly
      picture what's been going on upstairs? That poor chap, with the drops of
      sweat on his forehead, and biting his lips so as not to cry out, and every
      touch on his leg agony and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;YOU ought to be tied up,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;you're as bad as&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hush,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;I'm sorry, but we weren't heartless, really.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I was, I suppose,&rdquo; said Peter, crossly. &ldquo;All right, Bobbie, don't you go
      on being noble and screening me, because I jolly well won't have it. It
      was only that I kept on talking about blood and wounds. I wanted to train
      them for Red Cross Nurses. And I wouldn't stop when they asked me.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well?&rdquo; said Dr. Forrest, sitting down.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well&mdash;then I said, 'Let's play at setting bones.' It was all rot. I
      knew Bobbie wouldn't. I only said it to tease her. And then when she said
      'yes,' of course I had to go through with it. And they tied me up. They
      got it out of Stalky. And I think it's a beastly shame.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He managed to writhe over and hide his face against the wooden back of the
      settle.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I didn't think that anyone would know but us,&rdquo; said Bobbie, indignantly
      answering Peter's unspoken reproach. &ldquo;I never thought of your coming in.
      And hearing about blood and wounds does really make me feel most awfully
      funny. It was only a joke our tying him up. Let me untie you, Pete.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't care if you never untie me,&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;and if that's your idea
      of a joke&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;If I were you,&rdquo; said the Doctor, though really he did not quite know what
      to say, &ldquo;I should be untied before your Mother comes down. You don't want
      to worry her just now, do you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't promise anything about not saying about wounds, mind,&rdquo; said
      Peter, in very surly tones, as Bobbie and Phyllis began to untie the
      knots.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm very sorry, Pete,&rdquo; Bobbie whispered, leaning close to him as she
      fumbled with the big knot under the settle; &ldquo;but if you only knew how sick
      you made me feel.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You've made ME feel pretty sick, I can tell you,&rdquo; Peter rejoined. Then he
      shook off the loose cords, and stood up.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I looked in,&rdquo; said Dr. Forrest, &ldquo;to see if one of you would come along to
      the surgery. There are some things that your Mother will want at once, and
      I've given my man a day off to go and see the circus; will you come,
      Peter?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter went without a word or a look to his sisters.
    </p>
    <p>
      The two walked in silence up to the gate that led from the Three Chimneys
      field to the road. Then Peter said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let me carry your bag. I say, it is heavy&mdash;what's in it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, knives and lancets and different instruments for hurting people. And
      the ether bottle. I had to give him ether, you know&mdash;the agony was so
      intense.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter was silent.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Tell me all about how you found that chap,&rdquo; said Dr. Forrest.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter told. And then Dr. Forrest told him stories of brave rescues; he was
      a most interesting man to talk to, as Peter had often remarked.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then in the surgery Peter had a better chance than he had ever had of
      examining the Doctor's balance, and his microscope, and his scales and
      measuring glasses. When all the things were ready that Peter was to take
      back, the Doctor said suddenly:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You'll excuse my shoving my oar in, won't you? But I should like to say
      something to you.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Now for a rowing,&rdquo; thought Peter, who had been wondering how it was that
      he had escaped one.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Something scientific,&rdquo; added the Doctor.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Peter, fiddling with the fossil ammonite that the Doctor used
      for a paper-weight.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well then, you see. Boys and girls are only little men and women. And WE
      are much harder and hardier than they are&mdash;&rdquo; (Peter liked the &ldquo;we.&rdquo;
       Perhaps the Doctor had known he would.)&mdash;&ldquo;and much stronger, and
      things that hurt THEM don't hurt US. You know you mustn't hit a girl&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I should think not, indeed,&rdquo; muttered Peter, indignantly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not even if she's your own sister. That's because girls are so much
      softer and weaker than we are; they have to be, you know,&rdquo; he added,
      &ldquo;because if they weren't, it wouldn't be nice for the babies. And that's
      why all the animals are so good to the mother animals. They never fight
      them, you know.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I know,&rdquo; said Peter, interested; &ldquo;two buck rabbits will fight all day if
      you let them, but they won't hurt a doe.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No; and quite wild beasts&mdash;lions and elephants&mdash;they're
      immensely gentle with the female beasts. And we've got to be, too.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I see,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And their hearts are soft, too,&rdquo; the Doctor went on, &ldquo;and things that we
      shouldn't think anything of hurt them dreadfully. So that a man has to be
      very careful, not only of his fists, but of his words. They're awfully
      brave, you know,&rdquo; he went on. &ldquo;Think of Bobbie waiting alone in the tunnel
      with that poor chap. It's an odd thing&mdash;the softer and more easily
      hurt a woman is the better she can screw herself up to do what HAS to be
      done. I've seen some brave women&mdash;your Mother's one,&rdquo; he ended
      abruptly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, that's all. Excuse my mentioning it. But nobody knows everything
      without being told. And you see what I mean, don't you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Peter. &ldquo;I'm sorry. There!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course you are! People always are&mdash;directly they understand.
