第8章

\"Notevenifshe’syourownsister。That’sbecausegirlsaresomuchsofterandweakerthanweare;theyhavetobe，youknow，\"headded，\"becauseiftheyweren’t，itwouldn’tbeniceforthebabies。 Andthat’swhyalltheanimalsaresogoodtothemotheranimals。 Theyneverfightthem，youknow。\" \"Iknow，\"saidPeter，interested;\"twobuckrabbitswillfightalldayifyouletthem，buttheywon’thurtadoe。\" \"No;andquitewildbeasts——lionsandelephants——they’reimmenselygentlewiththefemalebeasts。Andwe’vegottobe，too。\" \"Isee，\"saidPeter。 \"Andtheirheartsaresoft，too，\"theDoctorwenton，\"andthingsthatweshouldn’tthinkanythingofhurtthemdreadfully。Sothatamanhastobeverycareful，notonlyofhisfists，butofhiswords。 They’reawfullybrave，youknow，\"hewenton。\"ThinkofBobbiewaitingaloneinthetunnelwiththatpoorchap。It’sanoddthing— —thesofterandmoreeasilyhurtawomanisthebettershecanscrewherselfuptodowhatHAStobedone。I’veseensomebravewomen—— yourMother’sone，\"heendedabruptly。 \"Yes，\"saidPeter。 \"Well，that’sall。Excusemymentioningit。Butnobodyknowseverythingwithoutbeingtold。AndyouseewhatImean，don’tyou？\" \"Yes，\"saidPeter。\"I’msorry。There！\" \"Ofcourseyouare！Peoplealwaysare——directlytheyunderstand。 Everyoneoughttobetaughtthesescientificfacts。Solong！\" Theyshookhandsheartily。WhenPetercamehome，hissisterslookedathimdoubtfully。 \"It’sPax，\"saidPeter，dumpingdownthebasketonthetable。\"Dr。 Forresthasbeentalkingscientifictome。No，it’snousemytellingyouwhathesaid;youwouldn’tunderstand。Butitallcomestoyougirlsbeingpoor，soft，weak，frightenedthingslikerabbits，sousmenhavejustgottoputupwiththem。Hesaidyouwerefemalebeasts。ShallItakethisuptoMother，orwillyou？\" \"IknowwhatBOYSare，\"saidPhyllis，withflamingcheeks;\"they’rejustthenastiest，rudest——\" \"They’reverybrave，\"saidBobbie，\"sometimes。\" \"Ah，youmeanthechapupstairs？Isee。Goahead，Phil——Ishallputupwithyouwhateveryousaybecauseyou’reapoor，weak，frightened，soft——\" \"NotifIpullyourhairyouwon’t，\"saidPhyllis，springingathim。 \"Hesaid’Pax，’\"saidBobbie，pullingheraway。\"Don’tyousee，\" shewhisperedasPeterpickedupthebasketandstalkedoutwithit，\"he’ssorry，really，onlyhewon’tsayso？Let’ssaywe’resorry。\" \"It’ssogoodygoody，\"saidPhyllis，doubtfully;\"hesaidwewerefemalebeasts，andsoftandfrightened——\" \"Thenlet’sshowhimwe’renotfrightenedofhimthinkingusgoodygoody，\"saidBobbie;\"andwe’renotanymorebeaststhanheis。\" AndwhenPetercameback，stillwithhischinintheair，Bobbiesaid：—— \"We’resorrywetiedyouup，Pete。\" \"Ithoughtyouwouldbe，\"saidPeter，verystiffandsuperior。 Thiswashardtobear。But—— \"Well，soweare，\"saidBobbie。\"Nowlethonourbesatisfiedonbothsides。\" \"IdidcallitPax，\"saidPeter，inaninjuredtone。 \"ThenletitBEPax，\"saidBobbie。\"Comeon，Phil，let’sgetthetea。Pete，youmightlaythecloth。\" \"Isay，\"saidPhyllis，whenpeacewasreallyrestored，whichwasnottilltheywerewashingupthecupsaftertea，\"Dr。Forrestdidn’tREALLYsaywewerefemalebeasts，didhe？\" \"Yes，\"saidPeter，firmly，\"butIthinkhemeantwemenwerewildbeasts，too。\" \"Howfunnyofhim！\"saidPhyllis，breakingacup。 ****** \"MayIcomein，Mother？\"PeterwasatthedoorofMother’swritingroom，whereMothersatathertablewithtwocandlesinfrontofher。Theirflameslookedorangeandvioletagainstthecleargreyblueoftheskywherealreadyafewstarsweretwinkling。 \"Yes，dear，\"saidMother，absently，\"anythingwrong？\"Shewroteafewmorewordsandthenlaiddownherpenandbegantofoldupwhatshehadwritten。\"IwasjustwritingtoJim’sgrandfather。Helivesnearhere，youknow。\" \"Yes，yousaidsoattea。That’swhatIwanttosay。Mustyouwritetohim，Mother？Couldn’twekeepJim，andnotsayanythingtohispeopletillhe’swell？Itwouldbesuchasurpriseforthem。\" \"Well，yes，\"saidMother，laughing，\"Ithinkitwould。\" \"Yousee，\"Peterwenton，\"ofcoursethegirlsareallrightandallthat——I’mnotsayinganythingagainstTHEM。