黑布林英语阅读铁道儿童第一章主要内容

ChapterI.Thebeginningofthings.

Theywerenotrailwaychildrentobeginwith.Idon'tsupposetheyhadeverthoughtaboutrailwaysexceptasameansofgettingtoMaskelyneandCook's,thePantomime,ZoologicalGardens,andMadameTussaud's.Theywerejustordinarysuburban1children,andtheylivedwiththeirFatherandMotherinanordinaryred-brick-frontedvilla2,withcolouredglassinthefrontdoor,atiledpassagethatwascalledahall,abath-roomwithhotandcoldwater,electricbells,Frenchwindows,andagooddealofwhitepaint,and‘everymodernconvenience',asthehouse-agentssay.

Therewerethreeofthem.Robertawastheeldest3.Ofcourse,Mothersneverhavefavourites,butiftheirMotherHADhadafavourite,itmighthavebeenRoberta.NextcamePeter,whowishedtobeanEngineerwhenhegrewup;andtheyoungestwasPhyllis,whomeantextremelywell.

Motherdidnotspendallhertimeinpayingdullcallstodullladies,andsittingdullyathomewaitingfordullladiestopaycallstoher.Shewasalmostalwaysthere,readytoplaywiththechildren,andreadtothem,andhelpthemtodotheirhome-lessons.Besidesthissheusedtowritestoriesforthemwhiletheywereatschool,andreadthemaloudaftertea,andshealwaysmadeupfunnypiecesofpoetryfortheirbirthdaysandforothergreatoccasions,suchasthechristeningofthenewkittens,ortherefurnishingofthedoll'shouse,orthetimewhentheyweregettingoverthemumps4.

Thesethreeluckychildrenalwayshadeverythingtheyneeded:prettyclothes,goodfires,alovelynurserywithheapsoftoys,andaMotherGoosewal-lpaper.Theyhadakindandmerrynursemaid,andadogwhowascalledJames,andwhowastheirveryown.TheyalsohadaFatherwhowasjustperfect—nevercross,neverunjust,andalwaysreadyforagame—atleast,ifatanytimehewasNOTready,healwayshadanexcellentreasonforit,andexplainedthereasontothechildrensointerestinglyandfunnilythattheyfeltsurehecouldn'thelphimself.

Youwillthinkthattheyoughttohavebeenveryhappy.Andsotheywere,buttheydidnotknowHOWhappytilltheprettylifeintheRedVillawasoveranddonewith,andtheyhadtoliveaverydifferentlifeindeed.

Thedreadfulchangecamequitesuddenly.

Peterhadabirthday—histenth.Amonghisotherpresentswasamodelenginemoreperfectthanyoucouldeverhavedreamedof.Theotherpresentswerefullofcharm,buttheEnginewasfullerofcharmthananyoftheotherswere.

Itscharmlastedinitsfullperfectionforexactlythreedays.Then,owingeithertoPeter'sinexperienceorPhyllis'sgoodintentions,whichhadbeenratherpressing,ortosomeothercause,theEnginesuddenlywentoffwithabang.Jameswassofrightenedthathewentoutanddidnotcomebackallday.AlltheNoah'sArkpeoplewhowereinthetenderwerebrokentobits,butnothingelsewashurtexceptthepoorlittleengineandthefeelingsofPeter.Theotherssaidhecriedoverit—butofcourseboysoftendonotcry,howeverterriblethetragediesmaybewhichdarkentheirlot.Hesaidthathiseyeswereredbecausehehadacold.Thisturnedouttobetrue,thoughPeterdidnotknowitwaswhenhesaidit,thenextdayhehadtogotobedandstaythere.Motherbegantobeafraidthathemightbesickeningformeasles5,whensuddenlyhesatupinbedandsaid:

“Ihategruel6—Ihatebarley7water—Ihatebreadandmilk.IwanttogetupandhavesomethingREALtoeat.”

“Whatwouldyoulike?”Motherasked.

“Apigeon-pie,”saidPeter,eagerly,“alargepigeon-pie.Averylargeone.”

SoMotheraskedtheCooktomakealargepigeon-pie.Thepiewasmade.Andwhenthepiewasmade,itwascooked.Andwhenitwascooked,Peteratesomeofit.Afterthathiscoldwasbetter.Mothermadeapieceofpoetrytoamusehimwhilethepiewasbeingmade.Itbeganbysayingwhatanunfortunatebutworthy8boyPeterwas,thenitwenton:

Hehadanenginethatheloved

Withallhisheartandsoul,

Andifhehadawishonearth

Itwastokeepitwhole.

