silver corners it was, owing to his father being very well-to-do in
the wholesale stationery."

Peter felt that he could take down numbers, too, even if he was not
the son of a wholesale stationer. As he did not happen to have a
green leather note-book with silver corners, the Porter gave him a
yellow envelope and on it he noted:--

379
663

and felt that this was the beginning of what would be a most
interesting collection.

That night at tea he asked Mother if she had a green leather note-
book with silver corners. She had not; but when she heard what he
wanted it for she gave him a little black one.

"It has a few pages torn out," said she; "but it will hold quite a
lot of numbers, and when it's full I'll give you another. I'm so
glad you like the railway. Only, please, you mustn't walk on the
line."

"Not if we face the way the train's coming?" asked Peter, after a
gloomy pause, in which glances of despair were exchanged.

"No--really not," said Mother.

Then Phyllis said, "Mother, didn't YOU ever walk on the railway
lines when you were little?"