ButIshouldlikeitifIhadanotherchaptotalktosometimes。\" \"Yes，\"saidMother，\"Iknowit’sdullforyou，dear。ButIcan’thelpit。NextyearperhapsIcansendyoutoschool——you’dlikethat，wouldn’tyou？\" \"Idomisstheotherchaps，rather，\"Peterconfessed;\"butifJimcouldstayafterhislegwaswell，wecouldhaveawfullarks。\" \"I’venodoubtofit，\"saidMother。\"Well——perhapshecould，butyouknow，dear，we’renotrich。Ican’taffordtogethimeverythinghe’llwant。Andhemusthaveanurse。\" \"Can’tyounursehim，Mother？Youdonursepeoplesobeautifully。\" \"That’saprettycompliment，Pete——butIcan’tdonursingandmywritingaswell。That’stheworstofit。\" \"ThenyouMUSTsendthelettertohisgrandfather？\" \"Ofcourse——andtohisschoolmaster，too。Wetelegraphedtothemboth，butImustwriteaswell。They’llbemostdreadfullyanxious。\" \"Isay，Mother，whycan’thisgrandfatherpayforanurse？\"Petersuggested。\"Thatwouldberipping。Iexpecttheoldboy’srollinginmoney。Grandfathersinbooksalwaysare。\" \"Well，thisoneisn’tinabook，\"saidMother，\"sowemustn’texpecthimtorollmuch。\" \"Isay，\"saidPeter，musingly，\"wouldn’titbejollyifweallWERE inabook，andyouwerewritingit？Thenyoucouldmakeallsortsofjollythingshappen，andmakeJim’slegsgetwellatonceandbeallrightto—morrow，andFathercomehomesoonand——\" \"DoyoumissyourFatherverymuch？\"Motherasked，rathercoldly，Peterthought。 \"Awfully，\"saidPeter，briefly。 Motherwasenvelopingandaddressingthesecondletter。 \"Yousee，\"Peterwentonslowly，\"yousee，it’snotonlyhimBEING Father，butnowhe’sawaythere’snoothermaninthehousebutme—— that’swhyIwantJimtostaysofrightfullymuch。Wouldn’tyouliketobewritingthatbookwithusallinit，Mother，andmakeDaddycomehomesoon？\" Peter’sMotherputherarmroundhimsuddenly，andhuggedhiminsilenceforaminute。Thenshesaid：—— \"Don’tyouthinkit’srathernicetothinkthatwe’reinabookthatGod’swriting？IfIwerewritingthebook，Imightmakemistakes。 ButGodknowshowtomakethestoryendjustright——inthewaythat’sbestforus。\" \"Doyoureallybelievethat，Mother？\"Peteraskedquietly。 \"Yes，\"shesaid，\"Idobelieveit——almostalways——exceptwhenI’msosadthatIcan’tbelieveanything。ButevenwhenIcan’tbelieveit，Iknowit’strue——andItrytobelieve。Youdon’tknowhowI try，Peter。Nowtaketheletterstothepost，anddon’tlet’sbesadanymore。Courage，courage！That’sthefinestofallthevirtues！IdaresayJimwillbeherefortwoorthreeweeksyet。\" ForwhatwasleftoftheeveningPeterwassoangelicthatBobbiefearedhewasgoingtobeill。ShewasquiterelievedinthemorningtofindhimplaitingPhyllis’shairontothebackofherchairinquitehisoldmanner。 Itwassoonafterbreakfastthataknockcameatthedoor。ThechildrenwerehardatworkcleaningthebrasscandlesticksinhonourofJim’svisit。 \"That’llbetheDoctor，\"saidMother;\"I’llgo。Shutthekitchendoor——you’renotfittobeseen。\" Butitwasn’ttheDoctor。Theyknewthatbythevoiceandbythesoundofthebootsthatwentupstairs。Theydidnotrecognisethesoundoftheboots，buteveryonewascertainthattheyhadheardthevoicebefore。 Therewasalongishinterval。Thebootsandthevoicedidnotcomedownagain。 \"Whocanitpossiblybe？\"theykeptonaskingthemselvesandeachother。 \"Perhaps，\"saidPeteratlast，\"Dr。Forresthasbeenattackedbyhighwaymenandleftfordead，andthisisthemanhe’stelegraphedfortotakehisplace。Mrs。Vineysaidhehadalocaltenanttodohisworkwhenhewentforaholiday，didn’tyou，Mrs。Viney？\" \"Ididso，mydear，\"saidMrs。Vineyfromthebackkitchen。 \"He’sfallendowninafit，morelikely，saidPhyllis，\"allhumanaiddespairedof。AndthisishismancometobreakthenewstoMother。\" \"Nonsense！\"saidPeter，briskly;\"Motherwouldn’thavetakenthemanupintoJim’sbedroom。Whyshouldshe？Listen——thedoor’sopening。 Nowthey’llcomedown。I’llopenthedooracrack。\" Hedid。 \"It’snotlistening，\"herepliedindignantlytoBobbie’sscandalisedremarks;\"nobodyintheirsenseswouldtalksecretsonthestairs。 