AndifMotheraskswhereIam，sayI’mplayingatmines。"
"Whatsortofmines？"
"Youjustsaymines。"
"YoumighttellUS，Pete。"
"Well，then，COAL—mines。Butdon’tyouletthewordpassyourlipsonpainoftorture。"
"Youneedn’tthreaten，"saidBobbie，"andIdothinkyoumightletushelp。"
"IfIfindacoal—mine，youshallhelpcartthecoal，"Petercondescendedtopromise。
"Keepyoursecretifyoulike，"saidPhyllis。
"KeepitifyouCAN，"saidBobbie。
"I’llkeepit，rightenough，"saidPeter。
Betweenteaandsupperthereisanintervaleveninthemostgreedilyregulatedfamilies。AtthistimeMotherwasusuallywriting，andMrs。Vineyhadgonehome。
TwonightsafterthedawningofPeter’sideahebeckonedthegirlsmysteriouslyatthetwilighthour。
"Comehitherwithme，"hesaid，"andbringtheRomanChariot。"
TheRomanChariotwasaveryoldperambulatorthathadspentyearsofretirementintheloftoverthecoach—house。Thechildrenhadoileditsworkstillitglidednoiselessasapneumaticbicycle，andansweredtothehelmasithadprobablydoneinitsbestdays。
"Followyourdauntlessleader，"saidPeter，andledthewaydownthehilltowardsthestation。
Justabovethestationmanyrockshavepushedtheirheadsoutthroughtheturfasthoughthey，likethechildren，wereinterestedintherailway。
Inalittlehollowbetweenthreerockslayaheapofdriedbramblesandheather。
Peterhalted，turnedoverthebrushwoodwithawell—scarredboot，andsaid：——
"Here’sthefirstcoalfromtheSt。Peter’sMine。We’lltakeithomeinthechariot。Punctualityanddespatch。Allorderscarefullyattendedto。Anyshapedlumpcuttosuitregularcustomers。"
Thechariotwaspackedfullofcoal。Andwhenitwaspackedithadtobeunpackedagainbecauseitwassoheavythatitcouldn’tbegotupthehillbythethreechildren，notevenwhenPeterharnessedhimselftothehandlewithhisbraces，andfirmlygraspinghiswaistbandinonehandpulledwhilethegirlspushedbehind。
ThreejourneyshadtobemadebeforethecoalfromPeter’sminewasaddedtotheheapofMother’scoalinthecellar。
AfterwardsPeterwentoutalone，andcamebackveryblackandmysterious。
"I’vebeentomycoal—mine，"hesaid;"to—morroweveningwe’llbringhometheblackdiamondsinthechariot。"
ItwasaweeklaterthatMrs。VineyremarkedtoMotherhowwellthislastlotofcoalwasholdingout。
Thechildrenhuggedthemselvesandeachotherincomplicatedwrigglesofsilentlaughterastheylistenedonthestairs。TheyhadallforgottenbynowthattherehadeverbeenanydoubtinPeter’smindastowhethercoal—miningwaswrong。
ButtherecameadreadfulnightwhentheStationMasterputonapairofoldsandshoesthathehadwornattheseasideinhissummerholiday，andcreptoutveryquietlytotheyardwheretheSodomandGomorrahheapofcoalwas，withthewhitewashedlineroundit。Hecreptoutthere，andhewaitedlikeacatbyamousehole。Onthetopoftheheapsomethingsmallanddarkwasscrabblingandrattlingfurtivelyamongthecoal。
TheStationMasterconcealedhimselfintheshadowofabrake—vanthathadalittletinchimneyandwaslabelled：——
G。N。andS。R。
34576
ReturnatoncetoWhiteHeatherSidingsandinthisconcealmenthelurkedtillthesmallthingonthetopoftheheapceasedtoscrabbleandrattle，cametotheedgeoftheheap，cautiouslyletitselfdown，andliftedsomethingafterit。
ThenthearmoftheStationMasterwasraised，thehandoftheStationMasterfellonacollar，andtherewasPeterfirmlyheldbythejacket，withanoldcarpenter’sbagfullofcoalinhistremblingclutch。
"SoI’vecaughtyouatlast，haveI，youyoungthief？"saidtheStationMaster。
"I’mnotathief，"saidPeter，asfirmlyashecould。"I’macoal—
miner。"
"TellthattotheMarines，"saidtheStationMaster。
"ItwouldbejustastruewhoeverItolditto，"saidPeter。
"You’rerightthere，"saidtheman，whoheldhim。"Stowyourjaw，youyoungrip，andcomealongtothestation。"
"Oh，no，"criedinthedarknessanagonisedvoicethatwasnotPeter’s。
"NotthePOLICEstation！"saidanothervoicefromthedarkness。
"Notyet，"saidtheStationMaster。"TheRailwayStationfirst。
Why，it’saregulargang。Anymoreofyou？"
"Onlyus，"saidBobbieandPhyllis，comingoutoftheshadowofanothertrucklabelledStaveleyColliery，andbearingonitthelegendinwhitechalk：’WantedinNo。1Road。’
"Whatdoyoumeanbyspyingonafellowlikethis？"saidPeter，angrily。
"Timesomeonedidspyonyou，_I_think，"saidtheStationMaster。
"Comealongtothestation。"
"Oh，DON’T！"saidBobbie。"Can’tyoudecideNOWwhatyou’lldotous？It’sourfaultjustasmuchasPeter’s。Wehelpedtocarrythecoalaway——andweknewwherehegotit。"
"No，youdidn’t，"saidPeter。
"Yes，wedid，"saidBobbie。"Weknewallthetime。Weonlypretendedwedidn’tjusttohumouryou。"
Peter’scupwasfull。Hehadminedforcoal，hehadstruckcoal，hehadbeencaught，andnowhelearnedthathissistershad’humoured’
him。
"Don’tholdme！"hesaid。"Iwon’trunaway。"
