Funny / The Railway Children

• When the children want to get birthday presents for Mr Perks, but don't want to just write 'Perks' on the cake. Phyllis knows his name is Albert and says they should use that since "Albert's a pretty name". Cue everyone gawking at her.
• The girls discover Peter has been stealing coal. Phyllis makes light of the situation.
  "It's all right, Pete. At least we can burn the evidence."
• When the family first arrive at the new house, the man who drives their carriage only responds with "I dare say" to everything. Mother eventually gets fed up.
  "If you say 'I dare say' one more time, I shall have hysterics...I dare say."
• Mrs Viney says she'll leave supper in the house for them, but they can't find it when they arrive. Mother discovers it the next morning hidden in the grill, and when Mrs Viney pops in to say hi, she notes it's a "curious time" to have the supper.
• While Mother is ill, the doctor tells Bobbie that she'll be acting as 'head nurse'. Phyllis is right next to her and looks a little put out. The doctor then tells her "you can be Matron" and she immediately Squees.
• When Perks delivers the enormous hamper from the old gentleman, and has to get through a narrow stile in a dry stone wall; this is accompanied with "wha-wha-wha" music.
• When the children wonder what kind of award they'll receive at the presentation given in their honour for saving the train.
  “It might be anything,” said Phyllis; “what I've always wanted is a Baby elephant—but I suppose they wouldn't know that.”
  • Peter wonders if they'll get medals.
  "When I'm very old indeed, I shall show them to my grandchildren and say, 'We only did our duty,' and they'll be awfully proud of me.”
  “You have to be married,” warned Phyllis, “or you don't have any grandchildren.”
  “I suppose I shall HAVE to be married some day,” said Peter, “but it will be an awful bother having her round all the time. I'd like to marry a lady who had trances, and only woke up once or twice a year.”
  “Just to say you were the light of her life and then go to sleep again. Yes. That wouldn't be bad,” said Bobbie.
  “When I get married,” said Phyllis, “I shall want him to want me to be awake all the time, so that I can hear him say how nice I am.”
• When the children go to meet with the Old Gent to ask for help regarding the Russian Gentleman's family, they all dress up very cleanly and smartly. Except for Phyllis who spills lemonade down her front and gets streaked with coal dust before they get there.
  It was decided that she should keep behind the others as much as possible.
  “Perhaps the old gentleman won't notice,” said Bobbie. “The aged are often weak in the eyes.”
  • A few lines later, the children are beginning to feel increasingly nervous.
  Bobbie: "Do come on — he'll think we're idiots.”
  Peter: “He won't be far wrong."
• In chapter 13 when a stranger arrives to see Jim, the children know it's not the doctor and wonder who it could be.
  “Perhaps,” said Peter at last, “Dr. Forrest has been attacked by highwaymen and left for dead, and this is the man he's telegraphed for to take his place.

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