Дети железной дороги
What Bobbie brought home.
There’saboyinthetunnelovertherewitharedjerseyandhislegbroken."
"Whatdidhewanttogointothebloomingtunnelfor,then?"saidtheman.
"Don’tyoubesocross,"saidPhyllis,kindly."WEhaven’tdoneanythingwrongexceptcomingandwakingyouup,andthatwasright,asithappens."
ThenPetertoldhowtheboycametobeinthetunnel.
"Well,"saidtheman,"Idon’tseeasIcandoanything.Ican’tleavethebox."
"Youmighttelluswheretogoaftersomeonewhoisn’tinabox,though,"saidPhyllis.
"There’sBrigden’sfarmoveryonder—whereyouseethesmokea-comingupthroughthetrees,"saidtheman,moreandmoregrumpy,asPhyllisnoticed.
"Well,good-bye,then,"saidPeter.
Butthemansaid,"Waitaminute."Heputhishandinhispocketandbroughtoutsomemoney—alotofpenniesandoneortwoshillingsandsixpencesandhalf-a-crown.Hepickedouttwoshillingsandheldthemout.
"Here,"hesaid."I’llgiveyouthistoholdyourtonguesaboutwhat’stakenplaceto-day."
Therewasashort,unpleasantpause.Then:—
"YouAREanastyman,though,aren’tyou?"saidPhyllis.
Petertookastepforwardandknockedtheman’shandup,sothattheshillingsleaptoutofitandrolledonthefloor.
"IfanythingCOULDmakemesneak,THATwould!"hesaid.
