The Railway Children - E. Nesbit

“Yes, I do,” said Peter, downrightly; “and don't you try to come it over us that
you don't like it, too. Because I know you do.”
“Yes,” said Bobbie, doubtfully, “I know I do. But oughtn't we to be satisfied
with just having done it, and not ask for anything more?”
“Who did ask for anything more, silly?” said her brother; “Victoria Cross
soldiers don't ASK for it; but they're glad enough to get it all the same. Perhaps
it'll be medals. Then, when I'm very old indeed, I shall show them to my
grandchildren and say, 'We only did our duty,' and they'll be awfully proud of
me.”
“You have to be married,” warned Phyllis, “or you don't have any
grandchildren.”
“I suppose I shall HAVE to be married some day,” said Peter, “but it will be
an awful bother having her round all the time. I'd like to marry a lady who had
trances, and only woke up once or twice a year.”
“Just to say you were the light of her life and then go to sleep again. Yes. That
wouldn't be bad,” said Bobbie.
“When I get married,” said Phyllis, “I shall want him to want me to be awake
all the time, so that I can hear him say how nice I am.”
“I think it would be nice,” said Bobbie, “to marry someone very poor, and
then you'd do all the work and he'd love you most frightfully, and see the blue
wood smoke curling up among the trees from the domestic hearth as he came
home from work every night. I say—we've got to answer that letter and say that
the time and place WILL be convenient to us. There's the soap, Peter. WE'RE
both as clean as clean. That pink box of writing paper you had on your birthday,
Phil.”
It took some time to arrange what should be said. Mother had gone back to her
writing, and several sheets of pink paper with scalloped gilt edges and green
four-leaved shamrocks in the corner were spoiled before the three had decided
what to say. Then each made a copy and signed it with its own name.
The threefold letter ran:—
“Dear Mr. Jabez Inglewood,—Thank you very much. We did not want to be
rewarded but only to save the train, but we are glad you think so and thank you
very much. The time and place you say will be quite convenient to us. Thank
you very much.
“Your affecate little friend,”
Then came the name, and after it:—