Oneday—myfriends,prepareyourminds;

I'mcomingtotheworst—

Quitesuddenlyascrewwentmad,

Andthentheboiler9burst!

Withgloomyfacehepickeditup

AndtookittohisMother,

Thoughevenhecouldnotsuppose

Thatshecouldmakeanother;

Forthosewhoperishedontheline

Hedidnotseemtocare,

Hisenginebeingmoretohim

Thanallthepeoplethere.

Andnowyouseethereasonwhy

OurPeterhasbeenill:

Hesoothes10hissoulwithpigeon-pie

Hisgnawing11grieftokill.

Hewrapshimselfinblanketswarm

Andsleepsinbedtilllate,

Determined12thustoovercome

Hismiserable13fate.

Andifhiseyesareratherred,

Hiscoldmustjustexcuseit:

Offerhimpie;youmaybesure

Heneverwillrefuseit.

Fatherhadbeenawayinthecountryforthreeorfourdays.AllPeter'shopesforthecuringofhisafflicted14Enginewerenowfixed15onhisFather,forFatherwasmostwonderfullycleverwithhisfingers.Hecouldmendallsortsofthings.Hehadoftenactedasveterinarysurgeontothewoodenrocking-horse;oncehehadsaveditslifewhenallhumanaidwasdespairedof,andthepoorcreaturewasgivenupforlost,andeventhecarpentersaidhedidn'tseehiswaytodoanything.AnditwasFatherwhomendedthedoll'scradlewhennooneelsecould;andwithalittleglueandsomebitsofwoodandapen-knifemadealltheNoah'sArkbeastsasstrongontheirpinsasevertheywere,ifnotstronger.

Peter,withheroicunselfishness,didnotsayanythingabouthisEnginetillafterFatherhadhadhisdinnerandhisafter-dinnercigar.TheunselfishnesswasMother'sidea—butitwasPeterwhocarrieditout.Andneededagooddealofpatience,too.

AtlastMothersaidtoFather,“Now,dear,ifyou'requiterested,andquitecomfy,wewanttotellyouaboutthegreatrailwayaccident,andaskyouradvice.”

“Allright,”saidFather,“fireaway!”

SothenPetertoldthesadtale,andfetchedwhatwasleftoftheEngine.

“Hum,”saidFather,whenhehadlookedtheEngineoververycarefully.

Thechildrenheldtheirbreaths.

“IsthereNOhope?”saidPeter,inalow,unsteadyvoice.

“Hope?Rather!Tonsofit,”saidFather,cheerfully;“butit'llwantsomethingbesideshope—abitofbrazingsay,orsomesolder16,andanewvalve.Ithinkwe'dbetterkeepitforarainyday.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-detachedvillas17withmoatsanddrawbridges.”

Ruth—shewastheparlour-maidandhadredhair—cameinandsaidthattwogentlemenwantedtoseethemaster.

“I'veshownthemintotheLibrary,Sir,”saidshe.

“Iexpectit'sthesubscription18totheVicar'stestimonial,”saidMother,“orelseit'sthechoir19holidayfund.Getridofthemquickly,dear.Itdoesbreakupaneveningso,andit'snearlythechildren'sbedtime.”

ButFatherdidnotseemtobeabletogetridofthegentlemenatallquickly.

“IwishweHADgotamoatanddrawbridge,”saidRoberta;“then,whenwedidn'twantpeople,wecouldjustpullupthedrawbridgeandnooneelsecouldgetin.IexpectFatherwillhaveforgottenaboutwhenhewasaboyiftheystaymuchlonger.”

MothertriedtomakethetimepassbytellingthemanewfairystoryaboutaPrincesswithgreeneyes,butitwasdifficultbecausetheycouldhearthevoicesofFatherandthegentlemenintheLibrary,andFather'svoicesoundedlouderanddifferenttothevoicehegenerallyusedtopeoplewhocameabouttestimonialsandholidayfunds.

ThentheLibrarybellrang,andeveryoneheavedabreathofrelief.

“They'regoingnow,”saidPhyllis;“he'srungtohavethemshownout.”

Butinsteadofshowinganybodyout,Ruthshowedherselfin,andshelookedqueer,thechildrenthought.

