Дети железной дороги

           Allsortsofdreadfulthoughtscametoheralltogetherinonehorribleflash.Thereweresuchthingsasexpresstrainsthatwenton,shesupposed,forhundredsofmileswithoutstopping.Supposethisshouldbeoneofthem?Howwouldshegethomeagain?Shehadnomoneytopayforthereturnjourney.

           "AndI’venobusinesshere.I’manengine-burglar—that’swhatIam,"shethought."Ishouldn’twonderiftheycouldlockmeupforthis."Andthetrainwasgoingfasterandfaster.

           Therewassomethinginherthroatthatmadeitimpossibleforhertospeak.Shetriedtwice.Themenhadtheirbackstoher.Theyweredoingsomethingtothingsthatlookedliketaps.

           Suddenlysheputoutherhandandcaughtholdofthenearestsleeve.Themanturnedwithastart,andheandRobertastoodforaminutelookingateachotherinsilence.Thenthesilencewasbrokenbythemboth.

           Themansaid,"Here’sabloomin’go!"andRobertaburstintotears.

           Theothermansaidhewasbloomingwellblest—orsomethinglikeit--butthoughnaturallysurprisedtheywerenotexactlyunkind.

           "You’reanaughtylittlegell,that’swhatyouare,"saidthefireman,andtheengine-driversaid:—

           "Daringlittlepiece,Icallher,"buttheymadehersitdownonanironseatinthecabandtoldhertostopcryingandtellthemwhatshemeantbyit.

           Shedidstop,assoonasshecould.