13 The Railway Children - Stephanie Poppins

The Railway Children by E.

Nesbitt Read by S.

D.

Hudson Chapter 13 The Hound's Grandfather Mother did not get back to her writing at all that day,

For the red-jerseyed hound,

Whom the children had brought to Three Chimneys,

Had to be put to bed.

And then the doctor came and hurt him most horribly.

Mother was with him all through it,

And that made it a little better than it would have been,

But bad was the best,

As Mrs.

Viney said.

The children sat in the parlour downstairs and heard the sound of the doctor's boots going backwards and forwards over the bedroom floor,

And once or twice there was a groan.

"'It's horrible,

' said Bobby.

"'Oh,

I wish Dr.

Forrest would make haste.

Oh,

Poor Jim!

' "'It is horrible,

' said Peter.

"'But it's very exciting.

"'I wish doctors weren't so stuck up about who they'll have in the room when they're doing things.

"'I should most awfully like to see a leg set.

"'I believe that bones crunch like anything.

' "'Don't!

' said the two girls at once.

"'Rubbish,

' said Peter.

"'How are you going to be Red Cross nurses like you were talking of coming home "'if you can't even stand hearing me about bones crunching?

"'You'll have to hear them crunch on the field of battle "'and be steeped in gore up to the elbows,

As likely or not.

"'And stop it!

' cried Bobby with a white face.

"'You don't know how funny you're making me feel.

' "'Me too,

' said Phyllis,

Whose face was pink.

"'Cowards,

' said Peter.

"'I'm not,

' said Bobby.

"'I helped Mother with your rake-wounded foot,

And so did Phyllis.

"'You know we did.

' "'Well then,

' said Peter.

"'It'd be a jolly good thing for you if I were to talk to you "'every day for half an hour about broken bones and people's insides "'so as to get you used to it.

' "'A chair was moved above.

"'Listen,

' said Peter.

"'That's the bone crunching.

"'I do wish you wouldn't,

' said Phyllis.

"'Bobby doesn't like it.

' "'I'll tell you what they do,

' said Peter.

"'I can't think what made him so horrid.

"'Perhaps it was because he'd been so very nice and kind "'all the earlier part of that day,

And now he had to have a change.

"'This is called reaction.

"'One notices it now and then in one's self.

"'Sometimes when one has been extra good for a longer time than usual,

"'one is suddenly attacked by a violent fit of not being good at all.

"'I'll tell you what they do,

' said Peter.

"'They strap the broken man down "'so he can't resist or interfere with their doctorish designs.

"'Then someone holds his head.

"'Someone holds his leg,

The broken one,

"'and pulls it till the bones fit in.

"'With a crunch,

Mind you.

"'Then they strap it up and.

.

.

"'Let's play at bone-setting.

' "'Oh,

No,

' said Phyllis.

"'But Bobby said suddenly,

"'All right,

Let's.

"'I'll be the doctor and Phil can be the nurse.

"'You can be the broken boner.

"'We can get at your legs more easily because you don't wear petticoats.

' "'I'll get the splints and panaches,

' said Peter.

"'You get the couch of suffering ready.

' "'The ropes that had tied up the boxes,

"'that had come from home,

"'were all in a wooden packing case in the cellar.

"'When Peter brought in a trailing tangle of them "'and two boards for splints,

"'Phyllis was excitedly giggling.

"'Now then,

' he said,

"'and lay down on the settle groaning most grievously.

"'Not so loud,

' said Bobby,

"'beginning to wind the ropes around him in the settle.

"'You pull,

Phil.

' "'Not so tight,

' moaned Peter.

"'You'll break my other leg.

' "'Bobby worked on in silence,

"'winding more and more rope around him.

"'That's enough,

' said Peter.

"'Can't move at all.

My poor leg,

' he groaned again.

"'Sure you can't move?

' asked Bobby in a rather strange tone.

"'Quite sure.

"'Should we play it's bleeding freely or not?

' "'What?

' he asked cheerfully.

"'You can play what you like,

' said Bobby sternly,

"'folding her arms and looking down at him where he laid,

"'all wound round and round with cord.

"'Phil and I are going away,

"'and we shan't untie you "'until you promise never,

Never to talk to us about blood and wounds "'unless we say you may.

"'Come on,

Phil.