“Please'm,”shesaid,“theMasterwantsyoutojuststepintothestudy.Helookslikethedead,mum;Ithinkhe'shadbadnews.You'dbestprepareyourselffortheworst,‘m—p'rapsit'sadeathinthefamilyorabankbusted20or—”

“That'lldo,Ruth,”saidMothergently;“youcango.”

ThenMotherwentintotheLibrary.Therewasmoretalking.Thenthebellrangagain,andRuthfetchedacab.Thechildrenheardbootsgooutanddownthesteps.Thecabdroveaway,andthefrontdoorshut.ThenMothercamein.Herdearfacewasaswhiteasherlacecollar,andhereyeslookedverybigandshining.Hermouthlookedlikejustalineofpalered—herlipswerethinandnottheirpropershapeatall.

“It'sbedtime,”shesaid.“Ruthwillputyoutobed.”

“ButyoupromisedweshouldsituplatetonightbecauseFather'scomehome,”saidPhyllis.

“Father'sbeencalledaway—onbusiness,”saidMother.“Come,darlings,goatonce.”

Theykissedherandwent.RobertalingeredtogiveMotheranextrahugandtowhisper:

“Itwasn'tbadnews,Mammy,wasit?Isanyonedead—or—”

“Nobody'sdead—no,”saidMother,andshealmostseemedtopushRobertaaway.

“Ican'ttellyouanythingtonight,mypet.Go,dear,goNOW.”

SoRobertawent.

Ruthbrushedthegirls'hairandhelpedthemtoundress.(Motheralmostalwaysdidthisherself.)WhenshehadturneddownthegasandleftthemshefoundPeter,stilldressed,waitingonthestairs.

“Isay,Ruth,what'sup?”heasked.

“Don'taskmenoquestionsandIwon'ttellyounolies,”thered-headedRuthreplied.“You'llknowsoonenough.”

LatethatnightMothercameupandkissedallthreechildrenastheylayasleep.ButRobertawastheonlyonewhomthekisswoke,andshelaymousey-still,andsaidnothing.

“IfMotherdoesn'twantustoknowshe'sbeencrying,”shesaidtoherselfassheheardthroughthedarkthecatching21ofherMother'sbreath,“weWON'Tknowit.That'sall.”

Whentheycamedowntobreakfastthenextmorning,Motherhadalreadygoneout.

“ToLondon,”Ruthsaid,andleftthemtotheirbreakfast.

“There'ssomethingawfulthematter,”saidPeter,breakinghisegg.“Ruthtoldmelastnightweshouldknowsoonenough.”

“DidyouASKher?”saidRoberta,withscorn.

“Yes,Idid!”saidPeter,angrily.“IfyoucouldgotobedwithoutcaringwhetherMotherwasworriedornot,Icouldn't.Sothere.”

“Idon'tthinkweoughttoasktheservantsthingsMotherdoesn'ttellus,”saidRoberta.

“That'sright,MissGoody-goody,”saidPeter,“preachaway.”

“I'Mnotgoody,”saidPhyllis,“butIthinkBobbie'srightthistime.”

“Ofcourse.Shealwaysis.Inherownopinion,”saidPeter.

“Oh,DON'T!”criedRoberta,puttingdownheregg-spoon;“don'tlet'sbehorrid22toeachother.I'msuresomedire23calamity24ishappening.Don'tlet'smakeitworse!”

“Whobegan,Ishouldliketoknow?”saidPeter.

Robertamadeaneffort,andanswered:—

“Idid,Isuppose,but—”

“Well,then,”saidPeter,triumphantly25.Butbeforehewenttoschoolhethumped26hissisterbetweentheshouldersandtoldhertocheerup.

Thechildrencamehometooneo'clockdinner,butMotherwasnotthere.Andshewasnotthereattea-time.

Itwasnearlysevenbeforeshecamein,lookingsoillandtiredthatthechildrenfelttheycouldnotaskheranyquestions.Shesankintoanarm-chair.Phyllistookthelongpinsoutofherhat,whileRobertatookoffhergloves,andPeterunfastenedherwalking-shoesandfetchedhersoftvelvety27slippers28forher.

Whenshehadhadacupoftea,andRobertahadputeau-de-Cologneonherpoorheadthatached,Mothersaid:—

“Now,mydarlings,Iwanttotellyousomething.Thosemenlastnightdidbringverybadnews,andFatherwillbeawayforsometime.Iamveryworriedaboutit,andIwantyoualltohelpme,andnottomakethingsharderforme.”