      Everyone ought to be taught these scientific facts. So long!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They shook hands heartily. When Peter came home, his sisters looked at him
      doubtfully.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's Pax,&rdquo; said Peter, dumping down the basket on the table. &ldquo;Dr. Forrest
      has been talking scientific to me. No, it's no use my telling you what he
      said; you wouldn't understand. But it all comes to you girls being poor,
      soft, weak, frightened things like rabbits, so us men have just got to put
      up with them. He said you were female beasts. Shall I take this up to
      Mother, or will you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I know what BOYS are,&rdquo; said Phyllis, with flaming cheeks; &ldquo;they're just
      the nastiest, rudest&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;They're very brave,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;sometimes.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Ah, you mean the chap upstairs? I see. Go ahead, Phil&mdash;I shall put
      up with you whatever you say because you're a poor, weak, frightened, soft&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not if I pull your hair you won't,&rdquo; said Phyllis, springing at him.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He said 'Pax,'&rdquo; said Bobbie, pulling her away. &ldquo;Don't you see,&rdquo; she
      whispered as Peter picked up the basket and stalked out with it, &ldquo;he's
      sorry, really, only he won't say so? Let's say we're sorry.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's so goody goody,&rdquo; said Phyllis, doubtfully; &ldquo;he said we were female
      beasts, and soft and frightened&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then let's show him we're not frightened of him thinking us goody goody,&rdquo;
       said Bobbie; &ldquo;and we're not any more beasts than he is.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And when Peter came back, still with his chin in the air, Bobbie said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We're sorry we tied you up, Pete.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I thought you would be,&rdquo; said Peter, very stiff and superior.
    </p>
    <p>
      This was hard to bear. But&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, so we are,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Now let honour be satisfied on both
      sides.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I did call it Pax,&rdquo; said Peter, in an injured tone.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then let it BE Pax,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Come on, Phil, let's get the tea.
      Pete, you might lay the cloth.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say,&rdquo; said Phyllis, when peace was really restored, which was not till
      they were washing up the cups after tea, &ldquo;Dr. Forrest didn't REALLY say we
      were female beasts, did he?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Peter, firmly, &ldquo;but I think he meant we men were wild beasts,
      too.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How funny of him!&rdquo; said Phyllis, breaking a cup.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
          *          *          *          *          *          *
</pre>
    <p>
      &ldquo;May I come in, Mother?&rdquo; Peter was at the door of Mother's writing room,
      where Mother sat at her table with two candles in front of her. Their
      flames looked orange and violet against the clear grey blue of the sky
      where already a few stars were twinkling.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, dear,&rdquo; said Mother, absently, &ldquo;anything wrong?&rdquo; She wrote a few more
      words and then laid down her pen and began to fold up what she had
      written. &ldquo;I was just writing to Jim's grandfather. He lives near here, you
      know.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, you said so at tea. That's what I want to say. Must you write to
      him, Mother? Couldn't we keep Jim, and not say anything to his people till
      he's well? It would be such a surprise for them.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, yes,&rdquo; said Mother, laughing, &ldquo;I think it would.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You see,&rdquo; Peter went on, &ldquo;of course the girls are all right and all that&mdash;I'm
      not saying anything against THEM. But I should like it if I had another
      chap to talk to sometimes.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;I know it's dull for you, dear. But I can't help it.
      Next year perhaps I can send you to school&mdash;you'd like that, wouldn't
      you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I do miss the other chaps, rather,&rdquo; Peter confessed; &ldquo;but if Jim could
      stay after his leg was well, we could have awful larks.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I've no doubt of it,&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;Well&mdash;perhaps he could, but you
      know, dear, we're not rich. I can't afford to get him everything he'll
      want. And he must have a nurse.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Can't you nurse him, Mother? You do nurse people so beautifully.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's a pretty compliment, Pete&mdash;but I can't do nursing and my
      writing as well. That's the worst of it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then you MUST send the letter to his grandfather?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course&mdash;and to his schoolmaster, too. We telegraphed to them
      both, but I must write as well. They'll be most dreadfully anxious.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say, Mother, why can't his grandfather pay for a nurse?&rdquo; Peter
      suggested. &ldquo;That would be ripping. I expect the old boy's rolling in
      money. Grandfathers in books always are.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, this one isn't in a book,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;so we mustn't expect him
      to roll much.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say,&rdquo; said Peter, musingly, &ldquo;wouldn't it be jolly if we all WERE in a
      book, and you were writing it? Then you could make all sorts of jolly
      things happen, and make Jim's legs get well at once and be all right
      to-morrow, and Father come home soon and&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Do you miss your Father very much?&rdquo; Mother asked, rather coldly, Peter
      thought.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Awfully,&rdquo; said Peter, briefly.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother was enveloping and addressing the second letter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You see,&rdquo; Peter went on slowly, &ldquo;you see, it's not only him BEING Father,
      but now he's away there's no other man in the house but me&mdash;that's
      why I want Jim to stay so frightfully much. Wouldn't you like to be
      writing that book with us all in it, Mother, and make Daddy come home
      soon?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Peter's Mother put her arm round him suddenly, and hugged him in silence
      for a minute. Then she said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't you think it's rather nice to think that we're in a book that God's
      writing? If I were writing the book, I might make mistakes. But God knows
      how to make the story end just right&mdash;in the way that's best for us.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Do you really believe that, Mother?&rdquo; Peter asked quietly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I do believe it&mdash;almost always&mdash;except when
      I'm so sad that I can't believe anything. But even when I can't believe
      it, I know it's true&mdash;and I try to believe. You don't know how I try,
      Peter. Now take the letters to the post, and don't let's be sad any more.
