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.