' "'You beast!

' said Peter,

Writhing.

"'I'll never promise,

Never.

"'I'll yell,

And Mother will come.

' "'Do,

' said Bobby,

"'and tell her why we tied you up.

"'Come on,

Phil.

"'No,

I'm not a beast,

Peter.

"'But you wouldn't stop when we asked you to,

And.

.

.

"'Yeah,

' said Peter.

"'It wasn't even your own idea.

"'You got it out of Stalky.

' "'Bobby and Phil,

Retiring in silent dignity,

"'were met at the door by the doctor.

"'He came in rubbing his hands "'and looking pleased with himself.

"'Well,

' he said,

"'that job's done.

"'It's a nice clean fracture,

"'and it'll go on all right,

"'I've no doubt.

"'Plucky young chap,

Too.

"'Well,

Oh,

What's all this?

' "'His eye had fallen on Peter,

"'who lay mousy still in his bonds on the settle.

"'Playing at prisoners,

Eh?

' he said.

"'But his eyebrows had gone up a little.

"'Somehow he had not thought "'that Bobby would be playing "'while in the room above "'someone was having a broken bone set.

"'Oh,

No,

' said Bobby.

"'Not at prisoners.

"'We were playing at setting bones.

"'Peter's the broken boner,

And I was the doctor.

"'I was the nurse,

' put in Philly's cheerfully.

"'The doctor frowned.

"'Then I must say,

' he said,

"'and he said it rather sternly,

"'that that's a very heartless game.

"'Haven't you enough imagination "'even to faintly picture what's been going on upstairs?

"'That poor chap "'with the drops of sweat on his forehead "'and biting his lips so as not to cry out "'and every touch on his leg agony.

"'You ought to be tied up,

' said Philly's.

"'You're as bad as.

.

.

' "'Hush,

' said Bobby.

"'I'm sorry,

But we weren't heartless,

Really.

' "'I was,

I suppose,

' said Peter,

Crossly.

"'All right,

Bobby,

Don't you go on being noble "'in screaming me,

Because I jolly well won't have it.

"'It was only that I kept on talking about blood and wounds.

"'I wanted to train them for Red Cross nurses,

"'and I wouldn't stop when they asked me.

' "'Well,

' said Dr.

Forrest,

Sitting down.

"'Well,

Then,

' I said,

"'let's play at setting bones.

"'It was all rot.

I knew Bobby wouldn't.

"'I only said it to tease her,

"'and then when she said yes,

Of course I had to go through with it,

"'and they tied me up.

"'They got it out of Stalky,

And I think it's a beastly shame.

' "'Peter managed to writhe over "'and hide his face against the wooden back of the settle.

"'I didn't think anyone would know but us,

' said Bobby,

Indignantly,

"'answering Peter's unspoken reproach.

"'I never thought of your coming in,

"'and hearing about blood and wounds does really make me feel most awfully funny.

"'It was only a joke,

How tying him up.

"'Let me untie you,

Pete.

' "'I don't care if you never untie me,

' said Peter,

"'and if that's your idea of a joke.

' "'If I were you,

' said the doctor,

"'though really he did not quite know what to say,

"'I should be untied before your mother comes down.

"'You don't want to worry her just now,

Do you?

' "'I don't promise anything about not saying about wounds,

Mind,

' "'said Peter,

In very surly tones,

"'as Bobby and Phyllis began to untie the knots.

"'I'm very sorry,

Pete,

' "'Bobby whispered,

Leaning close to him "'as she fumbled with a big knot under the settle.

"'But if you only knew how sick you made me feel.

' "'You made me feel pretty sick,

I can tell you,

' "'Peter rejoined,

Then he shook off the loose cords and stood up.

"'I looked in,

' said Dr Forrest,

"'to see if one of you would come along to the surgery.

"'There are some things your mother will want at once,

"'and I've given my man a day off to go and see the circus.

"'Will you come,

Peter?

' "'Peter went without a word or a look to his sisters.

"'The two walked in silence up to the gates "'that led from the three chimneys filled to the road.

"'Then Peter said,

"'Let me carry your bag.

"'I say,

Is it heavy?

"'What's in it?

' "'Oh,

Knives and lancets and different instruments for hurting people,

"'and the ether bottle.

"'I had to give him ether,

You know.

