The children were gathered around Mother.
They had found out Father had to leave suddenly on business.
But why was Mother so upset?
And when would Father be back?
"Please don't ask me any questions about this," Mother said.
"I'm sorry, but I can't answer them.
And please don't ask anyone else either."
Peter looked down, his cheeks flushed.
"You'll promise, won't you?" said Mother.
"I asked Ruth," said Peter. "I'm very sorry."
"What did she say?" Mother asked.
"She said we would find out soon."
"You don't need to know anything," said Mother, "because it's about business.
Do you understand business?"
"No," answered Bobbie.
"Is it something to do with the government?"
Father worked for the government.
"Yes," said Mother.
"And don't you worry, everything will be fine."
"Don't you worry either, Mother!" said Phyllis.
"We'll be as good as gold!"
Mother sighed and kissed them, and they went to bed.
Over the next few weeks, Mother was often out.
Aunt Emma came to visit.
Aunt Emma was much older than Mother.
She was always busy sewing clothes and wasn't much fun.
The children preferred the company of the servants, who were more amusing.
If the cook was in a good mood, she would sing silly songs.
One day Peter made a booby trap.
He balanced a pail of flour over the bathroom door.
When Ruth moved the door, flour fell on her head.
"You'll be in trouble!" Ruth said furiously.
"If you don't behave yourself, you'll end up where your precious father's gone!"
Peter wondered what Ruth was talking about.
One morning Mother came down to breakfast. She smiled.
"Now, my darlings," she said.
"We're going to leave this house, and go and live in the country.
We'll move into a little white house.
I know you'll love it."
A busy week followed, with everyone packing up things in boxes.
They packed crockery and carpets, saucepans and candlesticks.
"Are you going to take this, Mother?" Bobbie asked.
She pointed to a beautiful cabinet of wood and brass.
"We can't take everything!" Mother exclaimed.
"But we seem to be taking all the ugly things," said Bobbie.
"We're taking all the useful things," said Mother.
"We don't have as much money now, Bobbie."
The next day the children said good-bye to their house.
They went with Mother to the train station.
Aunt Emma waved good-bye from the platform.
The children were glad they wouldn't see her again!
They were taking the train to their new home.
At first the children enjoyed looking out the train window.
But as dusk came, they grew sleepier and sleepier.
Later Mother gently woke them and said, "We're here!"
Soon Bobbie, Phyllis, and Peter stood shivering with their mother on the windy platform.
The train, puffing steam, left the station.
The children watched it go.
It was the first train they watched on the railway.
They didn't know it yet, but the railway would soon become very special to them.
"Come on," said Mother. "We have to walk.
There aren't any taxis here."
A cart carried their luggage.
The children and Mother walked behind the cart.
The evening was dark and cold and the road was muddy.
Finally Mother spoke again.
"There's the house," she said.