The Railway Children

"Now, listen," said Mother; "it's quite true that we're poor, but we have enough to live on. You mustn't go telling everyone about our affairs—it's not right.

because Bobbie understood a little bit the thoughts that were making Mother so quiet—the thoughts of the time when Mother was a little girl and was all the world to HER mother. It seems so easy and natural to run to Mother when one is in trouble. Bobbie understood a little how people do not leave off running to their mothers when they are in trouble even when they are grown up, and she thought she knew a little what it must be to be sad, and have no mother to run to any more.

we've got to play at being Poor for a bit, my chickabiddy

No, I don't mean what you mean. I mean it's just a—what is it Father calls it?—a germ of endearment!

An Englishman's house is his castle, of course, but I do wish they built semi-detached villas with moats and drawbridges."

Who on earth!" said Father. "An Englishman's house is his castle, of course, but I do wish they built semi-de

The unselfishness was Mother's idea—but it was Peter who carried it out. And needed a good deal of patience, too.

Peter, with heroic unselfishness, did not say anything about his Engine till after Father had had his dinner

He said that his eyes were red because he had a cold. This turned out to be true, though Peter did not know it was when he said it,

The others said he cried over it—but of course boys of ten do not cry, however terrible the tragedies may be which darken their lot.