      Courage, courage! That's the finest of all the virtues! I dare say Jim
      will be here for two or three weeks yet.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      For what was left of the evening Peter was so angelic that Bobbie feared
      he was going to be ill. She was quite relieved in the morning to find him
      plaiting Phyllis's hair on to the back of her chair in quite his old
      manner.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was soon after breakfast that a knock came at the door. The children
      were hard at work cleaning the brass candlesticks in honour of Jim's
      visit.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That'll be the Doctor,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;I'll go. Shut the kitchen door&mdash;you're
      not fit to be seen.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      But it wasn't the Doctor. They knew that by the voice and by the sound of
      the boots that went upstairs. They did not recognise the sound of the
      boots, but everyone was certain that they had heard the voice before.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was a longish interval. The boots and the voice did not come down
      again.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Who can it possibly be?&rdquo; they kept on asking themselves and each other.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perhaps,&rdquo; said Peter at last, &ldquo;Dr. Forrest has been attacked by
      highwaymen and left for dead, and this is the man he's telegraphed for to
      take his place. Mrs. Viney said he had a local tenant to do his work when
      he went for a holiday, didn't you, Mrs. Viney?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I did so, my dear,&rdquo; said Mrs. Viney from the back kitchen.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He's fallen down in a fit, more likely,&rdquo; said Phyllis, &ldquo;all human aid
      despaired of. And this is his man come to break the news to Mother.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Nonsense!&rdquo; said Peter, briskly; &ldquo;Mother wouldn't have taken the man up
      into Jim's bedroom. Why should she? Listen&mdash;the door's opening. Now
      they'll come down. I'll open the door a crack.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He did.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's not listening,&rdquo; he replied indignantly to Bobbie's scandalised
      remarks; &ldquo;nobody in their senses would talk secrets on the stairs. And
      Mother can't have secrets to talk with Dr. Forrest's stable-man&mdash;and
      you said it was him.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Bobbie,&rdquo; called Mother's voice.
    </p>
    <p>
      They opened the kitchen door, and Mother leaned over the stair railing.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Jim's grandfather has come,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;wash your hands and faces and
      then you can see him. He wants to see you!&rdquo; The bedroom door shut again.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There now!&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;fancy us not even thinking of that! Let's have
      some hot water, Mrs. Viney. I'm as black as your hat.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The three were indeed dirty, for the stuff you clean brass candlesticks
      with is very far from cleaning to the cleaner.
    </p>
    <p>
      They were still busy with soap and flannel when they heard the boots and
      the voice come down the stairs and go into the dining-room. And when they
      were clean, though still damp&mdash;because it takes such a long time to
      dry your hands properly, and they were very impatient to see the
      grandfather&mdash;they filed into the dining-room.
    </p>
    <p>
      Mother was sitting in the window-seat, and in the leather-covered armchair
      that Father always used to sit in at the other house sat&mdash;
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
     THEIR OWN OLD GENTLEMAN!
</pre>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well, I never did,&rdquo; said Peter, even before he said, &ldquo;How do you do?&rdquo; He
      was, as he explained afterwards, too surprised even to remember that there
      was such a thing as politeness&mdash;much less to practise it.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's our own old gentleman!&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, it's you!&rdquo; said Bobbie. And then they remembered themselves and their
      manners and said, &ldquo;How do you do?&rdquo; very nicely.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;This is Jim's grandfather, Mr. &mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; said Mother, naming the
      old gentleman's name.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;How splendid!&rdquo; said Peter; &ldquo;that's just exactly like a book, isn't it,
      Mother?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It is, rather,&rdquo; said Mother, smiling; &ldquo;things do happen in real life that
      are rather like books, sometimes.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I am so awfully glad it IS you,&rdquo; said Phyllis; &ldquo;when you think of the
      tons of old gentlemen there are in the world&mdash;it might have been
      almost anyone.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I say, though,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;you're not going to take Jim away, though,
      are you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Not at present,&rdquo; said the old gentleman. &ldquo;Your Mother has most kindly
      consented to let him stay here. I thought of sending a nurse, but your
      Mother is good enough to say that she will nurse him herself.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;But what about her writing?&rdquo; said Peter, before anyone could stop him.
