Thank you very much, said Peter, and I beg your pardon about the twopence.
No offence, said the Porter, untruly but politely, and went.
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.
Dear Roberta and Phyllis and Peter, it said; 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.
The letter was signed G. P. something that the children couldnt read.
I think we WERE right, said Phyllis.
Right? Of course we were right, said Bobbie.
All the same, said Peter, with his hands in his pockets, I dont exactly look forward to telling Mother the whole truth about it.
Were not to do it till shes well, said Bobbie, and when shes well we shall be so happy we shant mind a little fuss like that. Oh, just look at the roses! I must take them up to her.
And the sweetbrier, said Phyllis, sniffing it loudly; dont forget the sweetbrier.
As if I should! said Roberta. Mother told me the other day there was a thick hedge of it at her mothers house when she was a little girl.
Chapter IV. The engine-burglar
What was left of the second sheet and the Brunswick black came in very nicely to make a banner bearing the legend
SHE IS NEARLY WELL THANK YOU
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.
Mother stopped first. She dried her eyes and then she said:
Im sorry I was so angry, darlings, because I know you didnt understand.
We didnt mean to be naughty, Mammy, sobbed Bobbie, and Peter and Phyllis sniffed.
Now, listen, said Mother; its quite true that were poor, but we have enough to live on. You mustnt go telling everyone about our affairsits not right. And you must never, never, never ask strangers to give you things. Now always remember thatwont you?
They all hugged her and rubbed their damp cheeks against hers and promised that they would.
And Ill write a letter to your old gentleman, and I shall tell him that I didnt approveoh, of course I shall thank him, too, for his kindness. Its YOU I dont 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 himand we wont say any more about it.
Afterwards, when the children were alone, Bobbie said:
Isnt Mother splendid? You catch any other grown-up saying they were sorry they had been angry.
Yes, said Peter, she IS splendid; but its rather awful when shes angry.
Shes like Avenging and Bright in the song, said Phyllis. I should like to look at her if it wasnt so awful. She looks so beautiful when shes really downright furious.
They took the letter down to the Station Master.
I thought you said you hadnt got any friends except in London, said he.
Weve made him since, said Peter.
But he doesnt live hereabouts?
Nowe just know him on the railway.
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 himamong 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.
And that just shows, whispered Phyllis, that trains really ARE dragons in disguise, with proper heads and tails.
It was on this day that the children first noticed that all engines are not alike.
Alike? said the Porter, whose name was Perks, 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 wasshes off to do some shunting tother side o Maidbridge. Thats as it might be you, Miss. Then theres goods engines, great, strong things with three wheels each sidejoined with rods to strengthen emas it might be me. Then theres main-line engines as it might be this ere young gentleman when he grows up and wins all the races at is schoolso he will. The main-line engine shes built for speed as well as power. Thats one to the 9.15 up.