but the third ( which rapidly swallowed up the other two ) was the grey , gravelly surface of a platform in a country station , and a seat with luggage round it , where they were all sitting as if they had never moved from it - a little flat and dreary for a moment after all they ; had been through , but also , unexpectedly , nice in its own way , what with the familiar railway smell and the english sky and the summer term before them .