      &ldquo;There won't be anything for him to eat if Mother doesn't write.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;That's all right,&rdquo; said Mother, hastily.
    </p>
    <p>
      The old gentleman looked very kindly at Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I see,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;you trust your children, and confide in them.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Of course,&rdquo; said Mother.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then I may tell them of our little arrangement,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Your Mother,
      my dears, has consented to give up writing for a little while and to
      become a Matron of my Hospital.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Phyllis, blankly; &ldquo;and shall we have to go away from Three
      Chimneys and the Railway and everything?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, no, darling,&rdquo; said Mother, hurriedly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The Hospital is called Three Chimneys Hospital,&rdquo; said the old gentleman,
      &ldquo;and my unlucky Jim's the only patient, and I hope he'll continue to be
      so. Your Mother will be Matron, and there'll be a hospital staff of a
      housemaid and a cook&mdash;till Jim's well.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And then will Mother go on writing again?&rdquo; asked Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;We shall see,&rdquo; said the old gentleman, with a slight, swift glance at
      Bobbie; &ldquo;perhaps something nice may happen and she won't have to.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I love my writing,&rdquo; said Mother, very quickly.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I know,&rdquo; said the old gentleman; &ldquo;don't be afraid that I'm going to try
      to interfere. But one never knows. Very wonderful and beautiful things do
      happen, don't they? And we live most of our lives in the hope of them. I
      may come again to see the boy?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Surely,&rdquo; said Mother, &ldquo;and I don't know how to thank you for making it
      possible for me to nurse him. Dear boy!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He kept calling Mother, Mother, in the night,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;I woke up
      twice and heard him.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;He didn't mean me,&rdquo; said Mother, in a low voice to the old gentleman;
      &ldquo;that's why I wanted so much to keep him.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The old gentleman rose.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'm so glad,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;that you're going to keep him, Mother.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Take care of your Mother, my dears,&rdquo; said the old gentleman. &ldquo;She's a
      woman in a million.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, isn't she?&rdquo; whispered Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;God bless her,&rdquo; said the old gentleman, taking both Mother's hands, &ldquo;God
      bless her! Ay, and she shall be blessed. Dear me, where's my hat? Will
      Bobbie come with me to the gate?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      At the gate he stopped and said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You're a good child, my dear&mdash;I got your letter. But it wasn't
      needed. When I read about your Father's case in the papers at the time, I
      had my doubts. And ever since I've known who you were, I've been trying to
      find out things. I haven't done very much yet. But I have hopes, my dear&mdash;I
      have hopes.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Bobbie, choking a little.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes&mdash;I may say great hopes. But keep your secret a little longer.
      Wouldn't do to upset your Mother with a false hope, would it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh, but it isn't false!&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;I KNOW you can do it. I knew you
      could when I wrote. It isn't a false hope, is it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I don't think it's a false hope, or I wouldn't have told
      you. And I think you deserve to be told that there IS a hope.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;And you don't think Father did it, do you? Oh, say you don't think he
      did.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;My dear,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I'm perfectly CERTAIN he didn't.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      If it was a false hope, it was none the less a very radiant one that lay
      warm at Bobbie's heart, and through the days that followed lighted her
      little face as a Japanese lantern is lighted by the candle within.
    </p>
    <p>
      <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014">
      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
    </p>
    <div style="height: 4em;">
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </div>
    <h2>
      Chapter XIV. The End.
    </h2>
    <p>
      Life at the Three Chimneys was never quite the same again after the old
      gentleman came to see his grandson. Although they now knew his name, the
      children never spoke of him by it&mdash;at any rate, when they were by
      themselves. To them he was always the old gentleman, and I think he had
      better be the old gentleman to us, too. It wouldn't make him seem any more
      real to you, would it, if I were to tell you that his name was Snooks or
      Jenkins (which it wasn't)?&mdash;and, after all, I must be allowed to keep
      one secret. It's the only one; I have told you everything else, except
      what I am going to tell you in this chapter, which is the last. At least,
      of course, I haven't told you EVERYTHING. If I were to do that, the book
      would never come to an end, and that would be a pity, wouldn't it?
    </p>
    <p>
      Well, as I was saying, life at Three Chimneys was never quite the same
      again. The cook and the housemaid were very nice (I don't mind telling you
      their names&mdash;they were Clara and Ethelwyn), but they told Mother they
      did not seem to want Mrs. Viney, and that she was an old muddler. So Mrs.