"'The agony was so intense.

' "'Peter was silent.

"'Tell me about how you found that chap,

' said Dr Forrest.

"'Peter told,

And then Dr Forrest told him stories of brave rescues.

"'He was a most interesting man to talk to,

As Peter had often remarked.

"'Then in the surgery Peter had a better chance than he had ever "'of examining the doctor's balance and his microscope "'and his scales and measuring glasses.

"'When all the things were ready that Peter was to take back,

"'the doctor said suddenly,

"'You'll excuse my shoving my oar in,

Won't you?

"'But I should like to say something to you.

"'Now for a rowing,

' thought Peter,

"'who had wondered how he had escaped one.

' "'Something scientific,

' added the doctor.

"'Yes,

' said Peter,

"'fiddling with a fossil ammonite that the doctor used for a paperweight.

"'Well,

' said the doctor,

"'you know men have to do the work of the world and not be afraid of anything,

"'so they have to be hardy and brave.

"'But women have to take care of their babies and cuddle them and nurse them "'and be very patient and gentle.

' "'Yes,

' said Peter,

Wondering what was coming next.

"'Well then,

You see,

Boys and girls are only little men and women "'and we are much harder and hardier than they are.

' "'Peter liked the we.

"'Perhaps the doctor had known he would.

"'And much stronger,

And things that hurt them don't hurt us.

"'You know you mustn't hit a girl.

' "'I should think not,

Indeed,

' muttered Peter,

Indignantly.

"'Not even if she's your own sister.

"'That's because girls are so much softer and weaker than we are.

"'They have to be,

You know,

' the doctor added.

"'Because if they weren't,

It wouldn't be nice for the babies.

"'And that's why all the animals are so good to the mother animals.

"'They never fight them,

You know.

' "'I know,

' said Peter,

Interested.

"'Two-buck rabbits will fight all day if you let them,

But they won't hurt a doe.

' "'No,

And quite wild beasts,

Lions and elephants,

"'they're immensely gentle with the female beasts.

"'And we've got to be,

Too.

' "'I see,

' said Peter.

"'And their hearts are soft,

Too.

"'And things that we shouldn't think anything of hurt them dreadfully.

"'So a man has to be very careful not only of his fists,

But of his words.

"'They're awfully brave,

You know,

' he went on.

"'Think of Bobby waiting alone in the tunnel with that poor chap.

"'It's an odd thing.

"'The softer and more easily hurt a woman is,

"'the better she can screw herself up to do what has to be done.

"'I've seen some brave women.

"'Your mother's one,

' he ended abruptly.

"'Yes,

' said Peter.

"'Well,

That's all.

"'Excuse my mentioning it,

But nobody knows everything without being told.

"'And you see what I mean,

Don't you?

' "'Yes,

' said Peter.

"'I'm sorry.

There.

"'Of course you are.

"'People always are.

Directly they understand.

"'Everyone ought to be taught these scientific facts.

"'So long now.

' "'They shook their hands heartily.

"'And when Peter came home,

His sisters looked at him doubtfully.

"'It's Pax,

' said Peter,

Dumping down the basket on the table.

"'Dr Forrest's been talking scientific to me.

"'No,

It's no use me telling you what he said.

"'You wouldn't understand.

"'But it all comes to you girls being poor,

Soft,

Weak,

"'frightened things like rabbits.

"'So us men have got to put up with them.

"'He said you were female beasts.

"'Shall I take this up to Mother or will you?

' "'I know what boys are,

' said Phyllis with flaming cheeks.

"'They're the nastiest,

Rudest.

"'They're very brave,

' said Bobbie.

"'Sometimes.

"'Oh,

You mean the chap upstairs.

I see.

"'Go ahead,

Phyll.

"'I'll put up with you whatever you say "'because you're a poor,

Weak,

Frightened,

Soft.

"'Not if I pull your hair you won't,

' said Phyllis,

Springing at him.

"'He said Pax,

' said Bobbie,

Pulling her away.

"'Don't you see?

' "'She whispered as Peter picked up the basket and stalked out with it.

"'He's sorry,

Really,

Only he won't say so.

"'Let's say we're sorry.

' "'It's so goody-goody,

' said Phyllis doubtfully.

"'He said we were female beasts and soft and frightened.