AndMothercan’thavesecretstotalkwithDr。Forrest’sstable—man— —andyousaiditwashim。\" \"Bobbie，\"calledMother’svoice。 Theyopenedthekitchendoor，andMotherleanedoverthestairrailing。 \"Jim’sgrandfatherhascome，\"shesaid;\"washyourhandsandfacesandthenyoucanseehim。Hewantstoseeyou！\"Thebedroomdoorshutagain。 \"Therenow！\"saidPeter;\"fancyusnoteventhinkingofthat！Let’shavesomehotwater，Mrs。Viney。I’masblackasyourhat。\" Thethreewereindeeddirty，forthestuffyoucleanbrasscandlestickswithisveryfarfromcleaningtothecleaner。 Theywerestillbusywithsoapandflannelwhentheyheardthebootsandthevoicecomedownthestairsandgointothedining—room。Andwhentheywereclean，thoughstilldamp——becauseittakessuchalongtimetodryyourhandsproperly，andtheywereveryimpatienttoseethegrandfather——theyfiledintothedining—room。 Motherwassittinginthewindow—seat，andintheleather—coveredarmchairthatFatheralwaysusedtositinattheotherhousesat—— THEIROWNOLDGENTLEMAN！ \"Well，Ineverdid，\"saidPeter，evenbeforehesaid，\"Howdoyoudo？\"Hewas，asheexplainedafterwards，toosurprisedeventorememberthattherewassuchathingaspoliteness——muchlesstopractiseit。 \"It’sourownoldgentleman！\"saidPhyllis。 \"Oh，it’syou！\"saidBobbie。Andthentheyrememberedthemselvesandtheirmannersandsaid，\"Howdoyoudo？\"verynicely。 \"ThisisJim’sgrandfather，Mr。——\"saidMother，namingtheoldgentleman’sname。 \"Howsplendid！\"saidPeter;\"that’sjustexactlylikeabook，isn’tit，Mother？\" \"Itis，rather，\"saidMother，smiling;\"thingsdohappeninreallifethatareratherlikebooks，sometimes。\" \"IamsoawfullygladitISyou，\"saidPhyllis;\"whenyouthinkofthetonsofoldgentlementhereareintheworld——itmighthavebeenalmostanyone。\" \"Isay，though，\"saidPeter，\"you’renotgoingtotakeJimaway，though，areyou？\" \"Notatpresent，\"saidtheoldgentleman。\"YourMotherhasmostkindlyconsentedtolethimstayhere。Ithoughtofsendinganurse，butyourMotherisgoodenoughtosaythatshewillnursehimherself。\" \"Butwhataboutherwriting？\"saidPeter，beforeanyonecouldstophim。\"Therewon’tbeanythingforhimtoeatifMotherdoesn’twrite。\" \"That’sallright，\"saidMother，hastily。 TheoldgentlemanlookedverykindlyatMother。 \"Isee，\"hesaid，\"youtrustyourchildren，andconfideinthem。\" \"Ofcourse，\"saidMother。 \"ThenImaytellthemofourlittlearrangement，\"hesaid。\"YourMother，mydears，hasconsentedtogiveupwritingforalittlewhileandtobecomeaMatronofmyHospital。\" \"Oh！\"saidPhyllis，blankly;\"andshallwehavetogoawayfromThreeChimneysandtheRailwayandeverything？\" \"No，no，darling，\"saidMother，hurriedly。 \"TheHospitaliscalledThreeChimneysHospital，\"saidtheoldgentleman，\"andmyunluckyJim’stheonlypatient，andIhopehe’llcontinuetobeso。YourMotherwillbeMatron，andthere’llbeahospitalstaffofahousemaidandacook——tillJim’swell。\" \"AndthenwillMothergoonwritingagain？\"askedPeter。 \"Weshallsee，\"saidtheoldgentleman，withaslight，swiftglanceatBobbie;\"perhapssomethingnicemayhappenandshewon’thaveto。\" \"Ilovemywriting，\"saidMother，veryquickly。 \"Iknow，\"saidtheoldgentleman;\"don’tbeafraidthatI’mgoingtotrytointerfere。Butoneneverknows。Verywonderfulandbeautifulthingsdohappen，don’tthey？Andwelivemostofourlivesinthehopeofthem。Imaycomeagaintoseetheboy？\" \"Surely，\"saidMother，\"andIdon’tknowhowtothankyouformakingitpossibleformetonursehim。Dearboy！\" \"HekeptcallingMother，Mother，inthenight，\"saidPhyllis。\"I wokeuptwiceandheardhim。\" \"Hedidn’tmeanme，\"saidMother，inalowvoicetotheoldgentleman;\"that’swhyIwantedsomuchtokeephim。\" Theoldgentlemanrose。 \"I’msoglad，\"saidPeter，\"thatyou’regoingtokeephim，Mother。\" \"TakecareofyourMother，mydears，\"saidtheoldgentleman。 \"She’sawomaninamillion。\" \"Yes，isn’tshe？\"whisperedBobbie。 \"Godblessher，\"saidtheoldgentleman，takingbothMother’shands，\"Godblessher！Ay，andsheshallbeblessed。Dearme，where’smyhat？WillBobbiecomewithmetothegate？\" Atthegatehestoppedandsaid：—— \"You’reagoodchild，mydear——Igotyourletter。Butitwasn’tneeded。WhenIreadaboutyourFather’scaseinthepapersatthetime，Ihadmydoubts。AndeversinceI’veknownwhoyouwere，I’vebeentryingtofindoutthings。Ihaven’tdoneverymuchyet。ButIhavehopes，mydear——Ihavehopes。\" \"Oh！\"saidBobbie，chokingalittle。 \"Yes——Imaysaygreathopes。Butkeepyoursecretalittlelonger。 Wouldn’tdotoupsetyourMotherwithafalsehope，wouldit？\" \"Oh，butitisn’tfalse！\"saidBobbie;\"IKNOWyoucandoit。I knewyoucouldwhenIwrote。Itisn’tafalsehope，isit？\" \"No，\"hesaid，\"Idon’tthinkit’safalsehope，orIwouldn’thavetoldyou。AndIthinkyoudeservetobetoldthatthereISahope。\" \"Andyoudon’tthinkFatherdidit，doyou？Oh，sayyoudon’tthinkhedid。\" \"Mydear，\"hesaid，\"I’mperfectlyCERTAINhedidn’t。\" Ifitwasafalsehope，itwasnonethelessaveryradiantonethatlaywarmatBobbie’sheart，andthroughthedaysthatfollowedlightedherlittlefaceasaJapaneselanternislightedbythecandlewithin。 ChapterXIV。TheEnd。 LifeattheThreeChimneyswasneverquitethesameagainaftertheoldgentlemancametoseehisgrandson。Althoughtheynowknewhisname，thechildrenneverspokeofhimbyit——atanyrate，whentheywerebythemselves。Tothemhewasalwaystheoldgentleman，andI thinkhehadbetterbetheoldgentlemantous，too。Itwouldn’tmakehimseemanymorerealtoyou，wouldit，ifIweretotellyouthathisnamewasSnooksorJenkins（whichitwasn’t）？——and，afterall，Imustbeallowedtokeeponesecret。It’stheonlyone;I havetoldyoueverythingelse，exceptwhatIamgoingtotellyouinthischapter，whichisthelast。Atleast，ofcourse，Ihaven’ttoldyouEVERYTHING。IfIweretodothat，thebookwouldnevercometoanend，andthatwouldbeapity，wouldn’tit？ Well，asIwassaying，lifeatThreeChimneyswasneverquitethesameagain。Thecookandthehousemaidwereverynice（Idon’tmindtellingyoutheirnames——theywereClaraandEthelwyn），buttheytoldMothertheydidnotseemtowantMrs。Viney，andthatshewasanoldmuddler。SoMrs。Vineycameonlytwodaysaweektodowashingandironing。ThenClaraandEthelwynsaidtheycoulddotheworkallrightiftheyweren’tinterferedwith，andthatmeantthatthechildrennolongergottheteaandcleareditawayandwashedupthetea—thingsanddustedtherooms。 Thiswouldhaveleftquiteablankintheirlives，althoughtheyhadoftenpretendedtothemselvesandtoeachotherthattheyhatedhousework。ButnowthatMotherhadnowritingandnohouseworktodo，shehadtimeforlessons。Andlessonsthechildrenhadtodo。 Howevernicethepersonwhoisteachingyoumaybe，lessonsarelessonsalltheworldover，andattheirbestareworsefunthanpeelingpotatoesorlightingafire。 Ontheotherhand，ifMothernowhadtimeforlessons，shealsohadtimeforplay，andtomakeuplittlerhymesforthechildrenassheusedtodo。ShehadnothadmuchtimeforrhymessinceshecametoThreeChimneys。 Therewasoneveryoddthingabouttheselessons。Whateverthechildrenweredoing，theyalwayswantedtobedoingsomethingelse。 WhenPeterwasdoinghisLatin，hethoughtitwouldbenicetobelearningHistorylikeBobbie。BobbiewouldhavepreferredArithmetic，whichwaswhatPhyllishappenedtobedoing，andPhyllisofcoursethoughtLatinmuchthemostinterestingkindoflesson。 Andsoon。 So，oneday，whentheysatdowntolessons，eachofthemfoundalittlerhymeatitsplace。IputtherhymesintoshowyouthattheirMotherreallydidunderstandalittlehowchildrenfeelaboutthings，andalsothekindofwordstheyuse，whichisthecasewithveryfewgrown—uppeople。Isupposemostgrown—upshaveverybadmemories，andhaveforgottenhowtheyfeltwhentheywerelittle。 Ofcourse，theversesaresupposedtobespokenbythechildren。 PETER IoncethoughtCaesareasypap—— HowverysoftImusthavebeen！ WhentheystartCaesarwithachapHelittleknowwhatthatwillmean。 Oh，verbsaresillystupidthings。 I’dratherlearnthedatesofkings！ BOBBIE TheworstofallmylessonthingsIslearningwhosucceededwhoInalltherowsofqueensandkings，Withdatestoeverythingtheydo： Withdatesenoughtomakeyousick;—— IwishitwasArithmetic！ PHYLLIS SuchpoundsandpoundsofapplesfillMyslate——whatisthepriceyou’dspend？ YouscratchthefiguresoutuntilYoucryuponthedividend。 I’dbreaktheslateandscreamforjoyIfIdidLatinlikeaboy！ Thiskindofthing，ofcourse，madelessonsmuchjollier。Itissomethingtoknowthatthepersonwhoisteachingyouseesthatitisnotallplainsailingforyou，anddoesnotthinkthatitisjustyourstupidnessthatmakesyounotknowyourlessonstillyou’velearnedthem！ ThenasJim’sleggotbetteritwasverypleasanttogoupandsitwithhimandheartalesabouthisschoollifeandtheotherboys。 Therewasoneboy，namedParr，ofwhomJimseemedtohaveformedthelowestpossibleopinion，andanotherboynamedWigsbyMinor，forwhoseviewsJimhadagreatrespect。AlsotherewerethreebrothersnamedPaley，andtheyoungestwascalledPaleyTerts，andwasmuchgiventofighting。 Peterdrankinallthiswithdeepjoy，andMotherseemedtohavelistenedwithsomeinterest，foronedayshegaveJimasheetofpaperonwhichshehadwrittenarhymeaboutParr，bringinginPaleyandWigsbybynameinamostwonderfulway，aswellasallthereasonsJimhadfornotlikingParr，andWigsby’swiseopiniononthematter。Jimwasimmenselypleased。Hehadneverhadarhymewrittenexpresslyforhimbefore。HereadittillheknewitbyheartandthenhesentittoWigsby，wholikeditalmostasmuchasJimdid。Perhapsyoumaylikeit，too。 THENEWBOY HisnameisParr：hesaysthatheIsgivenbreadandmilkfortea。 Hesayshisfatherkilledabear。 Hesayshismothercutshishair。 Hewearsgolosheswhenit’swet。 I’veheardhispeoplecallhim\"Pet\"！ Hehasnopropersenseofshame; HetoldthechapshisChristianname。 Hecannotwicket—keepatall，He’sfrightenedofacricketball。 Hereadsindoorsforhoursandhours。 Heknowsthenamesofbeastlyflowers。 HesayshisFrenchjustlikeMossoo—— Abeastlystuck—upthingtodo—— Hewon’tkeep_cave_，shirkshisturnAndsayshecametoschooltolearn！ Hewon’tplayfootball，saysithurts; Hewouldn’tfightwithPaleyTerts; Hecouldn’twhistleifhetried，Andwhenwelaughedathimhecried！ NowWigsbyMinorsaysthatParrIsonlylikeallnewboysare。 Iknowwhen_I_firstcametoschoolIwasn’tsuchajollyfool！ JimcouldneverunderstandhowMothercouldhavebeencleverenoughtodoit。Totheothersitseemednice，butnatural。Youseetheyhadalwaysbeenusedtohavingamotherwhocouldwriteversesjustlikethewaypeopletalk，eventotheshockingexpressionattheendoftherhyme，whichwasJim’sveryown。 JimtaughtPetertoplaychessanddraughtsanddominoes，andaltogetheritwasanicequiettime。 OnlyJim’sleggotbetterandbetter，andageneralfeelingbegantospringupamongBobbie，Peter，andPhyllisthatsomethingoughttobedonetoamusehim;notjustgames，butsomethingreallyhandsome。 Butitwasextraordinarilydifficulttothinkofanything。 \"It’snogood，\"saidPeter，whenallofthemhadthoughtandthoughttilltheirheadsfeltquiteheavyandswollen;\"ifwecan’tthinkofanythingtoamusehim，wejustcan’t，andthere’sanendofit。 Perhapssomethingwilljusthappenofitsownaccordthathe’lllike。\" \"ThingsDOhappenbythemselvessometimes，withoutyourmakingthem，\"saidPhyllis，ratherasthough，usually，everythingthathappenedintheworldwasherdoing。 \"Iwishsomethingwouldhappen，\"saidBobbie，dreamily，\"somethingwonderful。\" Andsomethingwonderfuldidhappenexactlyfourdaysaftershehadsaidthis。IwishIcouldsayitwasthreedaysafter，becauseinfairytalesitisalwaysthreedaysafterthatthingshappen。Butthisisnotafairystory，andbesides，itreallywasfourandnotthree，andIamnothingifnotstrictlytruthful。 TheyseemedtobehardlyRailwaychildrenatallinthosedays，andasthedayswentoneachhadanuneasyfeelingaboutthiswhichPhyllisexpressedoneday。 \"IwonderiftheRailwaymissesus，\"shesaid，plaintively。\"Wenevergotoseeitnow。