ked 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.

As they went down the river, snow began to fall. It filled the air and
covered the deck with wet, slowly moving flakes, and the water which
swallowed it up all round the ship looked duller and darker by contrast.
Everybody went below, most people occupied themselves with arranging
their possessions so as to be most comfortable during the voyage;
Maurice, who had few possessions to arrange, took out that morning's
_Times_, and sat down to read.

The first two or three days of a voyage are generally nearly a blank to
landsmen. Maurice was no exception to the rule. Even Lucia commanded
only a moderate share of his thoughts till England and Ireland were
fairly out of sight, and the 'India'