It seemed to hun that she had been crying a little.
'Not in the least,' he said.
'I shall enjoy having them as travelling companions.'
She smiled.
'I've just told them.
They're simply thrilled.
They're terribly excited to be going home with you.'
It was the first time that he had heard her speak of England as home.
He broached the matter of a girl to her, and they went together to see Madame Lucard.
But Cidoton proved to be incapable of producing anybody willing to go with them to St Malo, or even as far as Paris.
'It doesn't matter in the least,' said Howard.
'After all, we shall be home in twenty-four hours.
I'm sure we shall get on famously together.'
She looked at him.
'Would you like me to come with you as far as Paris?
I could do that, and then go back to Geneva.'
He said: 'Not at all - not at all.
You stay with your man.
Just tell me about their clothes and what they say, er, when they want to retire.
Then you won't need to worry any more about them.'
He went up with her that evening to see them in bed.
He said to Ronald: 'So you're coming back to England with me, eh, to stay with your auntie?'
The little boy looked up at him with shining eyes.
'Yes, please!
Are we going in a train?'
Howard said: 'Yes, we'll be a long time in the train.'
'Will it have a steam engine, or a 'lectric one?'
'Oh - a steam engine, I think.
Yes, certainly, a steam engine.'
'How many wheels will it have?'
But this was past the old man's capacity.
Sheila piped up. 'Will we have dinner in the train?'
'Yes,' he said, 'you'll have your dinner in the train.
I expect you'll have your tea and your breakfast in it too.'
'Oo... Oo,' she said. And then, incredulously,
'Breakfast in the train?'
Ronald stared at him.
'Where will we sleep?'
His father said: 'You'll sleep in the train, Ronnie.
In a little bed to yourself.'
'Really sleep in the train?'
He swung round to the old man.
'Mr Howard, please - may I sleep next to the engine?'
Sheila said: 'Me too. I want to sleep next to the engine.'
Presently their mother got them settled down to sleep.
She followed the men downstairs.
'I'm fixing up with Madame Lucard to pack a hamper with all your meals,' she said.
'It'll be easier for you to give them their meals in the wagon lit than to bother with them in the restaurant car.'
Howard said: 'That's really very kind.
It's much better that way.'