On these occasions he was commonly so unfortunate as to find that Lady Honoria belied the saying, that she greeted him with arrears of grievances and was, if possible, more frigid than ever.
Was this to be repeated now that he had come back from what was so near to being the longest absence of all?
It looked like it.

He noted symptoms of the rising storm, symptoms with which he was but too well acquainted, and both for his own sake and for hers--for above all things Geoffrey dreaded these bitter matrimonial bickerings--tried to think of something kind to say.

It must be owned that he did not show much tact in the subject he selected, though it was one which might have stirred the sympathies of some women.

It is so difficult to remember that one is dealing with a Lady Honoria.
"If ever we have another child----" he began gently.
"Excuse me interrupting you," said the lady, with a suavity which did not however convey any idea of the speaker's inward peace, "but it is a kindness to prevent you from going on in that line.

_One_ darling is ample for me." "Well," said the miserable Geoffrey, with an effort, "even if you don't care much about the child yourself, it is a little unreasonable to object because she cares for me and was sorry when she thought that I was dead.