      Viney came only two days a week to do washing and ironing. Then Clara and
      Ethelwyn said they could do the work all right if they weren't interfered
      with, and that meant that the children no longer got the tea and cleared
      it away and washed up the tea-things and dusted the rooms.
    </p>
    <p>
      This would have left quite a blank in their lives, although they had often
      pretended to themselves and to each other that they hated housework. But
      now that Mother had no writing and no housework to do, she had time for
      lessons. And lessons the children had to do. However nice the person who
      is teaching you may be, lessons are lessons all the world over, and at
      their best are worse fun than peeling potatoes or lighting a fire.
    </p>
    <p>
      On the other hand, if Mother now had time for lessons, she also had time
      for play, and to make up little rhymes for the children as she used to do.
      She had not had much time for rhymes since she came to Three Chimneys.
    </p>
    <p>
      There was one very odd thing about these lessons. Whatever the children
      were doing, they always wanted to be doing something else. When Peter was
      doing his Latin, he thought it would be nice to be learning History like
      Bobbie. Bobbie would have preferred Arithmetic, which was what Phyllis
      happened to be doing, and Phyllis of course thought Latin much the most
      interesting kind of lesson. And so on.
    </p>
    <p>
      So, one day, when they sat down to lessons, each of them found a little
      rhyme at its place. I put the rhymes in to show you that their Mother
      really did understand a little how children feel about things, and also
      the kind of words they use, which is the case with very few grown-up
      people. I suppose most grown-ups have very bad memories, and have
      forgotten how they felt when they were little. Of course, the verses are
      supposed to be spoken by the children.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
               PETER

     I once thought Caesar easy pap&mdash;
       How very soft I must have been!
     When they start Caesar with a chap
       He little know what that will mean.
     Oh, verbs are silly stupid things.
     I'd rather learn the dates of kings!

               BOBBIE

     The worst of all my lesson things
       Is learning who succeeded who
     In all the rows of queens and kings,
       With dates to everything they do:
     With dates enough to make you sick;&mdash;
     I wish it was Arithmetic!

               PHYLLIS

     Such pounds and pounds of apples fill
       My slate&mdash;what is the price you'd spend?
     You scratch the figures out until
       You cry upon the dividend.
     I'd break the slate and scream for joy
     If I did Latin like a boy!
</pre>
    <p>
      This kind of thing, of course, made lessons much jollier. It is something
      to know that the person who is teaching you sees that it is not all plain
      sailing for you, and does not think that it is just your stupidness that
      makes you not know your lessons till you've learned them!
    </p>
    <p>
      Then as Jim's leg got better it was very pleasant to go up and sit with
      him and hear tales about his school life and the other boys. There was one
      boy, named Parr, of whom Jim seemed to have formed the lowest possible
      opinion, and another boy named Wigsby Minor, for whose views Jim had a
      great respect. Also there were three brothers named Paley, and the
      youngest was called Paley Terts, and was much given to fighting.
    </p>
    <p>
      Peter drank in all this with deep joy, and Mother seemed to have listened
      with some interest, for one day she gave Jim a sheet of paper on which she
      had written a rhyme about Parr, bringing in Paley and Wigsby by name in a
      most wonderful way, as well as all the reasons Jim had for not liking
      Parr, and Wigsby's wise opinion on the matter. Jim was immensely pleased.
      He had never had a rhyme written expressly for him before. He read it till
      he knew it by heart and then he sent it to Wigsby, who liked it almost as
      much as Jim did. Perhaps you may like it, too.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
               THE NEW BOY

     His name is Parr:  he says that he
     Is given bread and milk for tea.
     He says his father killed a bear.
     He says his mother cuts his hair.

     He wears goloshes when it's wet.
     I've heard his people call him &ldquo;Pet&rdquo;!
     He has no proper sense of shame;
     He told the chaps his Christian name.

     He cannot wicket-keep at all,
     He's frightened of a cricket ball.
     He reads indoors for hours and hours.
     He knows the names of beastly flowers.

     He says his French just like Mossoo&mdash;
     A beastly stuck-up thing to do&mdash;
     He won't keep <i>cave</i>, shirks his turn
     And says he came to school to learn!

     He won't play football, says it hurts;
     He wouldn't fight with Paley Terts;
     He couldn't whistle if he tried,
     And when we laughed at him he cried!

     Now Wigsby Minor says that Parr
     Is only like all new boys are.
     I know when <i>I</i> first came to school
     I wasn't such a jolly fool!
</pre>
    <p>
      Jim could never understand how Mother could have been clever enough to do
      it. To the others it seemed nice, but natural. You see they had always
      been used to having a mother who could write verses just like the way
      people talk, even to the shocking expression at the end of the rhyme,
      which was Jim's very own.
    </p>
    <p>
      Jim taught Peter to play chess and draughts and dominoes, and altogether
      it was a nice quiet time.
