"It was a beautiful night, calm and clear, with a slight mist lying over the Mersey. As I waited watching the vessels pass and repass, the moon rose and lit up the broad expanse of water. The sands in the direction of Waterloo were nearly covered, and looking westward the river spread out as if to welcome the opening sea. I cursed the ocean as I thought that it might so soon have been the means of bearing away one I loved from every helping hand. I pictured Vera when she realized the truth, looking out over the cruel waste of water, helpless, compromised, and too weak to struggle against her fate; a fate which probably she would only half comprehend or realize. Some passengers were already on the steamer. She might even now be there. I walked across the landing-stage to the vessel, but could see no sign of either of the fugitives. "The time passed; I grew anxious. Could there be some mistake? At last, utterly unnerved, I sat down, and my heart cried out, ’Vera! Vera! come, oh, come! that I may save you.’ "A hand touched me on the shoulder. I looked up, the girl was standing over me; she had in her eyes a strange far-away look as though she were walking in her sleep. "’You called me,’ she said, ’but I must not wait, for my husband told me on no account to leave the berth until the ship had started.’ "I made no audible reply, but willing her to follow me, left the ship. Passing across the bridge I saw my detective waiting. "’Keep the money,’ I whispered. "He saluted, and we passed on, the girl still following close behind me. I led the way to where Mrs. Freshfield had promised to wait, and found her in a state of great excitement. When, however, she saw Vera a look of relief passed over her face, and the kind-hearted woman went up, took the girl in her arms and kissed her as if she had been a long-lost child of her own. "’Vera,’ I said, bringing all my power to bear upon her, ’I want you to go home with this lady at once; do you understand?’ "’Yes, go home,’ she answered in a weary, uninterested voice. "I took her hands in mine, bent over and kissed her. ’Forget,’ I whispered, ’all that has happened in the last thirty hours, and hate, hate, hate Vancome.’ "I said good-bye to my friend, made her promise to take Vera to her home at once, and left them.