' "'Then let's show him we're not frightened of him thinking us goody-goody,

' "'said Bobbie,

And we're not any more beasts than he is.

' "'And when Peter came back,

Still with his chin in the air,

"'Bobbie said,

"'We're sorry we tied you up,

Pete.

' "'I thought you would be,

' said Peter,

Very stiff and superior.

"'This was hard to bear,

But.

.

.

' "'Well,

So are we,

' said Bobbie.

"'Now let's honour be satisfied on both sides.

' "'I did call it Pax,

' said Peter in an injured tone.

"'Then let it be Pax,

' said Bobbie.

"'Come on,

Phyll,

Let's get the tea.

"'Pete,

You might lay the cloth.

' "'I say,

' said Phyllis when peace was really restored,

"'which was not till they were washing up the cups after tea,

"'Dr Forrest didn't really say we were female beasts,

Did he?

' "'Yes,

' said Peter firmly,

"'but I think he meant we men were wild beasts too.

' "'How funny of him,

' said Phyllis,

Breaking a cup.

"'May I come in,

Mother?

' "'Peter was at the door of Mother's writing room,

"'where Mother sat at her table with two candles in front of her.

"'Their flames looked orange and violet "'against the clear grey-blue of the sky,

"'where already a few stars were twinkling.

"'Yes,

Dear,

' said Mother absently.

"'Anything wrong?

' "'She wrote a few more words,

Then laid down her pen "'and began to fold up what she had just written.

"'I was writing to Jim's grandfather.

"'He lives near here,

You know.

' "'Yeah,

You said so at tea.

That's what I wanted to say.

' "'Must you write to him,

Mother?

Couldn't we keep Jim?

' "'And not say anything to his people till he's well?

"'It'll be such a surprise for them.

' "'Oh,

Yes,

' said Mother,

Laughing.

"'I think it would.

"'You see,

' Peter went on,

"'of course,

The girls are all right and all that.

"'I can't say anything against them,

"'but I should like it if I had another chap to talk to sometimes.

' "'Yes,

' said Mother.

"'I know it's dull for you,

Dear,

But I can't help it.

"'Next year,

Perhaps,

I can send you to school.

"'You'd like that,

Wouldn't you?

' "'I do miss the other chaps,

Rather,

' Peter confessed.

"'But if Jim could stay after his leg was well,

"'we could have awful larks.

' "'I've no doubt of it,

' said Mother.

"'Well,

Perhaps he could,

But,

You know,

Dear,

We're not rich.

"'I can't afford to get him everything he'll want,

"'and he must have a nurse.

' "'Can't you nurse him,

Mother?

"'You do nurse people so beautifully.

' "'That's a pretty compliment,

Pete,

"'but I can't do nursing and my writing as well.

"'That's the worst of it.

' "'Then you must send the letter to his grandfather?

' "'Of course,

And to his schoolmaster,

Too.

"'We telegraph to them both,

But I must write as well.

"'They'll be most dreadfully anxious.

' "'I say,

Mother,

Why can't his grandfather pay for a nurse?

' "'Peter suggested.

"'That would be ripping.

"'I expect the old boy's rolling in money.

"'Grandfathers in books always are.

' "'Well,

This one isn't in a book,

' said Mother,

"'so we mustn't expect him to roll much.

' "'I say,

' said Peter,

Musingly,

"'wouldn't it be jolly if we all were in a book and you were writing it?

"'Then you could make all sorts of jolly things happen "'and make Jim's legs get well,

At once,

And be all right tomorrow.

"'And then Father could come home soon,

"'and do you miss your father very much?

' "'Mother asked,

Rather coldly,

Peter thought.

"'Awfully,

' said Peter,

Briefly.

"'Mother was enveloping and addressing the second letter.

"'You see,

' Peter went on slowly,

"'you see,

It's not only him being father,

"'but now he's away,

There's no other man in the house but me.

"'That's why I want Jim to stay so frightfully much.

"'Wouldn't you like to be writing that book with us all in it,

Mother,

"'and make Daddy come home soon?

' "'Peter's mother put her arm around him suddenly "'and hugged him silent for a minute.

"'Then she said,

"'Don't you think it's rather nice "'to think we're all in a book that God's writing?

"'If I were writing the book,

I might make mistakes,

"'but God knows how to make the story end just right,

"'in the way that's best for us.