\" \"Itseemsungrateful，\"saidBobbie;\"weloveditsowhenwehadn’tanyoneelsetoplaywith。\" \"PerksisalwayscominguptoaskafterJim，\"saidPeter，\"andthesignalman’slittleboyisbetter。Hetoldmeso。\" \"Ididn’tmeanthepeople，\"explainedPhyllis;\"ImeantthedearRailwayitself。\" \"ThethingIdon’tlike，\"saidBobbie，onthisfourthday，whichwasaTuesday，\"isourhavingstoppedwavingtothe9。15andsendingourlovetoFatherbyit。\" \"Let’sbeginagain，\"saidPhyllis。Andtheydid。 SomehowthechangeofeverythingthatwasmadebyhavingservantsinthehouseandMothernotdoinganywriting，madethetimeseemextremelylongsincethatstrangemorningatthebeginningofthings，whentheyhadgotupsoearlyandburntthebottomoutofthekettleandhadapplepieforbreakfastandfirstseentheRailway。 ItwasSeptembernow，andtheturfontheslopetotheRailwaywasdryandcrisp。Littlelonggrassspikesstooduplikebitsofgoldwire，frailblueharebellstrembledontheirtough，slenderstalks，Gipsyrosesopenedwideandflattheirlilac—coloureddiscs，andthegoldenstarsofSt。John’sWortshoneattheedgesofthepoolthatlayhalfwaytotheRailway。Bobbiegatheredageneroushandfuloftheflowersandthoughthowprettytheywouldlooklyingonthegreen—and—pinkblanketofsilk—wastethatnowcoveredJim’spoorbrokenleg。 \"Hurryup，\"saidPeter，\"orweshallmissthe9。15！\" \"Ican’thurrymorethanIamdoing，\"saidPhyllis。\"Oh，botherit！ MybootlacehascomeundoneAGAIN！\" \"Whenyou’remarried，\"saidPeter，\"yourbootlacewillcomeundonegoingupthechurchaisle，andyourmanthatyou’regoingtogetmarriedtowilltumbleoveritandsmashhisnoseinontheornamentedpavement;andthenyou’llsayyouwon’tmarryhim，andyou’llhavetobeanoldmaid。\" \"Ishan’t，\"saidPhyllis。\"I’dmuchrathermarryamanwithhisnosesmashedinthannotmarryanybody。\" \"Itwouldbehorridtomarryamanwithasmashednose，allthesame，\"wentonBobbie。\"Hewouldn’tbeabletosmelltheflowersatthewedding。Wouldn’tthatbeawful！\" \"Bothertheflowersatthewedding！\"criedPeter。\"Look！thesignal’sdown。Wemustrun！\" Theyran。Andoncemoretheywavedtheirhandkerchiefs，withoutatallmindingwhetherthehandkerchiefswerecleanornot，tothe9。15。 \"TakeourlovetoFather！\"criedBobbie。Andtheothers，too，shouted：—— \"TakeourlovetoFather！\" Theoldgentlemanwavedfromhisfirst—classcarriagewindow。Quiteviolentlyhewaved。Andtherewasnothingoddinthat，forhealwayshadwaved。Butwhatwasreallyremarkablewasthatfromeverywindowhandkerchiefsfluttered，newspaperssignalled，handswavedwildly。Thetrainsweptbywitharustleandroar，thelittlepebblesjumpedanddancedunderitasitpassed，andthechildrenwereleftlookingateachother。 \"Well！\"saidPeter。 \"WELL！\"saidBobbie。 \"_WELL！_\"saidPhyllis。 \"Whateveronearthdoesthatmean？\"askedPeter，buthedidnotexpectanyanswer。 \"_I_don’tknow，\"saidBobbie。\"Perhapstheoldgentlemantoldthepeopleathisstationtolookoutforusandwave。Heknewweshouldlikeit！\" Now，curiouslyenough，thiswasjustwhathadhappened。Theoldgentleman，whowasverywellknownandrespectedathisparticularstation，hadgotthereearlythatmorning，andhehadwaitedatthedoorwheretheyoungmanstandsholdingtheinterestingmachinethatclipsthetickets，andhehadsaidsomethingtoeverysinglepassengerwhopassedthroughthatdoor。Andafternoddingtowhattheoldgentlemanhadsaid——andthenodsexpressedeveryshadeofsurprise，interest，doubt，cheerfulpleasure，andgrumpyagreement—— eachpassengerhadgoneontotheplatformandreadonecertainpartofhisnewspaper。Andwhenthepassengersgotintothetrain，theyhadtoldtheotherpassengerswhowerealreadytherewhattheoldgentlemanhadsaid，andthentheotherpassengershadalsolookedattheirnewspapersandseemedveryastonishedand，mostly，pleased。 Then，whenthetrainpassedthefencewherethethreechildrenwere，newspapersandhandsandhandkerchiefswerewavedmadly，tillallthatsideofthetrainwasflutterywithwhitelikethepicturesoftheKing’sCoronationinthebiographatMaskelyneandCook’s。