“The marriage is to take place in a week.  The engagement has been hastily got up, they say, at last; though there was some talk of it a year ago.  He does not seem particularly eager about it now.”

“What is he marrying her for?” was Maurice’s next question, put with an utter disregard of all possibilities of sentiment in the matter—­the man whom Lucia might have loved could not but be indifferent to all other women.

“It’s not a bad match,” Mr. Payne answered, putting his head on one side as if to consider it critically.  “Not much money, but a good connection—­excellent.”

Whereupon they dismissed Percy and his affairs, and went to work.

Late that night, for no reason but because he could not rest in London, Maurice started for Liverpool.  The steamer did not sail till afternoon, and there would have been plenty of time for him to go down in the morning; but he chose do otherwise, and consequently found himself in the streets of Liverpool in the miserable cold darkness of the winter dawn.  Of course, there was nothing to be done then, but go to a hotel and get some breakfast and such warmth as was to be had.  He felt cross and miserable, and half wished he had stayed in London.

However the fire burnt up, breakfast came, and the dingy fog began to roll away a little from before the windows.  He went out and walked about the city.  He stared at the public buildings without seeing them; then at the shop-windows, till he suddenly found himself in front of a jeweller’s, and it occurred to him that he would go in and buy a ring which would fit a slender finger in case of need.  He went in accordingly, and after looking at some dozens, at last fixed upon one.  He knew the exact size, for he had once taken a ring of Lucia’s and tried to put it on his little finger; it would not go over the middle joint, but persisted in sticking fast just where the one he bought stopped.  It was a magnificent little affair—­almost enough to bribe a girl to say “Yes” for the pleasure of wearing it, and Maurice congratulated himself on the happy inspiration.  Being in a tempting shop, he also bethought himself of carrying out with him some trifling gifts for his old friends; and by the time he had finished his selection, he found to his great satisfaction that he might return to the hotel for his luggage, and go on board ship at once.

The small steamer which was to carry the passengers out to the ‘India’ was already beginning to take on her load when Maurice arrived.  The fog, which had partially cleared away in the town, lay heavy and brown over the river; the wet dirty deck, the piles of luggage, and groups of people were all muffled in it, and looked shapeless and miserable in the gloom.  Hurry and apparent confusion were to be seen everywhere, but only for a short time.  The loading was soon completed, and they moved away into the river.

Then came another transfer—­passengers, trunks, mail-bags all poured on to the ‘India’s’ deck.  Last farewells were said—­friends parted, some for a few weeks, some for ever—­the great paddles began to move, and the voyage was begun.