“Asifwewould!”saidRoberta,holdingMother'shandagainstherface.

“Youcanhelpmeverymuch,”saidMother,“bybeinggoodandhappyandnotquarrellingwhenI'maway”—RobertaandPeterexchangedguiltyglances—“forIshallhavetobeawayagooddeal.”

“Wewon'tquarrel.Indeedwewon't,”saideverybody.Andmeantit,too.

“Then,”Motherwenton,“Iwantyounottoaskmeanyquestionsaboutthistrouble;andnottoaskanybodyelseanyquestions.”

Petercringedandshuffled29hisbootsonthecarpet.

“You'llpromisethis,too,won'tyou?”saidMother.

“IdidaskRuth,”saidPeter,suddenly.“I'mverysorry,butIdid.”

“Andwhatdidshesay?”

“ShesaidIshouldknowsoonenough.”

“Itisn'tnecessaryforyoutoknowanythingaboutit,”saidMother;“it'saboutbusiness,andyouneverdounderstandbusiness,doyou?”

“No,”saidRoberta;“isitsomethingtodowithGovernment?”ForFatherwasinaGovernmentOffice.

“Yes,”saidMother.“Nowit'sbed-time,mydarlings.Anddon'tYOUworry.It'llallcomerightintheend.”

“Thendon'tYOUworryeither,Mother,”saidPhyllis,“andwe'llallbeasgoodasgold.”Mothersighedandkissedthem.

“We'llbeginbeinggoodthefirstthingtomorrowmorning,”saidPeter,astheywentupstairs.

“WhynotNOW?”saidRoberta.

“There'snothingtobegoodABOUTnow,silly,”saidPeter.

“WemightbegintotrytoFEELgood,”saidPhyllis,“andnotcallnames.”

“Who'scallingnames?”saidPeter.“BobbieknowsrightenoughthatwhenIsay‘silly',it'sjustthesameasifIsaidBobbie.”

“WELL,”saidRoberta.

“No,Idon'tmeanwhatyoumean.Imeanit'sjusta—whatisitFathercallsit?—agermofendearment30!Goodnight.”

Thegirlsfoldeduptheirclotheswithmorethanusualneatness—whichwastheonlywayofbeinggoodthattheycouldthinkof.

“Isay,”saidPhyllis,smoothingoutherpinafore,“youusedtosayitwassodull—nothinghappening,likeinbooks.NowsomethingHAShappened.”

“IneverwantedthingstohappentomakeMotherunhappy,”saidRoberta.“Everything'sperfectly31horrid.”

Everythingcontinuedtobeperfectlyhorridforsomeweeks.

Motherwasnearlyalwaysout.Mealsweredullanddirty.Thebetween-maidwassentaway,andAuntEmmacameonavisit.AuntEmmawasmucholderthanMother.Shewasgoingabroadtobeagoverness.Shewasverybusygettingherclothesready,andtheywereveryugly,dingy32clothes,andshehadthemalwayslitteringabout,andthesewing-machineseemedtowhir—onandonalldayandmostofthenight.AuntEmmabelievedinkeepingchildrenintheirproperplaces.Andtheymorethanreturnedthecompliment.TheirideaofAuntEmma'sproperplacewasanywherewheretheywerenot.Sotheysawverylittleofher.Theypreferredthecompanyoftheservants,whoweremoreamusing.Cook,ifinagoodtemper,couldsingcomicsongs,andthehousemaid,ifshehappenednottobeoffendedwithyou,couldimitateahenthathaslaidanegg,abottleofchampagne33beingopened,andcouldmewliketwocatsfighting.TheservantsnevertoldthechildrenwhatthebadnewswasthatthegentlemenhadbroughttoFather.Buttheykepthintingthattheycouldtellagreatdealiftheychose—andthiswasnotcomfortable.

OnedaywhenPeterhadmadeaboobytrapoverthebath-roomdoor,andithadactedbeautifullyasRuthpassedthrough,thatred-hairedparlour-maidcaughthimandboxedhisears.

“You'llcometoabadend,”shesaidfuriously,“younastylittlelimb,you!Ifyoudon'tmendyourways,you'llgowhereyourpreciousFather'sgone,soItellyoustraight!”

RobertarepeatedthistoherMother,andnextdayRuthwassentaway.

ThencamethetimewhenMothercamehomeandwenttobedandstayedtheretwodaysandtheDoctorcame,andthechildrencreptwretchedlyaboutthehouseandwonderediftheworldwascomingtoanend.

