Janet reëntered just as this discussion finished. The pale calm face had a tranquilising effect upon Geoffrey’s excited nerves. He had been pacing the room in a distracted manner, hardly able to smoke; but at sight of Janet he flung his cigar into the fender, and became a reasonable being. They talked a little, quietly, of indifferent things, and a good deal about Flossie, an ever-delightful subject to the fond mother; and then Geoffrey, feeling that it was growing late and that duty demanded self-sacrifice, rose and said something about going away. Happily there came a reprieve in the shape of an offer of brandy-and-soda from Lucius, who rang the bell for his ancient seneschal; so Geoffrey lingered just a little longer and took heart of grace to tell Janet his intention of a speedy voyage eastward. ‘Lucius seems to think I oughtn’t to idle about London all the winter,’ he said, ‘and suggests a trip to China—a mere bagatelle—fifty days out and fifty days home, and a week or so to look about one while the steamer coals, and so forth. Yet it makes a hole in a year, and it is sad to leave one’s friends even for so short a time.’ ‘Are you really going to China?’ asked Janet, opening those splendid eyes of hers in calmest astonishment. Geoffrey wavered immediately. ‘Well, Lucius advises me, you see,’ he replied irresolutely; ‘but I don’t know that I care much about China. And as to going about in steamers just because steamers can give you all the comforts you can get at home, why not stay at home at once and enjoy the comforts without the steamer? And as to China—it sounds interesting in the abstract; but really, on second thoughts, I can’t perceive any gratification in visiting a country in which men have pigtails and women crumpled feet. One is brought up with a vague idea of the China Wall and Crim Tartary, which, as one grows to manhood, gives place to another vague idea of the Caucasus, and the river Amoor, and Russian aggression, and some vast uncomfortable territory lying between Russia and India, just as Bloomsbury lies between the West-end and the City, and I daresay almost as impassable. No, I really don’t see why I should go to Shang-kong—I beg your pardon—Honghai,’ faltered Geoffrey, brightening at Janet’s kindly smile; ‘I think a little hunting at Stillmington would do me more good.’ ‘Stop at home, then, Geoff,’ said Lucius, laughing at his faithful comrade, ‘and have your season in the shires. Janet shall stay and keep house for me till I marry.’ ‘What! is Mrs. Bertram going to stop with you?’ ‘For a little while,’ answered Janet; ‘I don’t think this part of town would do for Flossie very long; but I am going to fetch her to-morrow, and she and I are to keep house for Lucius for a month or two.’ ‘And then we are all going to migrate to the West-end together,’ said Lucius. Geoffrey sighed and looked miserable.