"'Do you really believe that,

Mother?

' "'Peter asked quietly.

"'Yes,

' she said,

"'I do believe it,

Almost always,

"'except when I'm so sad I can't believe anything.

"'But even when I can't believe it,

"'I know it's true,

And I try to believe it.

"'You don't know how I try,

Peter.

"'Now take the letters to the post,

"'and don't let's be sad any more.

"'Courage,

Courage,

"'that's the finest of all the virtues.

"'I dare say Jim will be here for two or three weeks yet.

' "'For what was left of the evening,

"'Peter was so angelic "'that Bobbie feared he was going to be ill.

"'She was quite relieved in the morning "'to find him plaiting Phyllis's hair "'onto the back of her chair "'in quite his old manner.

"'It was soon after breakfast "'that a knock came at the door.

"'The children were hard at work "'cleaning the brass candlesticks "'in honour of Jim's visit.

"'That'll be the doctor,

' "'said Mother.

"'I'll go.

"'Shut the kitchen door,

"'you're not fit to be seen.

' "'But it wasn't the doctor.

"'They knew by the voice "'and by the sound of the boots "'that went upstairs.

"'They did not recognise "'the sound of the boots,

"'but everyone was certain "'they had heard the voice before.

"'There was a longish interval.

"'The boots and the voice "'did not come down again.

"'Who can it possibly be?

' "'they kept on asking themselves "'and each other.

"'Perhaps,

' "'said Peter at last,

"'Dr Forrest has been attacked "'by high women and left for dead "'and this is the man "'he's telegraphed "'to take his place.

"'Mrs Viney said "'he had a local tenant "'to do his work "'when he went for holiday.

"'Didn't you,

Mrs Viney?

' "'I did so,

My dear,

' "'said Mrs Viney "'from the back kitchen.

"'He's fallen down in a fit "'more likely,

' "'said Phyllis.

"'All human aid is spared of "'and this is the man "'come to break the news to Mother.

' "'Nonsense,

' "'said Peter briskly.

"'Mother wouldn't have taken "'the man up to Jim's bedroom.

"'Why should she?

' "'Listen,

The door's opening.

"'Now they'll come down.

"'I'll open the door a crack.

' "'He did.

"'It's not listening,

' "'he replied indignantly "'to Bobby's scandalous remarks.

"'Nobody in their senses "'would talk secrets on the stairs "'and Mother can't have secrets "'to talk with Dr Forrest's stable man "'and you said it was him.

"'Bobby,

' "'called Mother's voice.

"'They opened the kitchen door "'and Mother leaned "'over the stair railing.

"'Jim's grandfather has come,

' "'she said.

"'Wash your hands and faces,

"'then you can see him.

"'He wants to see you.

' "'The bedroom door shut again.

"'There now,

' "'said Peter.

"'Fancy us not even thinking of that.

"'Let's have some hot water,

"'Mrs Viningham,

"'it's black as your hat.

' "'The three were indeed dirty,

"'for the stuff you clean "'brass candlesticks with "'is very far from cleaning "'to the cleaner.

"'They were still busy "'with soap and flannel "'when they heard the boots "'and the voice come down the stairs "'and go into the dining room.

"'And when they were clean,

"'though still damp "'because it takes such a long time "'to dry your hands properly,

"'and they were very impatient "'to see the grandfather,

"'they filed into the dining room.

"'Mother was sitting "'in the window seat,

"'and in the leather-covered armchair "'that father always used "'to sit in the other house,

"'sat their own old gentleman.

"'Well,

I never did,

' "'said Peter,

"'even before he said,

"'How do you do?

' "'He was,

' "'as he explained afterwards,

"'too surprised even to remember "'there was such a thing "'as politeness,

"'much less to practise it.

"'It's our own old gentleman,

' "'said Phyllis.

"'Oh,

It's you,

' "'said Bobbie,

"'and they remembered themselves "'and their manners and said,

"'How do you do?

' "'Very nicely.

"'This is Jim's grandfather,

"'Mr,

' "'said Mother,

"'naming the old gentleman's name.

"'How splendid,

' "'said Peter.

"'That's just exactly like a book,

"'isn't it,

Mother?

' "'It is rather,

' "'said Mother,

Smiling.

