Дети железной дороги
The engine-burglar.
Theylearnedseveralinterestingthingsfromhim—amongothersthathisnamewasPerks,thathewasmarriedandhadthreechildren,thatthelampsinfrontofenginesarecalledhead-lightsandtheonesatthebacktail-lights.
"Andthatjustshows,"whisperedPhyllis,"thattrainsreallyAREdragonsindisguise,withproperheadsandtails."
Itwasonthisdaythatthechildrenfirstnoticedthatallenginesarenotalike.
"Alike?"saidthePorter,whosenamewasPerks,"lor,loveyou,no,Miss.Nomorealikenorwhatyouan’meare.Thatlittle’unwithoutatenderaswentbyjustnowallonherown,thatwasatank,thatwas—she’sofftodosomeshuntingt’othersideo’Maidbridge.That’sasitmightbeyou,Miss.Thenthere’sgoodsengines,great,strongthingswiththreewheelseachside—joinedwithrodstostrengthen’em—asitmightbeme.Thenthere’smain-lineenginesasitmightbethis’ereyounggentlemanwhenhegrowsupandwinsalltheracesat‘isschool—sohewill.Themain-lineengineshe’sbuiltforspeedaswellaspower.That’sonetothe9.15up."
"TheGreenDragon,"saidPhyllis.
"WecallshertheSnail,Miss,amongourselves,"saidthePorter."She’softenerbe’ind’andnoranytrainontheline."
"Buttheengine’sgreen,"saidPhyllis.
"Yes,Miss,"saidPerks,"so’sasnailsomeseasonso’theyear.