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。
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"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。