Дети железной дороги
Prisoners and captives.
Amanwithlonghairandwildeyes,withshabbyclothesofacutPeterhadnotseenbefore—amanwhosehandsandlipstrembled,andwhospokeagainashiseyesfellonPeter.
"No,it’snotFrench,"saidPeter.
"TryhimwithFrenchifyouknowsomuchaboutit,"saidthefarmer-man.
"ParlayvooFrongsay?"beganPeter,boldly,andthenextmomentthecrowdrecoiledagain,forthemanwiththewildeyeshadleftleaningagainstthewall,andhadsprungforwardandcaughtPeter’shands,andbeguntopourforthafloodofwordswhich,thoughhecouldnotunderstandawordofthem,Peterknewthesoundof.
"There!"saidhe,andturned,hishandsstillclaspedinthehandsofthestrangeshabbyfigure,tothrowaglanceoftriumphatthecrowd;"there;THAT’SFrench."
"Whatdoeshesay?"
"Idon’tknow."Peterwasobligedtoownit.
"Here,"saidtheStationMasteragain;"youmoveonifyouplease.I’LLdealwiththiscase."
Afewofthemoretimidorlessinquisitivetravellersmovedslowlyandreluctantlyaway.AndPhyllisandBobbiegotneartoPeter.AllthreehadbeenTAUGHTFrenchatschool.HowdeeplytheynowwishedthattheyhadLEARNEDit!Petershookhisheadatthestranger,buthealsoshookhishandsaswarmlyandlookedathimaskindlyashecould.Apersoninthecrowd,aftersomehesitation,saidsuddenly,"Nocomprenny!"andthen,blushingdeeply,backedoutofthepressandwentaway.
