"It has not got so far yet. It has not passed Hildon."
"It has passed Hildon," replied Eales. "It passed at its proper time, and was signalled up."
Williams turned and stared at Eales with all his might. "Who says it has been signalled up?"
"Who says it! Why, I say it. I got the signal as usual."
"Then how came you to tell me you hadn't had it?" asked Williams.
"I never told you so."
"You did. You'll say black's white next. It was the only question I asked you--whether the up-train had been signalled, and you replied it had not been."
"You said the down-train: you never said the up."
"I meant the up. It's not likely I should ask whether the down-train was signalled, when it wasn't near due! You have done a pretty thing!"
How long they might have continued to dispute, one seeking to lay the blame upon the other, it is impossible to say. But at that moment the station-master came in again, and the mistake was made known to him and to others. The train had left Hildon at its proper time, and therefore the delay, whatever might be its cause, lay very near to them--in the six miles of rail intervening between Hallingham and Hildon; the train must be on some spot of it.