Дети железной дороги
The beginning of things.
Inotherwords,I’llgiveupSaturdayafternoontoit,andyoushallallhelpme."
"CANgirlshelptomendengines?"Peteraskeddoubtfully.
"Ofcoursetheycan.Girlsarejustascleverasboys,anddon’tyouforgetit!Howwouldyouliketobeanengine-driver,Phil?"
"Myfacewouldbealwaysdirty,wouldn’tit?"saidPhyllis,inunenthusiastictones,"andIexpectIshouldbreaksomething."
"Ishouldjustloveit,"saidRoberta—"doyouthinkIcouldwhenI’mgrownup,Daddy?Orevenastoker?"
"Youmeanafireman,"saidDaddy,pullingandtwistingattheengine."Well,ifyoustillwishit,whenyou’regrownup,we’llseeaboutmakingyouafire-woman.IrememberwhenIwasaboy—"
Justthentherewasaknockatthefrontdoor.
"Whoonearth!"saidFather."AnEnglishman’shouseishiscastle,ofcourse,butIdowishtheybuiltsemi-detachedvillaswithmoatsanddrawbridges."
Ruth—shewastheparlour-maidandhadredhair—cameinandsaidthattwogentlemenwantedtoseethemaster.
"I’veshownthemintotheLibrary,Sir,"saidshe.
"Iexpectit’sthesubscriptiontotheVicar’stestimonial,"saidMother,"orelseit’sthechoirholidayfund.Getridofthemquickly,dear.Itdoesbreakupaneveningso,andit’snearlythechildren’sbedtime."
ButFatherdidnotseemtobeabletogetridofthegentlemenatallquickly.