    </p>
    <p>
      Only Jim's leg got better and better, and a general feeling began to
      spring up among Bobbie, Peter, and Phyllis that something ought to be done
      to amuse him; not just games, but something really handsome. But it was
      extraordinarily difficult to think of anything.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It's no good,&rdquo; said Peter, when all of them had thought and thought till
      their heads felt quite heavy and swollen; &ldquo;if we can't think of anything
      to amuse him, we just can't, and there's an end of it. Perhaps something
      will just happen of its own accord that he'll like.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Things DO happen by themselves sometimes, without your making them,&rdquo; said
      Phyllis, rather as though, usually, everything that happened in the world
      was her doing.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wish something would happen,&rdquo; said Bobbie, dreamily, &ldquo;something
      wonderful.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      And something wonderful did happen exactly four days after she had said
      this. I wish I could say it was three days after, because in fairy tales
      it is always three days after that things happen. But this is not a fairy
      story, and besides, it really was four and not three, and I am nothing if
      not strictly truthful.
    </p>
    <p>
      They seemed to be hardly Railway children at all in those days, and as the
      days went on each had an uneasy feeling about this which Phyllis expressed
      one day.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I wonder if the Railway misses us,&rdquo; she said, plaintively. &ldquo;We never go
      to see it now.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It seems ungrateful,&rdquo; said Bobbie; &ldquo;we loved it so when we hadn't anyone
      else to play with.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Perks is always coming up to ask after Jim,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;and the
      signalman's little boy is better. He told me so.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I didn't mean the people,&rdquo; explained Phyllis; &ldquo;I meant the dear Railway
      itself.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The thing I don't like,&rdquo; said Bobbie, on this fourth day, which was a
      Tuesday, &ldquo;is our having stopped waving to the 9.15 and sending our love to
      Father by it.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Let's begin again,&rdquo; said Phyllis. And they did.
    </p>
    <p>
      Somehow the change of everything that was made by having servants in the
      house and Mother not doing any writing, made the time seem extremely long
      since that strange morning at the beginning of things, when they had got
      up so early and burnt the bottom out of the kettle and had apple pie for
      breakfast and first seen the Railway.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was September now, and the turf on the slope to the Railway was dry and
      crisp. Little long grass spikes stood up like bits of gold wire, frail
      blue harebells trembled on their tough, slender stalks, Gipsy roses opened
      wide and flat their lilac-coloured discs, and the golden stars of St.
      John's Wort shone at the edges of the pool that lay halfway to the
      Railway. Bobbie gathered a generous handful of the flowers and thought how
      pretty they would look lying on the green-and-pink blanket of silk-waste
      that now covered Jim's poor broken leg.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hurry up,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;or we shall miss the 9.15!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I can't hurry more than I am doing,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;Oh, bother it! My
      bootlace has come undone AGAIN!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;When you're married,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;your bootlace will come undone going
      up the church aisle, and your man that you're going to get married to will
      tumble over it and smash his nose in on the ornamented pavement; and then
      you'll say you won't marry him, and you'll have to be an old maid.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I shan't,&rdquo; said Phyllis. &ldquo;I'd much rather marry a man with his nose
      smashed in than not marry anybody.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It would be horrid to marry a man with a smashed nose, all the same,&rdquo;
       went on Bobbie. &ldquo;He wouldn't be able to smell the flowers at the wedding.
      Wouldn't that be awful!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Bother the flowers at the wedding!&rdquo; cried Peter. &ldquo;Look! the signal's
      down. We must run!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      They ran. And once more they waved their handkerchiefs, without at all
      minding whether the handkerchiefs were clean or not, to the 9.15.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Take our love to Father!&rdquo; cried Bobbie. And the others, too, shouted:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Take our love to Father!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The old gentleman waved from his first-class carriage window. Quite
      violently he waved. And there was nothing odd in that, for he always had
      waved. But what was really remarkable was that from every window
      handkerchiefs fluttered, newspapers signalled, hands waved wildly. The
      train swept by with a rustle and roar, the little pebbles jumped and
      danced under it as it passed, and the children were left looking at each
      other.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Well!&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;WELL!&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>WELL!</i>&rdquo; said Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Whatever on earth does that mean?&rdquo; asked Peter, but he did not expect any
      answer.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>I</i> don't know,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Perhaps the old gentleman told the
      people at his station to look out for us and wave. He knew we should like
      it!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Now, curiously enough, this was just what had happened. The old gentleman,
      who was very well known and respected at his particular station, had got
      there early that morning, and he had waited at the door where the young
      man stands holding the interesting machine that clips the tickets, and he
      had said something to every single passenger who passed through that door.
