# ■ 4 The Meeting

In the autumn of 1930 Edward went to stay with his friends Lord and Lady Furness．This is how he described that weekend in a book called A King's Story：

On Saturday the weather was cold and windy．It was raining heavily so we could not ride our horses． We decided to stay in the house and have an early lunch with some of Lady Furness' friends．

At one o'clock Wallis arrived with her husband． She was beautifully dressed and she smiled all the time．She spoke with Lord Furness for a few minutes，and then Lady Fur－ness brought her over to see me．

Sir，I would like you to meet one of my dearest and sweetest American friends，Mrs Wallis Simpson．'

How do you do， Mrs Simpson，'I said．'Please come and sit down．'

Lady Furness left us and we began to talk．

I could see that Wallis was not felling very well．She had a bad cold and her eyes were red． 'I'm afraid that our English houses aren't very warm，'I said． 'We don't have American central heating here．'

There was a long silence．Mrs Simpson turned her face and looked out of the window．Then she said：'You have disappointed me，Sir．'

And why is that？'I asked．

Because everybody asks me about American central heat－ing．I thought that the Prince of Wales would talk about something more interesting．'

I began to laugh．

What's the matter，Sir？'Wallis asked．'Have I said something wrong？'

No，'I replied．'I'm laughing because you didn't lie to me．You told me the truth．'

But why is that funny？ Doesn't everybody do that？'

One day I'll be King of England，' I replied．'And people are afraid of me．If I say that the sky is yellow， they say，“Yes，Sir，you are right”． If I say that Wednesday is the first day of the week， they say，“Yes，Sir，you are right”． And if I say that Scotland is bigger than Canada，they say， “Yes，Sir，you are right”．But you told me that I was boring！ You told me the truth．I like that！'

There was another silence and then Wallis began to laugh．'Can I say one more thing，Sir？'

Yes， Mrs Simpson，what is it？'

It's your trousers，Sir．'

My trousers？'

Yes， Sir．They are black and your shoes are brown．'These two colours don't look right together．'

I stood up and looked in the mirror．'Yes，Mrs Simp－son，you're right．I look very strange．The next time we meet，I will be better dressed．'

When lunch was ready，we walked through into the dining room．I sat at one end of the table and Wallis sat at the other end．I was watching her very carefully．I thought how beautiful her hands were．She began talking to Lady Furness and then， a few minutes later， she turned and smiled at me．I felt very happy．

After lunch Wallis came over to say goodbye．'My hus－band and I have to leave now，Sir．We're going to another party in London．'

I wanted to speak to her but I could not find the right words．I don't know why． We shook hands and Wallis walked away．

I went into the next room and sat down near Lady Fur－ness．'Tell me about Mrs Simpson，'I said．

What would you like to know？'she asked．

Everything！' I said．

Then perhaps，Sir，you would like to walk in the gar－den．We can talk more freely there．'

We stood up and left the house by the back door．We walked slowly through the trees，and Lady Furness told me about Wallis…

■ 4 相識

1930年的秋天，愛德華去他的朋友弗內斯勳爵夫婦那裡小住。在《一個國王的故事》一書中，他是這樣描述那個週末的：

星期六，天氣很冷，颳著風。雨下得很大，所以我們無法出去騎馬。我們決定待在屋裡，早點開午飯。與我們共進午餐的是弗內斯勳爵夫人的一些朋友。

1點鐘，沃利斯和她的丈夫來了。她穿得很漂亮，始終面帶微笑。她與弗內斯勳爵夫人談了幾分鐘，然後弗內斯勳爵夫人把她帶到我面前。

“殿下，我想介紹您認識我的一位最可愛、最甜美的美國朋友，沃利斯·辛普森夫人。”

“您好，辛普森夫人，”我說，“請過來坐坐。”

弗內斯勳爵夫人走開了，我們交談起來。

我看得出，沃利斯不太舒服。她得了重感冒，眼睛紅紅的。“恐怕我們英國的房子不夠暖和，”我說，“我們這兒沒有美國的中央供暖系統。”

接著是長長的一段沉默。辛普森夫人轉頭向窗外望去。然後她說：“您讓我感到失望，殿下。”

“為什麼？”我問。

“因為每個人都問我美國中央供暖的事兒。我想，威爾士親王準會談些比較有趣的事。”

我大笑起來。

“怎麼了，殿下？”沃利斯問，“我說錯什麼了嗎？”

“沒有，”我回答，“我笑是因為你沒對我說謊。你講了真話。”

“可這有什麼可笑的？難道大家不都這樣嗎？”

“有朝一日我會成為英國的國王，”我答道，“所以人們都怕我。如果我說天是黃的，他們會說，'對，殿下，您說得對'。如果我說星期三是一週裡的第一天，他們會說，'對，殿下，您說得對'。如果我說蘇格蘭比加拿大還要大，他們會說，'對，殿下，你說得對'。可是，您卻告訴我，我令人乏味！您講了真心話。我喜歡這樣！”

又是一段沉默，然後沃利斯笑了起來。“我能再說一件事嗎，殿下？”

“可以，辛普森夫人，什麼事？”

“是您的褲子，殿下。”

“我的褲子？”

“是的，殿下。您的褲子是黑色的，鞋卻是棕色的。這兩種顏色配在一起有點兒不協調。”

我站起身，照了照鏡子。“不錯，辛普森夫人，您說得對。我看上去真奇怪。等我們下次見面時，我會穿得更得體些。”

午餐準備好了，我們走進餐廳。我坐在桌子一頭，沃利斯坐在另一頭。我仔細地打量她。我想，她的手多美呀！她開始和弗內斯勳爵夫人談話，幾分鐘後，她轉過頭來向我微笑。我覺得很高興。

午餐後，沃利斯過來向我道別。“我和我丈夫現在得走了，殿下。我們要去倫敦參加另一個聚會。”

我想對她說點什麼，可一時找不到合適的話。我不懂為什麼會這樣。我們握了握手，沃利斯走了。

我走到隔壁房間裡，坐在弗內斯夫人身旁。“給我講講辛普森夫人的事。”我說。

“您想知道什麼？”她問。

“她的一切！”我說。

“那樣的話，殿下，也許您會願意去花園裡走走。我們在那兒談起來會比較自由些。”

我們起身從後門走出去。我們漫步在樹叢中，弗內斯夫人給我講起了沃利斯的事……