“I won’t be five minutes,” replied Julius.  “I go back to-night by the mail-train; and I have a great deal to do in the mean time.  Here it is, in plain words:  My father consents to see you again, if you choose to settle in life—­with his approval.  And my mother has discovered where you may find a wife.  Birth, beauty, and money are all offered to you.  Take them—­and you recover your position as Lord Holchester’s son.  Refuse them—­and you go to ruin your own way.”

Geoffrey’s reception of the news from home was not of the most reassuring kind.  Instead of answering he struck his fist furiously on the table, and cursed with all his heart some absent woman unnamed.

“I have nothing to do with any degrading connection which you may have formed,” Julius went on.  “I have only to put the matter before you exactly as it stands, and to leave you to decide for yourself.  The lady in question was formerly Miss Newenden—­a descendant of one of the oldest families in England.  She is now Mrs. Glenarm—­the young widow (and the childless widow) of the great iron-master of that name.  Birth and fortune—­she unites both.  Her income is a clear ten thousand a year.  My father can and will, make it fifteen thousand, if you are lucky enough to persuade her to marry you.  My mother answers for her personal qualities.  And my wife has met her at our house in London.  She is now, as I hear, staying with some friends in Scotland; and when I get back I will take care that an invitation is sent to her to pay her next visit at my house.  It remains, of course, to be seen whether you are fortunate enough to produce a favorable impression on her.  In the mean time you will be doing every thing that my father can ask of you, if you make the attempt.”

Geoffrey impatiently dismissed that part of the question from all consideration.

“If she don’t cotton to a man who’s going to run in the Great Race at Fulham,” he said, “there are plenty as good as she is who will!  That’s not the difficulty.  Bother that!”

“I tell you again, I have nothing to do with your difficulties,” Julius resumed.  “Take the rest of the day to consider what I have said to you.  If you decide to accept the proposal, I shall expect you to prove you are in earnest by meeting me at the station to-night.  We will travel back to Scotland together.  You will complete your interrupted visit at Lady Lundie’s (it is important, in my interests, that you should treat a person of her position in the county with all due respect); and my wife will make the necessary arrangements with Mrs. Glenarm, in anticipation of your return to our house.  There is nothing more to be said, and no further necessity of my staying here.  If you join me at the station to-night, your sister-in-law and I will do all we can to help you.  If I travel back to Scotland alone, don’t trouble yourself to follow—­I have done with you.”  He shook hands with his brother, and went out.