      And after nodding to what the old gentleman had said&mdash;and the nods
      expressed every shade of surprise, interest, doubt, cheerful pleasure, and
      grumpy agreement&mdash;each passenger had gone on to the platform and read
      one certain part of his newspaper. And when the passengers got into the
      train, they had told the other passengers who were already there what the
      old gentleman had said, and then the other passengers had also looked at
      their newspapers and seemed very astonished and, mostly, pleased. Then,
      when the train passed the fence where the three children were, newspapers
      and hands and handkerchiefs were waved madly, till all that side of the
      train was fluttery with white like the pictures of the King's Coronation
      in the biograph at Maskelyne and Cook's. To the children it almost seemed
      as though the train itself was alive, and was at last responding to the
      love that they had given it so freely and so long.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;It is most extraordinarily rum!&rdquo; said Peter.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Most stronery!&rdquo; echoed Phyllis.
    </p>
    <p>
      But Bobbie said, &ldquo;Don't you think the old gentleman's waves seemed more
      significating than usual?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said the others.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I do,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;I thought he was trying to explain something to us
      with his newspaper.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Explain what?&rdquo; asked Peter, not unnaturally.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>I</i> don't know,&rdquo; Bobbie answered, &ldquo;but I do feel most awfully funny.
      I feel just exactly as if something was going to happen.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What is going to happen,&rdquo; said Peter, &ldquo;is that Phyllis's stocking is
      going to come down.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      This was but too true. The suspender had given way in the agitation of the
      waves to the 9.15. Bobbie's handkerchief served as first aid to the
      injured, and they all went home.
    </p>
    <p>
      Lessons were more than usually difficult to Bobbie that day. Indeed, she
      disgraced herself so deeply over a quite simple sum about the division of
      48 pounds of meat and 36 pounds of bread among 144 hungry children that
      Mother looked at her anxiously.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Don't you feel quite well, dear?&rdquo; she asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I don't know,&rdquo; was Bobbie's unexpected answer. &ldquo;I don't know how I feel.
      It isn't that I'm lazy. Mother, will you let me off lessons to-day? I feel
      as if I wanted to be quite alone by myself.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes, of course I'll let you off,&rdquo; said Mother; &ldquo;but&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie dropped her slate. It cracked just across the little green mark
      that is so useful for drawing patterns round, and it was never the same
      slate again. Without waiting to pick it up she bolted. Mother caught her
      in the hall feeling blindly among the waterproofs and umbrellas for her
      garden hat.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;What is it, my sweetheart?&rdquo; said Mother. &ldquo;You don't feel ill, do you?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I DON'T know,&rdquo; Bobbie answered, a little breathlessly, &ldquo;but I want to be
      by myself and see if my head really IS all silly and my inside all
      squirmy-twisty.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hadn't you better lie down?&rdquo; Mother said, stroking her hair back from her
      forehead.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'd be more alive in the garden, I think,&rdquo; said Bobbie.
    </p>
    <p>
      But she could not stay in the garden. The hollyhocks and the asters and
      the late roses all seemed to be waiting for something to happen. It was
      one of those still, shiny autumn days, when everything does seem to be
      waiting.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie could not wait.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I'll go down to the station,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;and talk to Perks and ask about
      the signalman's little boy.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      So she went down. On the way she passed the old lady from the Post-office,
      who gave her a kiss and a hug, but, rather to Bobbie's surprise, no words
      except:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;God bless you, love&mdash;&rdquo; and, after a pause, &ldquo;run along&mdash;do.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The draper's boy, who had sometimes been a little less than civil and a
      little more than contemptuous, now touched his cap, and uttered the
      remarkable words:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;'Morning, Miss, I'm sure&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The blacksmith, coming along with an open newspaper in his hand, was even
      more strange in his manner. He grinned broadly, though, as a rule, he was
      a man not given to smiles, and waved the newspaper long before he came up
      to her. And as he passed her, he said, in answer to her &ldquo;Good morning&rdquo;:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Good morning to you, Missie, and many of them! I wish you joy, that I
      do!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Bobbie to herself, and her heart quickened its beats,
      &ldquo;something IS going to happen! I know it is&mdash;everyone is so odd, like
      people are in dreams.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The Station Master wrung her hand warmly. In fact he worked it up and down
      like a pump-handle. But he gave her no reason for this unusually
      enthusiastic greeting. He only said:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;The 11.54's a bit late, Miss&mdash;the extra luggage this holiday time,&rdquo;
       and went away very quickly into that inner Temple of his into which even
      Bobbie dared not follow him.
