They found a patch of grass which was relatively free of couples actually lying on top of each other and sat and watched the stunning ducks and the low sunlight rippling on the water which ran beneath the stunning ducks.
A story, said Fenchurch, cuddling his arm to her.
Which will tell you something of the sort of things that happen to me. It’s absolutely true.
You know sometimes people tell you stories that are supposed to be something that happened to their wife’s cousin’s best friend, but actually probably got made up somewhere along the line.
Well, it’s like one of those stories, except that it actually happened, and I know it actually happened, because the person it actually happened to was me.
Like the raffle ticket.
Arthur laughed. Yes. I had a train to catch, he went on. I arrived at the station…
Did I ever tell you, interrupted Fenchurch, what happened to my parents in a station?
Yes, said Arthur, you did.
Just checking.
Arthur glanced at his watch. I suppose we could think of getting back, he said.
Tell me the story, said Fenchurch firmly. You arrived at the station.
I was about twenty minutes early. I’d got the time of the train wrong. I suppose it is at least equally possible, he added after a moment’s reflection, that British Rail had got the time of the train wrong. Hadn’t occurred to me before.
Get on with it. Fenchurch laughed.
So I bought a newspaper, to do the crossword, and went to the buffet to get a cup of coffee.
You do the crossword?
Yes.
Which one?
The Guardian usually.
I think it tries to be too cute. I prefer the Times. Did you solve it?
What?
The crossword in the Guardian.
I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet, said Arthur, I’m still trying to buy the coffee.
All right then. Buy the coffee.
I’m buying it. I am also, said Arthur, buying some biscuits.
What sort?
Rich Tea.
Good choice.
他们在到处是相互躺在身上的情侣的草地上奇迹般地找到了一片空地，然后坐了下来，看着美妙的鸭子和美妙的鸭子下面潺潺流水上夕阳倒映着的粼粼波光。
“一个故事，”芬琪诗说着，搂住他的胳臂。
“将会告诉你一些发生在我身上的事儿。这是千真万确的故事。”
“你知道，有的时候人们给你讲据说是发生在他们的老婆的表哥的好朋友身上的奇异故事，但其实很可能就是东拼西凑胡诌出来的。”
“好吧，它有点像那种故事，除了它确实发生过，而且我知道它确实发生过，因为它确实就发生在我身上。”
“就好像那张彩票。”
阿瑟乐了。“对。我当时要赶火车。”他继续道，“我到了车站……”
“我有没有跟你说过，”芬琪诗打断他，“我父母在车站里的事？”
“是的，”阿瑟说，“你说了。”
“只是确认一下。”
阿瑟瞄了一眼表。“我认为我们可以往回走了。”他说。
“给我讲那个故事，”芬琪诗坚定地说。“你到了车站。”
“我大概早了二十分钟。我搞错了列车时刻。我认为这至少有相同的可能性，”他沉思了一会补充道，“是不列颠铁路局搞错了列车时刻。我以前从没碰上这种事。”
“继续说啊。”芬琪诗笑着说。
“所以我买了份报纸，去做填字游戏，然后去小卖部买了杯咖啡。”
“你做填字游戏？”
“是啊。”
“那份报纸的？”
“通常是《卫报》的。”
“我觉得卫报的太做作了。我更喜欢《泰晤士报》的。你解决它了么？”
“啥？”
“《卫报》的填字游戏。”
“我根本来不及看，”阿瑟说，“我仍然要去买咖啡。”
“那么好吧。买咖啡。”
“我在买咖啡。同时我也，”阿瑟说，“买一些饼干。”
“什么类型的？”
“富茶饼干（注2）。”
“明智之选。”