the Russian Prisoner. But even the charms of the railway had
been unable to tear the children away from the neighbourhood of the
interesting stranger. So they had not been to the station for three
days.
They went now.
And, to their surprise and distress, were very coldly received by Perks.
"'Ighly honoured, I'm sure," he said when they peeped in at the door of
the Porters' room. And he went on reading his newspaper.
There was an uncomfortable silence.
"Oh, dear," said Bobbie, with a sigh, "I do believe you're CROSS."
"What, me? Not me!" said Perks loftily; "it ain't nothing to me."
"What AIN'T nothing to you?" said Peter, too anxious and alarmed to
change the form of words.
"Nothing ain't nothing. What 'appens either 'ere or elsewhere," said
Perks; "if you likes to 'ave your secrets, 'ave 'em and welcome. That's
what I say."
The secret-chamber of each heart was rapidly examined during the pause
that followed. Three heads were shaken.
"We haven't got any secrets from YOU," said Bobbie at last.
"Maybe you 'ave, and maybe you 'aven't," said Perks; "it ain't nothing
to me. And I wish you all a very good afternoon." He held up the paper
between him and them and went on reading.
"Oh, DON'T!" said Phyllis, in despair; "this is truly dreadful! Whatever
it is, do tell us."
"We didn't mean to do it whatever it was."
No answer. The paper was refolded and Perks began on another column.
"Look here," said Peter, suddenly, "it's not fair. Even people who do
crimes aren't punished without being told what it's for--as once they
were in Russia."
"I don't know nothing about Russia."
"Oh, yes, you do, when Mother came down on purpose to tell you and Mr.
Gills all about OUR Russian."
"Can't you fancy it?" said Perks, indignantly; "don't you see 'im
a-asking of me to step into 'is room and take a chair and listen to what
'er Ladyship 'as to say?"
"Do you mean to say you've not heard?"
"Not so much as a breath. I did go so far as to put a question. And he
shuts me up like a rat-trap. 'Affairs of State, Perks,' says he. But I
did think one o' you would 'a' nipped down to tell me--you're here sharp
enough when you want to get anything out of old Perks"--Phyllis
flushed purple as she thought of the strawberries--"information about
locomotives or signals or the likes," said Perks.
"We didn't know you didn't know."
"We thought Mother had told you."
"Wewantedtotellyouonlywethoughtitwouldbestalen
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