On a cold grey morning of last week I duly turned up
at Euston70 to see off an old friend who was starting for America. We were very
sad.
And now we were on the platform. And in the window of
the railway-carriage, was the face of our friend, so sad.
"Have you
got everything?" asked one of us.
"Yes,
everything," said our friend.
There was a
long pause.
One of us, with
a nod and a forced smile at the traveller, said:
"Well"
The nod and the
smile were returned conscientiously.
Another pause
was broken by one of us with a fit of coughing. It served to pass the time.
There was no sign of the train's departure.
A middle-aged man was talking earnestly to a young
lady at the next window. His fine profile was vaguely familiar to me.
In a flash I remembered. The man was Hubert Le Ros.
But how he changed since last I saw him! That was seven or eight years ago, in
the Strand.
It was strange
to see him, after all these years here on the platform of Euston, looking so
prosperous and solid. He looked like a banker.
"Stand back, please!"
The train was
about to start and I waved farewell to my friend. Le Ros did not stand back. He
stood clasping in both hands.
"Stand back, sir. please!"
Можно ещё подсократить:
On a cold grey morning of last week I duly turned up
at Euston70 to see off an old friend who was starting for America. We were very
sad.
And now we were on the platform. And in the window of
the railway-carriage, was the face of our friend, so sad.
One of us, with a nod and a forced smile at the
traveller, said:
<span> "Well"</span>
<span> The nod and the
smile were returned conscientiously. They served to pass the time. </span>
A middle-aged man was talking earnestly to a young
lady at the next window. His fine profile was vaguely familiar to me.
I remembered the man was Hubert Le Ros. But how he
changed since last I saw him! That was seven or eight years ago, in the Strand.
He looked like a banker.
"Stand back, please!"
<span> The train was
about to start and I waved farewell to my friend. Le Ros did not stand back. He
stood clasping in both hands.</span>
"Stand back, sir. please!"
<span />
