Дети железной дороги
The engine-burglar.
***
TheverynextmorningBobbiebegantowatchheropportunitytogetPeter’senginemendedsecretly.Andtheopportunitycametheverynextafternoon.
Motherwentbytraintothenearesttowntodoshopping.Whenshewentthere,shealwayswenttothePost-office.PerhapstopostherletterstoFather,forshenevergavethemtothechildrenorMrs.Vineytopost,andsheneverwenttothevillageherself.PeterandPhylliswentwithher.Bobbiewantedanexcusenottogo,buttryasshewouldshecouldn’tthinkofagoodone.Andjustwhenshefeltthatallwaslost,herfrockcaughtonabignailbythekitchendoorandtherewasagreatcriss-crosstearallalongthefrontoftheskirt.Iassureyouthiswasreallyanaccident.Sotheotherspitiedherandwentwithouther,fortherewasnotimeforhertochange,becausetheywereratherlatealreadyandhadtohurrytothestationtocatchthetrain.
Whentheyhadgone,Bobbieputonhereverydayfrock,andwentdowntotherailway.Shedidnotgointothestation,butshewentalongthelinetotheendoftheplatformwheretheengineiswhenthedowntrainisalongsidetheplatform—theplacewherethereareawatertankandalong,limp,leatherhose,likeanelephant’strunk.Shehidbehindabushontheothersideoftherailway.Shehadthetoyenginedoneupinbrownpaper,andshewaitedpatientlywithitunderherarm.
