Дети железной дороги
The engine-burglar.
"
Heshowedhertwolittledials,likeclockfaces,andtoldherhowoneshowedhowmuchsteamwasgoing,andtheothershowedifthebrakewasworkingproperly.
Bythetimeshehadseenhimshutoffsteamwithabigshiningsteelhandle,Bobbieknewmoreabouttheinsideworkingofanenginethanshehadeverthoughttherewastoknow,andJimhadpromisedthathissecondcousin’swife’sbrothershouldsolderthetoyengine,orJimwouldknowthereasonwhy.BesidesalltheknowledgeshehadgainedBobbiefeltthatsheandBillandJimwerenowfriendsforlife,andthattheyhadwhollyandforeverforgivenherforstumblinguninvitedamongthesacredcoalsoftheirtender.
AtStacklepooleJunctionshepartedfromthemwithwarmexpressionsofmutualregard.Theyhandedherovertotheguardofareturningtrain—afriendoftheirs—andshehadthejoyofknowingwhatguardsdointheirsecretfastnesses,andunderstoodhow,whenyoupullthecommunicationcordinrailwaycarriages,awheelgoesroundundertheguard’snoseandaloudbellringsinhisears.Sheaskedtheguardwhyhisvansmeltsofishy,andlearnedthathehadtocarryalotoffisheveryday,andthatthewetnessinthehollowsofthecorrugatedfloorhadalldrainedoutofboxesfullofplaiceandcodandmackerelandsolesandsmelts.
Bobbiegothomeintimefortea,andshefeltasthoughhermindwouldburstwithallthathadbeenputintoitsinceshepartedfromtheothers