    </p>
    <p>
      Perks was not to be seen, and Bobbie shared the solitude of the platform
      with the Station Cat. This tortoiseshell lady, usually of a retiring
      disposition, came to-day to rub herself against the brown stockings of
      Bobbie with arched back, waving tail, and reverberating purrs.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Dear me!&rdquo; said Bobbie, stooping to stroke her, &ldquo;how very kind everybody
      is to-day&mdash;even you, Pussy!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      Perks did not appear until the 11.54 was signalled, and then he, like
      everybody else that morning, had a newspaper in his hand.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Hullo!&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;'ere you are. Well, if THIS is the train, it'll be
      smart work! Well, God bless you, my dear! I see it in the paper, and I
      don't think I was ever so glad of anything in all my born days!&rdquo; He looked
      at Bobbie a moment, then said, &ldquo;One I must have, Miss, and no offence, I
      know, on a day like this 'ere!&rdquo; and with that he kissed her, first on one
      cheek and then on the other.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;You ain't offended, are you?&rdquo; he asked anxiously. &ldquo;I ain't took too great
      a liberty? On a day like this, you know&mdash;&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;No, no,&rdquo; said Bobbie, &ldquo;of course it's not a liberty, dear Mr. Perks; we
      love you quite as much as if you were an uncle of ours&mdash;but&mdash;on
      a day like WHAT?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Like this 'ere!&rdquo; said Perks. &ldquo;Don't I tell you I see it in the paper?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Saw WHAT in the paper?&rdquo; asked Bobbie, but already the 11.54 was steaming
      into the station and the Station Master was looking at all the places
      where Perks was not and ought to have been.
    </p>
    <p>
      Bobbie was left standing alone, the Station Cat watching her from under
      the bench with friendly golden eyes.
    </p>
    <p>
      Of course you know already exactly what was going to happen. Bobbie was
      not so clever. She had the vague, confused, expectant feeling that comes
      to one's heart in dreams. What her heart expected I can't tell&mdash;perhaps
      the very thing that you and I know was going to happen&mdash;but her mind
      expected nothing; it was almost blank, and felt nothing but tiredness and
      stupidness and an empty feeling, like your body has when you have been a
      long walk and it is very far indeed past your proper dinner-time.
    </p>
    <p>
      Only three people got out of the 11.54. The first was a countryman with
      two baskety boxes full of live chickens who stuck their russet heads out
      anxiously through the wicker bars; the second was Miss Peckitt, the
      grocer's wife's cousin, with a tin box and three brown-paper parcels; and
      the third&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Oh! my Daddy, my Daddy!&rdquo; That scream went like a knife into the heart of
      everyone in the train, and people put their heads out of the windows to
      see a tall pale man with lips set in a thin close line, and a little girl
      clinging to him with arms and legs, while his arms went tightly round her.
    </p>
<pre xml:space="preserve">
         *          *          *          *          *          *
</pre>
    <p>
      &ldquo;I knew something wonderful was going to happen,&rdquo; said Bobbie, as they
      went up the road, &ldquo;but I didn't think it was going to be this. Oh, my
      Daddy, my Daddy!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Then didn't Mother get my letter?&rdquo; Father asked.
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;There weren't any letters this morning. Oh! Daddy! it IS really you,
      isn't it?&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      The clasp of a hand she had not forgotten assured her that it was. &ldquo;You
      must go in by yourself, Bobbie, and tell Mother quite quietly that it's
      all right. They've caught the man who did it. Everyone knows now that it
      wasn't your Daddy.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;<i>I</i> always knew it wasn't,&rdquo; said Bobbie. &ldquo;Me and Mother and our old
      gentleman.&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;it's all his doing. Mother wrote and told me you had
      found out. And she told me what you'd been to her. My own little girl!&rdquo;
       They stopped a minute then.
    </p>
    <p>
      And now I see them crossing the field. Bobbie goes into the house, trying
      to keep her eyes from speaking before her lips have found the right words
      to &ldquo;tell Mother quite quietly&rdquo; that the sorrow and the struggle and the
      parting are over and done, and that Father has come home.
    </p>
    <p>
      I see Father walking in the garden, waiting&mdash;waiting. He is looking
      at the flowers, and each flower is a miracle to eyes that all these months
      of Spring and Summer have seen only flagstones and gravel and a little
      grudging grass. But his eyes keep turning towards the house. And presently
      he leaves the garden and goes to stand outside the nearest door. It is the
      back door, and across the yard the swallows are circling. They are getting
      ready to fly away from cold winds and keen frost to the land where it is
      always summer. They are the same swallows that the children built the
      little clay nests for.
    </p>
    <p>
      Now the house door opens. Bobbie's voice calls:&mdash;
    </p>
    <p>
      &ldquo;Come in, Daddy; come in!&rdquo;
     </p>
    <p>
      He goes in and the door is shut. I think we will not open the door or
      follow him. I think that just now we are not wanted there. I think it will
      be best for us to go quickly and quietly away. At the end of the field,
      among the thin gold spikes of grass and the harebells and Gipsy roses and
      St. John's Wort, we may just take one last look, over our shoulders, at
      the white house where neither we nor anyone else is wanted now.
    </p>
    <p>
      <br /><br /><br /><br />
    </p>

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