Edith Nesbit

and the youngest was Phyllis, who meant extremely well.

Mother did not spend all her time in paying dull calls to dull ladies, and sitting dully at home waiting for dull ladies to pay calls to her.

and a Mother Goose wall-paper

The other presents were full of charm, but the Engine was fuller of charm than any of the others were.

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.

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,

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

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

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

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