"Did you look at the signal light?" inquired Mary Jupp, who was always practical. "Perhaps you--you _might_, you know, Cooper--have passed it without looking just for once." "I did look, miss; and I couldn't have been off seeing it last night, for it was being swung about like anything. 'What's up now,' I said to myself, 'that they are swinging the lamp about like that?' and I thought whoever it was doing it, must have had a drop too much." "But don't you think you might from that very fact have suspected danger?" questioned Mr. Lake. "No, sir, not from the green lamp. If they had wanted to warn me of danger, they should have swung the red. Any way, I'd rather have given my own life than it should have happened when I was driver." "Cooper, I saw the green light swung as well as you; and I shall be happy to bear my testimony in your favour at the proper time and place," said Colonel West. "It is quite a providential thing that I happened to be in my garden at the time." "Thank you, sir," said the man, earnestly, the tears of relief and emotion rising to his eyes. Whiling away the time in the best way they could, they got back to the station a few minutes before the train for Guild was expected. The accident was the topic of conversation still. "I have seen the driver," remarked Mr. Lake to the stationmaster. "I know him well, a sober, steady man. He persists still that the red signal was not exhibited; that it was the green." "Oh, he does, does he?" returned the stationmaster. "He had better prove it. Of course, when they are at their wit's end for an excuse, they invent anything, probable or improbable." "Cooper is not a man to invent. I am sure he is truthful." "Let him wait till the inquest," was the significant reply. The train came in, and they were taken on to Guild station. From thence they found their way to Mrs. Chester's, losing Oliver Jupp on the road. "You disagreeable, tiresome things! what brings you here at this late hour?" was the greeting of Mrs. Chester, as she stood at the door, in no amiable mood, to receive her guests. "You knew we were to have dined at three o'clock, and taken dessert and tea on the lawn, I have been obliged to order the dinner to be put back." "It was the train's fault," said Mr. Lake. "It deposited us halfway and left us." "Of course you must put in your nonsense, Robert, or it wouldn't be you," retorted Mrs. Chester, who could be objectionably cross when put out, especially to him. "Come along with me, girls, and take your things off. Dinner will be on the table in twenty minutes." She led the way to the staircase with scant ceremony. Mr. Lake touched her arm. "A moment, Penelope, just to answer me a question. Is Lydia Clapperton here today?" "Yes," was Mrs. Chester's answer, delivered impatiently. "Why?" "Where is she?" "In the garden, I think--or perhaps with the children. What do you want to know for?" "Only to get the start of Oliver. He monopolized her yesterday, I hear."