TheStationMasterloosedPeter’scollar，struckamatchandlookedatthembyitsflickeringlight。
"Why，"saidhe，"you’rethechildrenfromtheThreeChimneysupyonder。Sonicelydressed，too。Tellmenow，whatmadeyoudosuchathing？Haven’tyoueverbeentochurchorlearnedyourcatechismoranything，nottoknowit’swickedtosteal？"Hespokemuchmoregentlynow，andPetersaid：——
"Ididn’tthinkitwasstealing。Iwasalmostsureitwasn’t。I
thoughtifItookitfromtheoutsidepartoftheheap，perhapsitwouldbe。ButinthemiddleIthoughtIcouldfairlycountitonlymining。It’lltakethousandsofyearsforyoutoburnupallthatcoalandgettothemiddleparts。"
"Notquite。Butdidyoudoitforalarkorwhat？"
"Notmuchlarkcartingthatbeastlyheavystuffupthehill，"saidPeter，indignantly。
"Thenwhydidyou？"TheStationMaster’svoicewassomuchkindernowthatPeterreplied：——
"Youknowthatwetday？Well，Mothersaidweweretoopoortohaveafire。Wealwayshadfireswhenitwascoldatourotherhouse，and——"
"DON’T！"interruptedBobbie，inawhisper。
"Well，"saidtheStationMaster，rubbinghischinthoughtfully，"I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo。I’lllookoveritthisonce。Butyouremember，younggentleman，stealingisstealing，andwhat’smineisn’tyours，whetheryoucallitminingorwhetheryoudon’t。Runalonghome。"
"Doyoumeanyouaren’tgoingtodoanythingtous？Well，youareabrick，"saidPeter，withenthusiasm。
"You’readear，"saidBobbie。
"You’readarling，"saidPhyllis。
"That’sallright，"saidtheStationMaster。
Andonthistheyparted。
"Don’tspeaktome，"saidPeter，asthethreewentupthehill。
"You’respiesandtraitors——that’swhatyouare。"
ButthegirlsweretoogladtohavePeterbetweenthem，safeandfree，andonthewaytoThreeChimneysandnottothePoliceStation，tomindmuchwhathesaid。
"WeDIDsayitwasusasmuchasyou，"saidBobbie，gently。
"Well——anditwasn’t。"
"ItwouldhavecometothesamethinginCourtswithjudges，"saidPhyllis。"Don’tbesnarky，Peter。Itisn’tourfaultyoursecretsaresojollyeasytofindout。"Shetookhisarm，andhelether。
"There’sanawfullotofcoalinthecellar，anyhow，"hewenton。
"Oh，don’t！"saidBobbie。"Idon’tthinkweoughttobegladaboutTHAT。"
"Idon’tknow，"saidPeter，pluckingupaspirit。"I’mnotatallsure，evennow，thatminingisacrime。"
Butthegirlswerequitesure。Andtheywerealsoquitesurethathewasquitesure，howeverlittlehecaredtoownit。
ChapterIII。Theoldgentleman。
AftertheadventureofPeter’sCoal—mine，itseemedwelltothechildrentokeepawayfromthestation——buttheydidnot，theycouldnot，keepawayfromtherailway。Theyhadlivedalltheirlivesinastreetwherecabsandomnibusesrumbledbyatallhours，andthecartsofbutchersandbakersandcandlestickmakers（Ineversawacandlestick—maker’scart;didyou？）mightoccuratanymoment。Hereinthedeepsilenceofthesleepingcountrytheonlythingsthatwentbywerethetrains。Theyseemedtobeallthatwaslefttolinkthechildrentotheoldlifethathadoncebeentheirs。
StraightdownthehillinfrontofThreeChimneysthedailypassageoftheirsixfeetbegantomarkapathacrossthecrisp，shortturf。
Theybegantoknowthehourswhencertaintrainspassed，andtheygavenamestothem。The9。15upwascalledtheGreenDragon。The10。7downwastheWormofWantley。Themidnighttownexpress，whoseshriekingrushtheysometimeswokefromtheirdreamstohear，wastheFearsomeFly—by—night。Petergotuponce，inchillstarshine，and，peepingatitthroughhiscurtains，nameditonthespot。
ItwasbytheGreenDragonthattheoldgentlemantravelled。Hewasaverynice—lookingoldgentleman，andhelookedasifhewerenice，too，whichisnotatallthesamething。Hehadafresh—coloured，clean—shavenfaceandwhitehair，andheworeratherodd—shapedcollarsandatop—hatthatwasn’texactlythesamekindasotherpeople’s。Ofcoursethechildrendidn’tseeallthisatfirst。Infactthefirstthingtheynoticedabouttheoldgentlemanwashishand。
ItwasonemorningastheysatonthefencewaitingfortheGreenDragon，whichwasthreeandaquarterminuteslatebyPeter’sWaterburywatchthathehadhadgivenhimonhislastbirthday。
"TheGreenDragon’sgoingwhereFatheris，"saidPhyllis;"ifitwereareallyrealdragon，wecouldstopitandaskittotakeourlovetoFather。"
"Dragonsdon’tcarrypeople’slove，"saidPeter;"they’dbeaboveit。"
"Yes，theydo，ifyoutamethemthoroughlyfirst。Theyfetchandcarrylikepetspaniels，"saidPhyllis，"andfeedoutofyourhand。
IwonderwhyFatherneverwritestous。"
"Mothersayshe’sbeentoobusy，"saidBobbie;"buthe’llwritesoon，shesays。"
"Isay，"Phyllissuggested，"let’sallwavetotheGreenDragonasitgoesby。Ifit’samagicdragon，it’llunderstandandtakeourlovestoFather。Andifitisn’t，threewavesaren’tmuch。Weshallnevermissthem。"
