'Affairs of State, Perks,' says he.

But I did think one o' you would 'a' nipped down to tell me--you're here sharp enough when you want to get anything out of old Perks"-- Phyllis flushed purple as she thought of the strawberries--"information about locomotives or signals or the likes," said Perks.
"We didn't know you didn't know." "We thought Mother had told you." "Wewantedtotellyouonlywethoughtitwouldbestalenews." The three spoke all at once.
Perks said it was all very well, and still held up the paper.

Then Phyllis suddenly snatched it away, and threw her arms round his neck.
"Oh, let's kiss and be friends," she said; "we'll say we're sorry first, if you like, but we didn't really know that you didn't know." "We are so sorry," said the others.
And Perks at last consented to accept their apologies.
Then they got him to come out and sit in the sun on the green Railway Bank, where the grass was quite hot to touch, and there, sometimes speaking one at a time, and sometimes all together, they told the Porter the story of the Russian Prisoner.
"Well, I must say," said Perks; but he did not say it--whatever it was.
"Yes, it is pretty awful, isn't it ?" said Peter, "and I don't wonder you were curious about who the Russian was." "I wasn't curious, not so much as interested," said the Porter.
"Well, I do think Mr.Gills might have told you about it.

It was horrid of him." "I don't keep no down on 'im for that, Missie," said the Porter; "cos why?
I see 'is reasons.

'E wouldn't want to give away 'is own side with a tale like that 'ere.