midnight
A rest on shore was necessary for the crews to recover from the mental shock , for it was found that although the men might escape from physical injury and appear bright and cheerful immediately after the occurrence , the reaction was most marked at about forty-eight hours afterwards . Ross and Vernon , although not borne in the books of the _ Oxford _ , received permission to go on leave . Since Haye 's father was somewhere in the North Sea , and he had no near relatives , he gladly accepted Ross 's offer to sample again the hospitality of Killigwent Hall . It was late when their train arrived at King 's Cross ; so much so that the lads realized it would be useless to attempt to catch the Cornwall express that would land them at St. Bedal just before midnight . `` I vote we have an evening in town , '' suggested Vernon . `` Let 's go to a theatre . It seems ages since I was inside a music hall , or even a picture palace . ''