SowhentheGreenDragontoreshriekingoutofthemouthofitsdarklair，whichwasthetunnel，allthreechildrenstoodontherailingandwavedtheirpocket—handkerchiefswithoutstoppingtothinkwhethertheywerecleanhandkerchiefsorthereverse。Theywere，asamatteroffact，verymuchthereverse。
Andoutofafirst—classcarriageahandwavedback。Aquitecleanhand。Itheldanewspaper。Itwastheoldgentleman’shand。
Afterthisitbecamethecustomforwavestobeexchangedbetweenthechildrenandthe9。15。
Andthechildren，especiallythegirls，likedtothinkthatperhapstheoldgentlemanknewFather，andwouldmeethim’inbusiness，’
whereverthatshadyretreatmightbe，andtellhimhowhisthreechildrenstoodonarailfarawayinthegreencountryandwavedtheirlovetohimeverymorning，wetorfine。
Fortheywerenowabletogooutinallsortsofweathersuchastheywouldneverhavebeenallowedtogooutinwhentheylivedintheirvillahouse。ThiswasAuntEmma’sdoing，andthechildrenfeltmoreandmorethattheyhadnotbeenquitefairtothisunattractiveaunt，whentheyfoundhowusefulwerethelonggaitersandwaterproofcoatsthattheyhadlaughedatherforbuyingforthem。
Mother，allthistime，wasverybusywithherwriting。Sheusedtosendoffagoodmanylongblueenvelopeswithstoriesinthem——andlargeenvelopesofdifferentsizesandcoloursusedtocometoher。
Sometimesshewouldsighwhensheopenedthemandsay：——
"Anotherstorycomehometoroost。Oh，dear，Oh，dear！"andthenthechildrenwouldbeverysorry。
Butsometimesshewouldwavetheenvelopeintheairandsay：——
"Hooray，hooray。Here’sasensibleEditor。He’stakenmystoryandthisistheproofofit。"
Atfirstthechildrenthought’theProof’meanttheletterthesensibleEditorhadwritten，buttheypresentlygottoknowthattheproofwaslongslipsofpaperwiththestoryprintedonthem。
WheneveranEditorwassensibletherewerebunsfortea。
OnedayPeterwasgoingdowntothevillagetogetbunstocelebratethesensiblenessoftheEditoroftheChildren’sGlobe，whenhemettheStationMaster。
Peterfeltveryuncomfortable，forhehadnowhadtimetothinkovertheaffairofthecoal—mine。Hedidnotliketosay"Goodmorning"
totheStationMaster，asyouusuallydotoanyoneyoumeetonalonelyroad，becausehehadahotfeeling，whichspreadeventohisears，thattheStationMastermightnotcaretospeaktoapersonwhohadstolencoals。’Stolen’isanastyword，butPeterfeltitwastherightone。Sohelookeddown，andsaidNothing。
ItwastheStationMasterwhosaid"Goodmorning"ashepassedby。
AndPeteranswered，"Goodmorning。"Thenhethought：——
"Perhapshedoesn’tknowwhoIambydaylight，orhewouldn’tbesopolite。"
Andhedidnotlikethefeelingwhichthinkingthisgavehim。AndthenbeforeheknewwhathewasgoingtodoheranaftertheStationMaster，whostoppedwhenheheardPeter’shastybootscrunchingtheroad，andcomingupwithhimverybreathlessandwithhisearsnowquitemagenta—coloured，hesaid：——
"Idon’twantyoutobepolitetomeifyoudon’tknowmewhenyouseeme。"
"Eh？"saidtheStationMaster。
"Ithoughtperhapsyoudidn’tknowitwasmethattookthecoals，"
Peterwenton，"whenyousaid’Goodmorning。’Butitwas，andI’msorry。There。"
"Why，"saidtheStationMaster，"Iwasn’tthinkinganythingatallaboutthepreciouscoals。Letbygonesbebygones。Andwherewereyouofftoinsuchahurry？"
"I’mgoingtobuybunsfortea，"saidPeter。
"Ithoughtyouwereallsopoor，"saidtheStationMaster。
"Soweare，"saidPeter，confidentially，"butwealwayshavethreepennyworthofhalfpenniesforteawheneverMothersellsastoryorapoemoranything。"
"Oh，"saidtheStationMaster，"soyourMotherwritesstories，doesshe？"
"Thebeautifulestyoueverread，"saidPeter。
"YououghttobeveryproudtohavesuchacleverMother。"
"Yes，"saidPeter，"butsheusedtoplaywithusmorebeforeshehadtobesoclever。"
"Well，"saidtheStationMaster，"Imustbegettingalong。YougiveusalookinattheStationwheneveryoufeelsoinclined。Andastocoals，it’sawordthat——well——oh，no，wenevermentionit，eh？"
"Thankyou，"saidPeter。"I’mverygladit’sallstraightenedoutbetweenus。"Andhewentonacrossthecanalbridgetothevillagetogetthebuns，feelingmorecomfortableinhismindthanhehadfeltsincethehandoftheStationMasterhadfastenedonhiscollarthatnightamongthecoals。
NextdaywhentheyhadsentthethreefoldwaveofgreetingtoFatherbytheGreenDragon，andtheoldgentlemanhadwavedbackasusual，Peterproudlyledthewaytothestation。
"Butoughtwe？"saidBobbie。
"Afterthecoals，shemeans，"Phyllisexplained。
"ImettheStationMasteryesterday，"saidPeter，inanoffhandway，andhepretendednottohearwhatPhyllishadsaid;"heexpresspeciallyinvitedustogodownanytimeweliked。"
"Afterthecoals？"repeatedPhyllis。"Stopaminute——mybootlaceisundoneagain。"
"ItalwaysISundoneagain，"saidPeter，"andtheStationMasterwasmoreofagentlemanthanyou’lleverbe，Phil——throwingcoalatachap’sheadlikethat。"
