Lady Honoria did not belong to that class of women who think maternity is a joy.
"Anne," he said, "take Miss Effie and carry her till you can find a donkey.

She can ride back to the lodgings." The nurse murmured something in French about the child being as heavy as lead.
"Do as I bid you," he said sharply, in the same language.

"Effie, my love, give me a kiss and go home.

Thank you for coming to see me." The child obeyed and went.

Lady Honoria stood and watched her go, tapping her little foot upon the floor, and with a look upon her cold, handsome face that was not altogether agreeable to see.
It had sometimes happened that, in the course of his married life, Geoffrey returned home with a little of that added fondness which absence is fabled to beget.