Tothechildrenitalmostseemedasthoughthetrainitselfwasalive，andwasatlastrespondingtothelovethattheyhadgivenitsofreelyandsolong。 \"Itismostextraordinarilyrum！\"saidPeter。 \"Moststronery！\"echoedPhyllis。 ButBobbiesaid，\"Don’tyouthinktheoldgentleman’swavesseemedmoresignificatingthanusual？\" \"No，\"saidtheothers。 \"Ido，\"saidBobbie。\"Ithoughthewastryingtoexplainsomethingtouswithhisnewspaper。\" \"Explainwhat？\"askedPeter，notunnaturally。 \"_I_don’tknow，\"Bobbieanswered，\"butIdofeelmostawfullyfunny。Ifeeljustexactlyasifsomethingwasgoingtohappen。\" \"Whatisgoingtohappen，\"saidPeter，\"isthatPhyllis’sstockingisgoingtocomedown。\" Thiswasbuttootrue。Thesuspenderhadgivenwayintheagitationofthewavestothe9。15。Bobbie’shandkerchiefservedasfirstaidtotheinjured，andtheyallwenthome。 LessonsweremorethanusuallydifficulttoBobbiethatday。 Indeed，shedisgracedherselfsodeeplyoveraquitesimplesumaboutthedivisionof48poundsofmeatand36poundsofbreadamong144hungrychildrenthatMotherlookedatheranxiously。 \"Don’tyoufeelquitewell，dear？\"sheasked。 \"Idon’tknow，\"wasBobbie’sunexpectedanswer。\"Idon’tknowhowI feel。Itisn’tthatI’mlazy。Mother，willyouletmeofflessonsto—day？IfeelasifIwantedtobequitealonebymyself。\" \"Yes，ofcourseI’llletyouoff，\"saidMother;\"but——\" Bobbiedroppedherslate。Itcrackedjustacrossthelittlegreenmarkthatissousefulfordrawingpatternsround，anditwasneverthesameslateagain。Withoutwaitingtopickitupshebolted。 Mothercaughtherinthehallfeelingblindlyamongthewaterproofsandumbrellasforhergardenhat。 \"Whatisit，mysweetheart？\"saidMother。\"Youdon’tfeelill，doyou？\" \"IDON’Tknow，\"Bobbieanswered，alittlebreathlessly，\"butIwanttobebymyselfandseeifmyheadreallyISallsillyandmyinsideallsquirmy—twisty。\" \"Hadn’tyoubetterliedown？\"Mothersaid，strokingherhairbackfromherforehead。 \"I’dbemorealiveinthegarden，Ithink，\"saidBobbie。 Butshecouldnotstayinthegarden。Thehollyhocksandtheastersandthelaterosesallseemedtobewaitingforsomethingtohappen。 Itwasoneofthosestill，shinyautumndays，wheneverythingdoesseemtobewaiting。 Bobbiecouldnotwait。 \"I’llgodowntothestation，\"shesaid，\"andtalktoPerksandaskaboutthesignalman’slittleboy。\" Soshewentdown。OnthewayshepassedtheoldladyfromthePost— office，whogaveherakissandahug，but，rathertoBobbie’ssurprise，nowordsexcept：—— \"Godblessyou，love——\"and，afterapause，\"runalong——do。\" Thedraper’sboy，whohadsometimesbeenalittlelessthancivilandalittlemorethancontemptuous，nowtouchedhiscap，andutteredtheremarkablewords：—— \"’Morning，Miss，I’msure——\" Theblacksmith，comingalongwithanopennewspaperinhishand，wasevenmorestrangeinhismanner。Hegrinnedbroadly，though，asarule，hewasamannotgiventosmiles，andwavedthenewspaperlongbeforehecameuptoher。Andashepassedher，hesaid，inanswertoher\"Goodmorning\"：—— \"Goodmorningtoyou，Missie，andmanyofthem！Iwishyoujoy，thatIdo！\" \"Oh！\"saidBobbietoherself，andherheartquickeneditsbeats，\"somethingISgoingtohappen！Iknowitis——everyoneissoodd，likepeopleareindreams。\" TheStationMasterwrungherhandwarmly。Infactheworkeditupanddownlikeapump—handle。Buthegavehernoreasonforthisunusuallyenthusiasticgreeting。Heonlysaid：—— \"The11。54’sabitlate，Miss——theextraluggagethisholidaytime，\" andwentawayveryquicklyintothatinnerTempleofhisintowhichevenBobbiedarednotfollowhim。 Perkswasnottobeseen，andBobbiesharedthesolitudeoftheplatformwiththeStationCat。Thistortoiseshelllady，usuallyofaretiringdisposition，cameto—daytorubherselfagainstthebrownstockingsofBobbiewitharchedback，wavingtail，andreverberatingpurrs。 \"Dearme！\"saidBobbie，stoopingtostrokeher，\"howverykindeverybodyisto—day——evenyou，Pussy！\" Perksdidnotappearuntilthe11。54wassignalled，andthenhe，likeeverybodyelsethatmorning，hadanewspaperinhishand。 \"Hullo！\"hesaid，\"’ereyouare。Well，ifTHISisthetrain，it’llbesmartwork！Well，Godblessyou，mydear！Iseeitinthepaper，andIdon’tthinkIwaseversogladofanythinginallmyborndays！\"HelookedatBobbieamoment，thensaid，\"OneImusthave，Miss，andnooffence，Iknow，onadaylikethis’ere！\"andwiththathekissedher，firstononecheekandthenontheother。 \"Youain’toffended，areyou？\"heaskedanxiously。\"Iain’ttooktoogreataliberty？Onadaylikethis，youknow——\" \"No，no，\"saidBobbie，\"ofcourseit’snotaliberty，dearMr。 Perks;weloveyouquiteasmuchasifyouwereanuncleofours—— but——onadaylikeWHAT？\" \"Likethis’ere！\"saidPerks。\"Don’tItellyouIseeitinthepaper？\" \"SawWHATinthepaper？\"askedBobbie，butalreadythe11。54wassteamingintothestationandtheStationMasterwaslookingatalltheplaceswherePerkswasnotandoughttohavebeen。 Bobbiewasleftstandingalone，theStationCatwatchingherfromunderthebenchwithfriendlygoldeneyes。 Ofcourseyouknowalreadyexactlywhatwasgoingtohappen。Bobbiewasnotsoclever。Shehadthevague，confused，expectantfeelingthatcomestoone’sheartindreams。WhatherheartexpectedI can’ttell——perhapstheverythingthatyouandIknowwasgoingtohappen——buthermindexpectednothing;itwasalmostblank，andfeltnothingbuttirednessandstupidnessandanemptyfeeling，likeyourbodyhaswhenyouhavebeenalongwalkanditisveryfarindeedpastyourproperdinner—time。 Onlythreepeoplegotoutofthe11。54。Thefirstwasacountrymanwithtwobasketyboxesfulloflivechickenswhostucktheirrussetheadsoutanxiouslythroughthewickerbars;thesecondwasMissPeckitt，thegrocer’swife’scousin，withatinboxandthreebrown— paperparcels;andthethird—— \"Oh！myDaddy，myDaddy！\"Thatscreamwentlikeaknifeintotheheartofeveryoneinthetrain，andpeopleputtheirheadsoutofthewindowstoseeatallpalemanwithlipssetinathincloseline，andalittlegirlclingingtohimwitharmsandlegs，whilehisarmswenttightlyroundher。 ****** \"Iknewsomethingwonderfulwasgoingtohappen，\"saidBobbie，astheywentuptheroad，\"butIdidn’tthinkitwasgoingtobethis。 Oh，myDaddy，myDaddy！\" \"Thendidn’tMothergetmyletter？\"Fatherasked。 \"Thereweren’tanylettersthismorning。Oh！Daddy！itISreallyyou，isn’tit？\" Theclaspofahandshehadnotforgottenassuredherthatitwas。 \"Youmustgoinbyyourself，Bobbie，andtellMotherquitequietlythatit’sallright。They’vecaughtthemanwhodidit。Everyoneknowsnowthatitwasn’tyourDaddy。\" \"_I_alwaysknewitwasn’t，\"saidBobbie。\"MeandMotherandouroldgentleman。\" \"Yes，\"hesaid，\"it’sallhisdoing。Motherwroteandtoldmeyouhadfoundout。Andshetoldmewhatyou’dbeentoher。Myownlittlegirl！\"Theystoppedaminutethen。 AndnowIseethemcrossingthefield。Bobbiegoesintothehouse，tryingtokeephereyesfromspeakingbeforeherlipshavefoundtherightwordsto\"tellMotherquitequietly\"thatthesorrowandthestruggleandthepartingareoveranddone，andthatFatherhascomehome。 IseeFatherwalkinginthegarden，waiting——waiting。Heislookingattheflowers，andeachflowerisamiracletoeyesthatallthesemonthsofSpringandSummerhaveseenonlyflagstonesandgravelandalittlegrudginggrass。Buthiseyeskeepturningtowardsthehouse。Andpresentlyheleavesthegardenandgoestostandoutsidethenearestdoor。Itisthebackdoor，andacrosstheyardtheswallowsarecircling。Theyaregettingreadytoflyawayfromcoldwindsandkeenfrosttothelandwhereitisalwayssummer。Theyarethesameswallowsthatthechildrenbuiltthelittleclaynestsfor。 Nowthehousedooropens。Bobbie’svoicecalls：—— \"Comein，Daddy;comein！\" Hegoesinandthedoorisshut。Ithinkwewillnotopenthedoororfollowhim。Ithinkthatjustnowwearenotwantedthere。I thinkitwillbebestforustogoquicklyandquietlyaway。Attheendofthefield，amongthethingoldspikesofgrassandtheharebellsandGipsyrosesandSt。John’sWort，wemayjusttakeonelastlook，overourshoulders，atthewhitehousewhereneitherwenoranyoneelseiswantednow。