Phyllisdidupherbootlaceandwentoninsilence，buthershouldersshook，andpresentlyafattearfelloffhernoseandsplashedonthemetaloftherailwayline。Bobbiesawit。
"Why，what’sthematter，darling？"shesaid，stoppingshortandputtingherarmroundtheheavingshoulders。
"Hecalledmeun—un—ungentlemanly，"sobbedPhyllis。"Ididn’tnevercallhimunladylike，notevenwhenhetiedmyClorindatothefirewoodbundleandburnedheratthestakeforamartyr。"
Peterhadindeedperpetratedthisoutrageayearortwobefore。
"Well，youbegan，youknow，"saidBobbie，honestly，"aboutcoalsandallthat。Don’tyouthinkyou’dbetterbothunsayeverythingsincethewave，andlethonourbesatisfied？"
"IwillifPeterwill，"saidPhyllis，sniffling。
"Allright，"saidPeter;"honourissatisfied。Here，usemyhankie，Phil，forgoodness’sake，ifyou’velostyoursasusual。Iwonderwhatyoudowiththem。"
"Youhadmylastone，"saidPhyllis，indignantly，"totieuptherabbit—hutchdoorwith。Butyou’reveryungrateful。It’squiterightwhatitsaysinthepoetrybookaboutsharperthanaserpentitistohaveatoothlesschild——butitmeansungratefulwhenitsaystoothless。MissLowetoldmeso。"
"Allright，"saidPeter，impatiently，"I’msorry。THERE！Nowwillyoucomeon？"
TheyreachedthestationandspentajoyoustwohourswiththePorter。Hewasaworthymanandseemednevertiredofansweringthequestionsthatbeginwith"Why——"whichmanypeopleinhigherranksoflifeoftenseemwearyof。
Hetoldthemmanythingsthattheyhadnotknownbefore——as，forinstance，thatthethingsthathookcarriagestogetherarecalledcouplings，andthatthepipeslikegreatserpentsthathangoverthecouplingsaremeanttostopthetrainwith。
"Ifyoucouldgetaholtofoneo’themwhenthetrainisgoingandpull’emapart，"saidhe，"she’dstopdeadoffwithajerk。"
"Who’sshe？"saidPhyllis。
"Thetrain，ofcourse，"saidthePorter。Afterthatthetrainwasneveragain’It’tothechildren。
"Andyouknowthethinginthecarriageswhereitsaysonit，’Fivepounds’fineforimproperuse。’Ifyouwastoimproperlyusethat，thetrain’udstop。"
"Andifyouuseditproperly？"saidRoberta。
"It’udstopjustthesame，Isuppose，"saidhe，"butitisn’tproperuseunlessyou’rebeingmurdered。Therewasanoldladyonce——someonekiddedheronitwasarefreshment—roombell，andsheuseditimproper，notbeingindangerofherlife，thoughhungry，andwhenthetrainstoppedandtheguardcamealongexpectingtofindsomeonewelteringintheirlastmoments，shesays，"Oh，please，Mister，I’lltakeaglassofstoutandabathbun，"shesays。Andthetrainwassevenminutesbehindhertimeasitwas。"
"Whatdidtheguardsaytotheoldlady？"
"_I_dunno，"repliedthePorter，"butIlayshedidn’tforgetitinahurry，whateveritwas。"
Insuchdelightfulconversationthetimewentbyalltooquickly。
TheStationMastercameoutonceortwicefromthatsacredinnertemplebehindtheplacewheretheholeisthattheysellyouticketsthrough，andwasmostjollywiththemall。
"Justasifcoalhadneverbeendiscovered，"Phylliswhisperedtohersister。
Hegavethemeachanorange，andpromisedtotakethemupintothesignal—boxoneofthesedays，whenhewasn’tsobusy。
Severaltrainswentthroughthestation，andPeternoticedforthefirsttimethatengineshavenumbersonthem，likecabs。
"Yes，"saidthePorter，"Iknowedayounggentasusedtotakedownthenumbersofeverysingleoneheseed;inagreennote—bookwithsilvercornersitwas，owingtohisfatherbeingverywell—to—dointhewholesalestationery。"
Peterfeltthathecouldtakedownnumbers，too，evenifhewasnotthesonofawholesalestationer。Ashedidnothappentohaveagreenleathernote—bookwithsilvercorners，thePortergavehimayellowenvelopeandonithenoted：——
379
663
andfeltthatthiswasthebeginningofwhatwouldbeamostinterestingcollection。
ThatnightatteaheaskedMotherifshehadagreenleathernote—
bookwithsilvercorners。Shehadnot;butwhensheheardwhathewanteditforshegavehimalittleblackone。
"Ithasafewpagestornout，"saidshe;"butitwillholdquitealotofnumbers，andwhenit’sfullI’llgiveyouanother。I’msogladyouliketherailway。Only，please，youmustn’twalkontheline。"
"Notifwefacethewaythetrain’scoming？"askedPeter，afteragloomypause，inwhichglancesofdespairwereexchanged。
"No——reallynot，"saidMother。
ThenPhyllissaid，"Mother，didn’tYOUeverwalkontherailwaylineswhenyouwerelittle？"
MotherwasanhonestandhonourableMother，soshehadtosay，"Yes。"
"Well，then，"saidPhyllis。
"But，darlings，youdon’tknowhowfondIamofyou。WhatshouldI
doifyougothurt？"
"AreyoufonderofusthanGrannywasofyouwhenyouwerelittle？"
Phyllisasked。Bobbiemadesignstohertostop，butPhyllisneverdidseesigns，nomatterhowplaintheymightbe。
Motherdidnotanswerforaminute。Shegotuptoputmorewaterintheteapot。
