The Trainmasters Read Online Free Page A

finding it hard to mask her boredom.
     And much of the time her eyes were closed, as if she were dozing. But then she would whisper something to Matthias Baldwin
     next to her, and they would both chuckle discreetly. John thought her liveliness quite becoming.
    Several times he found her eyes watching him. John imagined that she had noticed the Savile Row suit he had acquired at Sir
     Charles’s urging, before he had embarked for Philadelphia. Not many men in the crowd before the reviewing stand were dressed
     as fashionably as John.
    After the governor finished, the mayor of Philadelphia managed to find several things to approve of that the governor had
     not considered.
    There was a rustle in the crowd behind John. Twisting around to see what it was, he saw his two sons Alex and David returning
     with food.
    Alex held a newspaper-wrapped bundle. Hot grease was seeping through it, and Alex kept shifting his hands to keep from getting
     burned. David was carrying a candied apple on a stick. His face gave clear evidence of his enjoyment.
    “Father,” Alex said, “I’ve found fried clams. But will you take them? They’re hot.” He handed the bundle over to John, who
     held it out for Graham to unwrap.
    “They’re delicious,” John said to Alex after he had tried a few. “Crisp and golden. Thanks for fetching them, Alex. Take a
     few yourself. You too, Graham.”
    By the time they had finished eating their clams, the mayor concluded speaking. He was followed by William Patterson, the
     president of the railroad, whose speech was blessedly short. At the end of it, he called upon Mrs. Lancaster to do the honors
     of christening the Tiger. She made her way to his side at the podium.
    A pole had been rigged up in front of the reviewing stand, just to the side of the podium, and a long, crimson silk ribbon
     had been tied to it. At the end of the ribbon a magnum of champagne had been attached. After saying a few words Mrs. Lancaster
     would propel the champagne so it would hit the front of the locomotive.
    William Patterson presented the bottle to her. Holding it out in front of her and smiling, Kitty Lancaster looked toward the
     locomotive and at the throng of people clustered around it. And then she laughed and spoke to them. “Do you people want to
     back away?” she asked in a loud voice, still laughing. “Soon it will be raining champagne.” Her voice was full, rich, and
     vibrant. And she was looking directly at John Carlysle.
    Since the Carlysles were standing only a few feet from Tiger’s pilot, they figured to take much of the splash, but John, smiling,
     made no move to leave, and Alex and David giggled.
    No one else moved either. There were many chuckles.
    “It’s not every day we get champagne weather,” said a voice near the Carlyles.
    “Then you’ve been warned,” she said, still looking at John.
    Mrs. Lancaster’s voice then took on a serious tone. “In the name of the Lord, the people of Pennsylvania, and the directors
     and stockholders of the Pennsylvania…” She halted in midsentence. Instantly William Patterson moved to her side, fearing she
     was ill or growing faint. But she raised her hand to stop him from supporting her. “No, no, no, thank you,” she said, backing
     as far away from him as the limited space allowed. “I’m quite all right. Please, I’m not ill. I’m quite all right.”
    “What’s she doing?” Graham Carlysle whispered to his father.
    “Damned if I know,” John said. But it is certainly interesting, whatever it is, he thought to himself.
    Then Mrs. Lancaster did a most remarkable thing. She loosened the crimson ribbon from the magnum of champagne and pulled the
     bottle free.“Do please excuse me for interrupting the ceremony this way,” she said to the crowd after she had finished freeing
     the bottle.
    “But I’ve had a sudden flash of inspiration. And I have always made it a practice to follow my instincts.”
    There was nervous laughter in the crowd