Mothercamedownonemorningtobreakfast,verypaleandwithlinesonherfacethatusednottobethere.Andshesmiled,aswellasshecould,andsaid:—

“Now,mypets,everythingissettled.We'regoingtoleavethishouse,andgoandliveinthecountry.Suchaduckydearlittlewhitehouse.Iknowyou'llloveit.”

Awhirlingweekofpackingfollowed—notjustpackingclothes,likewhenyougototheseaside,butpackingchairsandtables,coveringtheirtopswithsackingandtheirlegswithstraw.

Allsortsofthingswerepackedthatyoudon'tpackwhenyougototheseaside.Crockery,blankets,candlesticks,carpets,bedsteads,saucepans,andevenfendersandfire-irons.

Thehousewaslikeafurniturewarehouse34.Ithinkthechildrenenjoyeditverymuch.Motherwasverybusy,butnottoobusynowtotalktothem,andreadtothem,andeventomakeabitofpoetryforPhyllistocheerherupwhenshefelldownwithascrewdriver35andranitintoherhand.

“Aren'tyougoingtopackthis,Mother?”Robertaasked,pointingtothebeautifulcabinetinlaidwithredturtleshellandbrass36.

“Wecan'ttakeeverything,”saidMother.

“Butweseemtobetakingalltheuglythings,”saidRoberta.

“We'retakingtheusefulones,”saidMother;“we'vegottoplayatbeingPoorforabit,mychickabiddy.”

Whenalltheuglyusefulthingshadbeenpackedupandtakenawayinavanbymeningreen-baizeaprons37,thetwogirlsandMotherandAuntEmmasleptinthetwospareroomswherethefurniturewasallpretty.Alltheirbedshadgone.AbedwasmadeupforPeteronthedrawing-roomsofa.

“Isay,thisislarks,”hesaid,wriggling38joyously39,asMothertuckedhimup.“Idolikemoving!Iwishwemovedonceamonth.”

Motherlaughed.

“Idon't!”shesaid.“Goodnight,Peterkin.”

AssheturnedawayRobertasawherface.Sheneverforgotit.

“Oh,Mother,”shewhisperedalltoherselfasshegotintobed,“howbraveyouare!HowIloveyou!Fancybeingbraveenoughtolaughwhenyou'refeelinglikeTHAT!”

Nextdayboxeswerefilled,andboxesandmoreboxes;andthenlateintheafternoonacabcametotakethemtothestation.

AuntEmmasawthemoff.TheyfeltthatTHEYwereseeingHERoff,andtheyweregladofit.

“But,oh,thosepoorlittleforeignchildrenthatshe'sgoingtogoverness!”whisperedPhyllis.“Iwouldn'tbethemforanything!”

Atfirsttheyenjoyedlookingoutofthewindow,butwhenitgrewdusktheygrewsleepierandsleepier,andnooneknewhowlongtheyhadbeeninthetrainwhentheywererousedbyMother'sshakingthemgentlyandsaying:—

“Wakeup,dears.We'rethere.”

Theywokeup,coldandmelancholy40,andstoodshiveringonthedraughtyplatformwhilethebaggagewastakenoutofthetrain.Thentheengine,puffing42andblowing,settoworkagain,anddraggedthetrainaway.Thechildrenwatchedthetail-lightsoftheguard'svandisappearintothedarkness.

Thiswasthefirsttrainthechildrensawonthatrailwaywhichwasintimetobecomesoverydeartothem.Theydidnotguessthenhowtheywouldgrowtolovetherailway,andhowsoonitwouldbecomethecentreoftheirnewlife,norwhatwondersandchangesitwouldbringtothem.Theyonlyshiveredandsneezedandhopedthewalktothenewhousewouldnotbelong.Peter'snosewascolderthanheeverrememberedittohavebeenbefore.Roberta'shatwascrooked43,andtheelastic44seemedtighterthanusual.

Phyllis'sshoe-laceshadcomeundone45.

“Come,”saidMother,“we'vegottowalk.Therearen'tanycabshere.”

Thewalkwasdarkandmuddy.Thechildrenstumbledalittleontheroughroad,andoncePhyllisabsentlyfellintoapuddle46,andwaspickedupdampandunhappy.Therewerenogas-lampsontheroad,andtheroadwasuphill.Thecartwentatafoot'space,andtheyfollowedthegrittycrunch47ofitswheels.Astheireyesgotusedtothedarkne