"Noone，"shesaidatlast，"everlovedanyonemorethanmymotherlovedme。"
Thenshewasquietagain，andBobbiekickedPhyllishardunderthetable，becauseBobbieunderstoodalittlebitthethoughtsthatweremakingMothersoquiet——thethoughtsofthetimewhenMotherwasalittlegirlandwasalltheworldtoHERmother。ItseemssoeasyandnaturaltoruntoMotherwhenoneisintrouble。Bobbieunderstoodalittlehowpeopledonotleaveoffrunningtotheirmotherswhentheyareintroubleevenwhentheyaregrownup，andshethoughtsheknewalittlewhatitmustbetobesad，andhavenomothertoruntoanymore。
SoshekickedPhyllis，whosaid：——
"Whatareyoukickingmelikethatfor，Bob？"
AndthenMotherlaughedalittleandsighedandsaid：——
"Verywell，then。Onlyletmebesureyoudoknowwhichwaythetrainscome——anddon’twalkonthelinenearthetunnelornearcorners。"
"Trainskeeptotheleftlikecarriages，"saidPeter，"soifwekeeptotheright，we’reboundtoseethemcoming。"
"Verywell，"saidMother，andIdaresayyouthinkthatsheoughtnottohavesaidit。Butsherememberedaboutwhenshewasalittlegirlherself，andshedidsayit——andneitherherownchildrennoryounoranyotherchildrenintheworldcouldeverunderstandexactlywhatitcosthertodoit。Onlysomefewofyou，likeBobbie，mayunderstandaverylittlebit。
ItwastheverynextdaythatMotherhadtostayinbedbecauseherheadachedso。Herhandswereburninghot，andshewouldnoteatanything，andherthroatwasverysore。
"IfIwasyou，Mum，"saidMrs。Viney，"Ishouldtakeandsendforthedoctor。There’salotofcatchycomplaintsa—goingaboutjustnow。Mysister’seldest——shetookachillanditwenttoherinside，twoyearsagocomeChristmas，andshe’sneverbeenthesamegellsince。"
Motherwouldn’tatfirst，butintheeveningshefeltsomuchworsethatPeterwassenttothehouseinthevillagethathadthreelaburnumtreesbythegate，andonthegateabrassplatewithW。W。
Forrest，M。D。，onit。
W。W。Forrest，M。D。，cameatonce。HetalkedtoPeteronthewayback。Heseemedamostcharmingandsensibleman，interestedinrailways，andrabbits，andreallyimportantthings。
WhenhehadseenMother，hesaiditwasinfluenza。
"Now，LadyGrave—airs，"hesaidinthehalltoBobbie，"Isupposeyou’llwanttobehead—nurse。"
"Ofcourse，"saidshe。
"Well，then，I’llsenddownsomemedicine。Keepupagoodfire。
Havesomestrongbeefteamadereadytogiveherassoonasthefevergoesdown。Shecanhavegrapesnow，andbeefessence——andsoda—waterandmilk，andyou’dbettergetinabottleofbrandy。
Thebestbrandy。Cheapbrandyisworsethanpoison。"
Sheaskedhimtowriteitalldown，andhedid。
WhenBobbieshowedMotherthelisthehadwritten，Motherlaughed。
ItWASalaugh，Bobbiedecided，thoughitwasratheroddandfeeble。
"Nonsense，"saidMother，layinginbedwitheyesasbrightasbeads。
"Ican’taffordallthatrubbish。TellMrs。Vineytoboiltwopoundsofscrag—endoftheneckforyourdinnersto—morrow，andI
canhavesomeofthebroth。Yes，Ishouldlikesomemorewaternow，love。Andwillyougetabasinandspongemyhands？"
Robertaobeyed。WhenshehaddoneeverythingshecouldtomakeMotherlessuncomfortable，shewentdowntotheothers。Hercheekswereveryred，herlipssettight，andhereyesalmostasbrightasMother’s。
ShetoldthemwhattheDoctorhadsaid，andwhatMotherhadsaid。
"Andnow，"saidshe，whenshehadtoldall，"there’snoonebutustodoanything，andwe’vegottodoit。I’vegottheshillingforthemutton。"
"Wecandowithoutthebeastlymutton，"saidPeter;"breadandbutterwillsupportlife。Peoplehavelivedonlessondesertislandsmanyatime。"
"Ofcourse，"saidhissister。AndMrs。Vineywassenttothevillagetogetasmuchbrandyandsoda—waterandbeefteaasshecouldbuyforashilling。
"Butevenifweneverhaveanythingtoeatatall，"saidPhyllis，"youcan’tgetallthoseotherthingswithourdinnermoney。"
"No，"saidBobbie，frowning，"wemustfindoutsomeotherway。NowTHINK，everybody，justashardaseveryoucan。"
Theydidthink。Andpresentlytheytalked。Andlater，whenBobbiehadgoneuptositwithMotherincaseshewantedanything，theothertwowereverybusywithscissorsandawhitesheet，andapaintbrush，andthepotofBrunswickblackthatMrs。Vineyusedforgratesandfenders。Theydidnotmanagetodowhattheywished，exactly，withthefirstsheet，sotheytookanotheroutofthelinencupboard。Itdidnotoccurtothemthattheywerespoilinggoodsheetswhichcostgoodmoney。Theyonlyknewthattheyweremakingagood——butwhattheyweremakingcomeslater。
Bobbie’sbedhadbeenmovedintoMother’sroom，andseveraltimesinthenightshegotuptomendthefire，andtogivehermothermilkandsoda—water。Mothertalkedtoherselfagooddeal，butitdidnotseemtomeananything。Andonceshewokeupsuddenlyandcalledout："Mamma，mamma！"andBobbieknewshewascallingforGranny，andthatshehadforgottenthatitwasnousecalling，becauseGrannywasdead。