"'Things do happen in real life "'that are rather like books sometimes.

' "'I'm so awfully glad it is you,

' "'said Phyllis.

"'When you think of the tons "'of old gentlemen there are in the world,

"'it might have been almost anyone.

' "'I say,

Though,

' "'said Peter,

"'you're not going to take Jim away,

"'though,

Are you?

' "'Not at present,

' "'said the old gentleman.

"'Your mother has most kindly consented "'to let him stay here.

"'I thought of sending a nurse,

"'but your mother is good enough "'to say she will nurse him herself.

' "'But what about her writing?

' "'said Peter,

"'before anyone could stop him.

"'There won't be anything for him to eat "'if Mother doesn't write.

' "'That's all right,

' "'said Mother,

Hastily.

"'The old gentleman "'looked very kindly at Mother.

"'I see,

' he said,

"'you trust your children "'and confide in them.

' "'Of course,

' said Mother.

"'Then I may tell them "'of our little arrangement,

' "'he said.

"'Your mother,

My dears,

"'has consented to give up writing "'for a little while "'and to become matron of my hospital.

' "'Oh,

' said Phyllis blankly.

"'And shall we have to go away "'from Three Chimneys "'and the railway and everything?

' "'No,

No,

Darling,

' "'said Mother,

Horridly.

"'The hospital is called "'Three Chimneys Hospital,

' "'said the old gentleman,

"'and my unlucky Jim's the only patient,

"'and I hope he'll continue to be so.

"'Your mother will be matron "'and there'll be a hospital staff "'of a housemaid and a cook "'until Jim's well.

' "'And then Mother will go on writing again?

' "'asked Peter.

"'We shall see,

' "'said the old gentleman "'with a slight swift glance at Bobbie.

"'Perhaps something nice may happen "'and she won't have to.

' "'I love my writing,

' "'said Mother,

Very quickly.

"'I know,

' said the old gentleman.

"'Don't be afraid "'I'm going to try to interfere,

"'but one never knows.

"'Very wonderful and beautiful things "'do happen,

Don't they?

"'And we live in most of our lives "'in the hope of them.

"'I may come again to see the boy.

' "'Surely,

' said Mother,

"'and I don't know how to thank you "'for making it possible "'for me to nurse him,

Dear boy.

' "'He kept calling Mother,

Mother,

"'in the night,

' said Phyllis.

"'I woke up twice and heard him.

' "'He didn't mean me,

' said Mother "'in a low voice to the old gentleman.

"'That's why I wanted so much to keep him.

' "'The old gentleman rose.

"'I'm so glad,

' said Peter,

"'you're going to keep him,

Mother.

' "'Take care of your mother,

My dears,

' "'said the old gentleman.

"'She's a woman in a million.

' "'Yes,

Isn't she?

' "'God bless her,

' said the old gentleman,

"'taking both Mother's hands.

"'God bless her,

I,

"'and she shall be blessed.

"'Dear me,

Where's my hat?

"'Will Bobby come with me to the gate?

' "'At the gate he stopped and said,

"'You're a good child,

My dear.

"'I got your letter,

"'but it wasn't needed.

"'When I read about your father's case "'in the papers at the time,

"'I had my doubts.

"'And ever since I've known who you were,

"'I've been trying to find out things.

"'I haven't done very much yet,

"'but I have hopes,

My dear.

"'I have hopes.

' "'Oh,

' said Bobby,

Choking a little.

"'Yes,

I may say great hopes,

"'but keep your secret a little longer.

"'Wouldn't do to upset your mother "'with a false hope now,

Would it?

' "'Oh,

But it isn't false,

' said Bobby.

"'I know you can do it.

"'I knew you could when I wrote.

"'It isn't a false hope,

Is it?

' "'No,

' he said.

"'I don't think it's a false hope,

"'or I wouldn't have told you.

"'And I think you deserve to be told "'that there is a hope.

"'And you don't think Father did it,

Do you?

"'Oh,

Say you don't think he did it?

' "'My dear,

' he said,

"'I am perfectly certain he didn't.

"'If it was a false hope,

"'it was nonetheless a very radiant one "'that lay warm at Bobby's heart.

' "'And through the days that followed "'lit her little face "'as a Japanese lantern is lighted "'by the candle within.

'"