This story happened to my grandmother fifty years ago.
One morning, Mr. White was sitting in his usual compartment（车厢）,1for the train to start. He looked through the window and2he saw a young girl running towards the train. The man on duty tried to put out his hand to stop3, but he failed. No sooner had she got on the train than the whistle（汽笛）blew and the train moved off. The girl came into Mr.
White's compartment and took her4.
"I nearly missed it, didn't I?" she said, "5does it take to get to London?"
"It depends on the engineer driver, "said Mr. White, "Some days it's much6than others, even for more than forty minutes."
"I'll have to have my7repaired so as not to be late again tomorrow. "she said, ""It's my first8at work with a new factory today. Someone told me that the man I'm going to work for is very9. I haven't met him yet,10I don't know what he is like, but he sounds a bit frightening. "
She talked about her new11on the way to London and before long he realized that she was going to work for him. His secretary had just12so he must be her new boss. It was only13to tell her about that.
"Oh, dear! I am so sorry," she said," What a terrible mistake I've made! I wish I had 14that. "
"15,"he said," At least you'll know when your train is late that mine will be, too. "After hearing this, she smiled.