IntheearlymorningBobbieheardhernameandjumpedoutofbedandrantoMother’sbedside。
"Oh——ah，yes——IthinkIwasasleep，"saidMother。"Mypoorlittleduck，howtiredyou’llbe——Idohatetogiveyouallthistrouble。"
"Trouble！"saidBobbie。
"Ah，don’tcry，sweet，"Mothersaid;"Ishallbeallrightinadayortwo。"
AndBobbiesaid，"Yes，"andtriedtosmile。
Whenyouareusedtotenhoursofsolidsleep，togetupthreeorfourtimesinyoursleep—timemakesyoufeelasthoughyouhadbeenupallnight。Bobbiefeltquitestupidandhereyesweresoreandstiff，butshetidiedtheroom，andarrangedeverythingneatlybeforetheDoctorcame。
Thiswasathalf—pasteight。
"Everythinggoingonallright，littleNurse？"hesaidatthefrontdoor。"Didyougetthebrandy？"
"I’vegotthebrandy，"saidBobbie，"inalittleflatbottle。"
"Ididn’tseethegrapesorthebeeftea，though，"saidhe。
"No，"saidBobbie，firmly，"butyouwillto—morrow。Andthere’ssomebeefstewingintheovenforbeeftea。"
"Whotoldyoutodothat？"heasked。
"InoticedwhatMotherdidwhenPhilhadmumps。"
"Right，"saidtheDoctor。"Nowyougetyouroldwomantositwithyourmother，andthenyoueatagoodbreakfast，andgostraighttobedandsleeptilldinner—time。Wecan’taffordtohavethehead—
nurseill。"
Hewasreallyquiteanicedoctor。
Whenthe9。15cameoutofthetunnelthatmorningtheoldgentlemaninthefirst—classcarriageputdownhisnewspaper，andgotreadytowavehishandtothethreechildrenonthefence。Butthismorningtherewerenotthree。Therewasonlyone。AndthatwasPeter。
Peterwasnotontherailingseither，asusual。Hewasstandinginfrontoftheminanattitudelikethatofashow—manshowingofftheanimalsinamenagerie，orofthekindclergymanwhenhepointswithawandatthe’ScenesfromPalestine，’whenthereisamagic—lanternandheisexplainingit。
Peterwaspointing，too。Andwhathewaspointingatwasalargewhitesheetnailedagainstthefence。Onthesheettherewerethickblacklettersmorethanafootlong。
Someofthemhadrunalittle，becauseofPhyllishavingputtheBrunswickblackontooeagerly，butthewordswerequiteeasytoread。
Andthiswhattheoldgentlemanandseveralotherpeopleinthetrainreadinthelargeblacklettersonthewhitesheet：——
LOOKOUTATTHESTATION。
Agoodmanypeopledidlookoutatthestationandweredisappointed，fortheysawnothingunusual。Theoldgentlemanlookedout，too，andatfirsthetoosawnothingmoreunusualthanthegravelledplatformandthesunshineandthewallflowersandforget—me—notsinthestationborders。ItwasonlyjustasthetrainwasbeginningtopuffandpullitselftogethertostartagainthathesawPhyllis。Shewasquiteoutofbreathwithrunning。
"Oh，"shesaid，"IthoughtI’dmissedyou。MybootlaceswouldkeepcomingdownandIfelloverthemtwice。Here，takeit。"
Shethrustawarm，dampishletterintohishandasthetrainmoved。
Heleanedbackinhiscornerandopenedtheletter。Thisiswhatheread：——
"DearMr。Wedonotknowyourname。
Motherisillandthedoctorsaystogiveherthethingsattheendoftheletter，butshesaysshecan’tafordit，andtogetmuttonforusandshewillhavethebroth。Wedonotknowanybodyherebutyou，becauseFatherisawayandwedonotknowtheaddress。Fatherwillpayyou，orifhehaslostallhismoney，oranything，Peterwillpayyouwhenheisaman。Wepromiseitonourhoner。I。O。U。
forallthethingsMotherwants。
"sinedPeter。
"WillyougivetheparseltotheStationMaster，becauseofusnotknowingwhattrainyoucomedownby？SayitisforPeterthatwassorryaboutthecoalsandhewillknowallright。
"Roberta。
"Phyllis。
"Peter。"
ThencamethelistofthingstheDoctorhadordered。
Theoldgentlemanreaditthroughonce，andhiseyebrowswentup。
Hereadittwiceandsmiledalittle。Whenhehadreaditthrice，heputitinhispocketandwentonreadingTheTimes。
Ataboutsixthateveningtherewasaknockatthebackdoor。Thethreechildrenrushedtoopenit，andtherestoodthefriendlyPorter，whohadtoldthemsomanyinterestingthingsaboutrailways。
Hedumpeddownabighamperonthekitchenflags。
"Oldgent，"hesaid;"heaskedmetofetchitupstraightaway。"
"Thankyouverymuch，"saidPeter，andthen，asthePorterlingered，headded：——
"I’mmostawfullysorryIhaven’tgottwopencetogiveyoulikeFatherdoes，but——"
"Youdropitifyouplease，"saidthePorter，indignantly。"I
wasn’tthinkingaboutnotuppences。IonlywantedtosayIwassorryyourMammawasn’tsowell，andtoaskhowshefindsherselfthisevening——andI’vefetchedheralongabitofsweetbrier，verysweettosmellitis。Twopenceindeed，"saidhe，andproducedabunchofsweetbrierfromhishat，"justlikeaconjurer，"asPhyllisremarkedafterwards。
"Thankyouverymuch，"saidPeter，"andIbegyourpardonaboutthetwopence。"
"Nooffence，"saidthePorter，untrulybutpolitely，andwent。
