“I let on the steam;” and then I gave her a full description of the engine, which was hardly finished when we came in sight of Middleport.
I found it a delightful task to expatiate on my favorite theme to such a beautiful and interested listener, and I pointed out the cylinder wherein the piston worked, the connecting rod which moved the crank, and showed her how the valves which admitted the steam to the cylinder were worked. I flattered myself, after the lesson I had given her, that she was almost competent to run the dummy herself.
“I think it is real nice to ride in here, and see the machinery move,” said she.
“So do I; and I enjoy it very much; more just now, I fear, than I ever shall again.”
“Why so?” she asked, innocently.
I was not quite bold enough to explain the principal reason, and so I replied that it was a new thing to me.
“I hope you will let me ride with you again, some time,” she added.
“With the greatest pleasure,” I replied. “Whenever you please.”
We ran into Middleport, and Miss Toppleton thanked me very prettily for my kindness in showing her about the engine; and I really wished I had it to do over again. By this time the students were turned out of school, and all of them gathered around the dummy, anxious to begin the afternoon’s fun. I had brought over my dinner, and I ate it before the next trip. At one o’clock I was ready to start for Spangleport again.