Діти залізниці
The amateur firemen.
Nordidsheputanyobstaclesinthewayoftheiracceptingthecordialinvitationwithwhichthebargemanhadpartedfromthem.
"Yebehereatsevento-morrow,"hehadsaid,"andI’lltakeyoutheentiretriptoFarleyandback,soIwill,andnotapennytopay.Nineteenlocks!"
Theydidnotknowwhatlockswere;buttheywereatthebridgeatseven,withbreadandcheeseandhalfasodacake,andquiteaquarterofalegofmuttoninabasket.
Itwasagloriousday.Theoldwhitehorsestrainedattheropes,thebargeglidedsmoothlyandsteadilythroughthestillwater.Theskywasblueoverhead.Mr.Billwasasniceasanyonecouldpossiblybe.NoonewouldhavethoughtthathecouldbethesamemanwhohadheldPeterbytheear.AsforMrs.Bill,shehadalwaysbeennice,asBobbiesaid,andsohadthebaby,andevenSpot,whomighthavebittenthemquitebadlyifhehadliked.
"Itwassimplyripping,Mother,"saidPeter,whentheyreachedhomeveryhappy,verytired,andverydirty,"rightoverthatgloriousaqueduct.Andlocks—youdon’tknowwhatthey’relike.Yousinkintothegroundandthen,whenyoufeelyou’renevergoingtostopgoingdown,twogreatblackgatesopenslowly,slowly—yougoout,andthereyouareonthecanaljustlikeyouwerebefore."
"Iknow,"saidMother,"therearelocksontheThames.FatherandIusedtogoontheriveratMarlowbeforeweweremarried.