Thenthechildrenundidthehamper。Firsttherewasstraw，andthentherewerefineshavings，andthencameallthethingstheyhadaskedfor，andplentyofthem，andthenagoodmanythingstheyhadnotaskedfor;amongotherspeachesandportwineandtwochickens，acardboardboxofbigredroseswithlongstalks，andatallthingreenbottleoflavenderwater，andthreesmallerfatterbottlesofeau—de—Cologne。Therewasaletter，too。
"DearRobertaandPhyllisandPeter，"itsaid;"herearethethingsyouwant。Yourmotherwillwanttoknowwheretheycamefrom。Tellhertheyweresentbyafriendwhoheardshewasill。Whensheiswellagainyoumusttellherallaboutit，ofcourse。Andifshesaysyououghtnottohaveaskedforthethings，tellherthatIsayyouwerequiteright，andthatIhopeshewillforgivemefortakingthelibertyofallowingmyselfaverygreatpleasure。"
TheletterwassignedG。P。somethingthatthechildrencouldn’tread。
"IthinkweWEREright，"saidPhyllis。
"Right？Ofcoursewewereright，"saidBobbie。
"Allthesame，"saidPeter，withhishandsinhispockets，"Idon’texactlylookforwardtotellingMotherthewholetruthaboutit。"
"We’renottodoittillshe’swell，"saidBobbie，"andwhenshe’swellweshallbesohappyweshan’tmindalittlefusslikethat。
Oh，justlookattheroses！Imusttakethemuptoher。"
"Andthesweetbrier，"saidPhyllis，sniffingitloudly;"don’tforgetthesweetbrier。"
"AsifIshould！"saidRoberta。"Mothertoldmetheotherdaytherewasathickhedgeofitathermother’shousewhenshewasalittlegirl。"
ChapterIV。Theengine—burglar。
WhatwasleftofthesecondsheetandtheBrunswickblackcameinverynicelytomakeabannerbearingthelegendSHEISNEARLYWELLTHANKYOU
andthiswasdisplayedtotheGreenDragonaboutafortnightafterthearrivalofthewonderfulhamper。Theoldgentlemansawit，andwavedacheerfulresponsefromthetrain。AndwhenthishadbeendonethechildrensawthatnowwasthetimewhentheymusttellMotherwhattheyhaddonewhenshewasill。Anditdidnotseemnearlysoeasyastheyhadthoughtitwouldbe。Butithadtobedone。Anditwasdone。Motherwasextremelyangry。Shewasseldomangry，andnowshewasangrierthantheyhadeverknownher。Thiswashorrible。Butitwasmuchworsewhenshesuddenlybegantocry。
Cryingiscatching，Ibelieve，likemeaslesandwhooping—cough。Atanyrate，everyoneatoncefounditselftakingpartinacrying—
party。
Motherstoppedfirst。Shedriedhereyesandthenshesaid：——
"I’msorryIwassoangry，darlings，becauseIknowyoudidn’tunderstand。"
"Wedidn’tmeantobenaughty，Mammy，"sobbedBobbie，andPeterandPhyllissniffed。
"Now，listen，"saidMother;"it’squitetruethatwe’repoor，butwehaveenoughtoliveon。Youmustn’tgotellingeveryoneaboutouraffairs——it’snotright。Andyoumustnever，never，neveraskstrangerstogiveyouthings。Nowalwaysrememberthat——won’tyou？"
Theyallhuggedherandrubbedtheirdampcheeksagainsthersandpromisedthattheywould。
"AndI’llwritealettertoyouroldgentleman，andIshalltellhimthatIdidn’tapprove——oh，ofcourseIshallthankhim，too，forhiskindness。It’sYOUIdon’tapproveof，mydarlings，nottheoldgentleman。Hewasaskindaseverhecouldbe。AndyoucangivethelettertotheStationMastertogivehim——andwewon’tsayanymoreaboutit。"
Afterwards，whenthechildrenwerealone，Bobbiesaid：——
"Isn’tMothersplendid？Youcatchanyothergrown—upsayingtheyweresorrytheyhadbeenangry。"
"Yes，"saidPeter，"sheISsplendid;butit’sratherawfulwhenshe’sangry。"
"She’slikeAvengingandBrightinthesong，"saidPhyllis。"I
shouldliketolookatherifitwasn’tsoawful。Shelookssobeautifulwhenshe’sreallydownrightfurious。"
TheytooktheletterdowntotheStationMaster。
"Ithoughtyousaidyouhadn’tgotanyfriendsexceptinLondon，"
saidhe。
"We’vemadehimsince，"saidPeter。
"Buthedoesn’tlivehereabouts？"
"No——wejustknowhimontherailway。"
ThentheStationMasterretiredtothatsacredinnertemplebehindthelittlewindowwheretheticketsaresold，andthechildrenwentdowntothePorters’roomandtalkedtothePorter。Theylearnedseveralinterestingthingsfromhim——amongothersthathisnamewasPerks，thathewasmarriedandhadthreechildren，thatthelampsinfrontofenginesarecalledhead—lightsandtheonesatthebacktail—lights。
"Andthatjustshows，"whisperedPhyllis，"thattrainsreallyARE
dragonsindisguise，withproperheadsandtails。"
Itwasonthisdaythatthechildrenfirstnoticedthatallenginesarenotalike。
"Alike？"saidthePorter，whosenamewasPerks，"lor，loveyou，no，Miss。Nomorealikenorwhatyouan’meare。Thatlittle’unwithoutatenderaswentbyjustnowallonherown，thatwasatank，thatwas——she’sofftodosomeshuntingt’othersideo’
Maidbridge。That’sasitmightbeyou，Miss。Thenthere’sgoodsengines，great，strongthingswiththreewheelseachside——joinedwithrodstostrengthen’em——asitmightbeme。Thenthere’smain—
lineenginesasitmightbethis’ereyounggentlemanwhenhegrowsupandwinsalltheracesat’isschool——sohewill。Themain—lineengineshe’sbuiltforspeedaswellaspower。That’sonetothe9。15up。"
