The row along the river Bale from Polterham would take more than an hour.
As he stood sunk in desperate thoughts, a hand touched him.

He turned round, exclaiming "Lilian!" "It is I," answered Mrs.Wade's voice.
"Why have you come?
What good can you do here ?" "Don't be angry with me!" she implored.

"I couldn't stay at home--I couldn't!" "I don't mean to speak angrily .-- Think," he added, in low shaken voice, "if that poor girl is lying"---- A sob broke off his sentence; he pointed down into the black water.
Mrs.Wade uttered no reply, but he heard the sound of her weeping.
They stood thus for a long time, then Denzil raised his hand.
"Look! They are coming!" There was a spot of light far off, moving slowly.
"I can hear the oars," he added presently.
It was in a lull of the soughing wind.

A minute after there came a shout from far across the black surface.

Denzil replied to it, and so at length the boat drew near.
Mr.Liversedge stood up, and Quarrier talked with him in brief, grave sentences.