if (children.length == 0) { if (startOffset == -1) throw new NullPointerException("BranchElement has no children."); } else startOffset = children[0].getStartOffset();  return startOffset;
return children[0].getStartOffset();
    public int getStartOffset()    {      if (children.length == 0)        {          if (startOffset == -1)            throw new NullPointerException("BranchElement has no children.");        }      else        startOffset = children[0].getStartOffset();      return startOffset;    }