"TheGreenDragon，"saidPhyllis。
"WecallshertheSnail，Miss，amongourselves，"saidthePorter。
"She’softenerbe’ind’andnoranytrainontheline。"
"Buttheengine’sgreen，"saidPhyllis。
"Yes，Miss，"saidPerks，"so’sasnailsomeseasonso’theyear。"
ThechildrenagreedastheywenthometodinnerthatthePorterwasmostdelightfulcompany。
NextdaywasRoberta’sbirthday。Intheafternoonshewaspolitelybutfirmlyrequestedtogetoutofthewayandkeeptheretilltea—
time。
"Youaren’ttoseewhatwe’regoingtodotillit’sdone;it’saglorioussurprise，"saidPhyllis。
AndRobertawentoutintothegardenallalone。Shetriedtobegrateful，butshefeltshewouldmuchratherhavehelpedinwhateveritwasthanhavetospendherbirthdayafternoonbyherself，nomatterhowgloriousthesurprisemightbe。
Nowthatshewasalone，shehadtimetothink，andoneofthethingsshethoughtofmostwaswhatmotherhadsaidinoneofthosefeverishnightswhenherhandsweresohotandhereyessobright。
Thewordswere："Oh，whatadoctor’sbillthere’llbeforthis！"
Shewalkedroundandroundthegardenamongtherose—bushesthathadn’tanyrosesyet，onlybuds，andthelilacbushesandsyringasandAmericancurrants，andthemoreshethoughtofthedoctor’sbill，thelessshelikedthethoughtofit。
Andpresentlyshemadeuphermind。Shewentoutthroughthesidedoorofthegardenandclimbedupthesteepfieldtowheretheroadrunsalongbythecanal。Shewalkedalonguntilshecametothebridgethatcrossesthecanalandleadstothevillage，andhereshewaited。Itwasverypleasantinthesunshinetoleanone’selbowsonthewarmstoneofthebridgeandlookdownatthebluewaterofthecanal。Bobbiehadneverseenanyothercanal，excepttheRegent’sCanal，andthewaterofthatisnotatallaprettycolour。
AndshehadneverseenanyriveratallexcepttheThames，whichalsowouldbeallthebetterifitsfacewaswashed。
Perhapsthechildrenwouldhavelovedthecanalasmuchastherailway，butfortwothings。OnewasthattheyhadfoundtherailwayFIRST——onthatfirst，wonderfulmorningwhenthehouseandthecountryandthemoorsandrocksandgreathillswereallnewtothem。Theyhadnotfoundthecanaltillsomedayslater。Theotherreasonwasthateveryoneontherailwayhadbeenkindtothem——theStationMaster，thePorter，andtheoldgentlemanwhowaved。Andthepeopleonthecanalwereanythingbutkind。
Thepeopleonthecanalwere，ofcourse，thebargees，whosteeredtheslowbargesupanddown，orwalkedbesidetheoldhorsesthattrampledupthemudofthetowing—path，andstrainedatthelongtow—ropes。
Peterhadonceaskedoneofthebargeesthetime，andhadbeentoldto"getoutofthat，"inatonesofiercethathedidnotstoptosayanythingabouthishavingjustasmuchrightonthetowing—pathasthemanhimself。Indeed，hedidnoteventhinkofsayingittillsometimelater。
Thenanotherdaywhenthechildrenthoughttheywouldliketofishinthecanal，aboyinabargethrewlumpsofcoalatthem，andoneofthesehitPhyllisonthebackoftheneck。Shewasjuststoopingdowntotieupherbootlace——andthoughthecoalhardlyhurtatallitmadehernotcareverymuchaboutgoingonfishing。
Onthebridge，however，Robertafeltquitesafe，becauseshecouldlookdownonthecanal，andifanyboyshowedsignsofmeaningtothrowcoal，shecouldduckbehindtheparapet。
Presentlytherewasasoundofwheels，whichwasjustwhatsheexpected。
ThewheelswerethewheelsoftheDoctor’sdogcart，andinthecart，ofcourse，wastheDoctor。
Hepulledup，andcalledout：——
"Hullo，headnurse！Wantalift？"
"Iwantedtoseeyou，"saidBobbie。
"Yourmother’snotworse，Ihope？"saidtheDoctor。
"No——but——"
"Well，skipin，then，andwe’llgoforadrive。"
Robertaclimbedinandthebrownhorsewasmadetoturnround——whichitdidnotlikeatall，foritwaslookingforwardtoitstea——I
meanitsoats。
"ThisISjolly，"saidBobbie，asthedogcartflewalongtheroadbythecanal。
"Wecouldthrowastonedownanyoneofyourthreechimneys，"saidtheDoctor，astheypassedthehouse。
"Yes，"saidBobbie，"butyou’dhavetobeajollygoodshot。"
"HowdoyouknowI’mnot？"saidtheDoctor。"Now，then，what’sthetrouble？"
Bobbiefidgetedwiththehookofthedrivingapron。
"Come，outwithit，"saidtheDoctor。
"It’sratherhard，yousee，"saidBobbie，"tooutwithit;becauseofwhatMothersaid。"
"WhatDIDMothersay？"
"ShesaidIwasn’ttogotellingeveryonethatwe’repoor。Butyouaren’teveryone，areyou？"
"Notatall，"saidtheDoctor，cheerfully。"Well？"
"Well，Iknowdoctorsareveryextravagant——Imeanexpensive，andMrs。VineytoldmethatherdoctoringonlycosthertwopenceaweekbecauseshebelongedtoaClub。"
"Yes？"
"Youseeshetoldmewhatagooddoctoryouwere，andIaskedherhowshecouldaffordyou，becauseshe’smuchpoorerthanweare。
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