'You're using that Omar Khayyam scent again,' he said. 'I wish you
wouldn't.'
'Why? you said you liked it.'
'I do like it. I like it too much.'
She came nearer. Aylmer gently pushed her away.
'How unkind you are!' she said, colouring a little with hurt feeling.
'I can't do that sort of thing,' said Aylmer in a low voice. 'When once
you've given me your promise--but not before.'
'Oh, Aylmer!'
'I won't rush you. You'll see I'm right in time, dear girl.'
'You don't love me!' suddenly exclaimed Edith.
'But that's where you're wrong. I do love you. And I wish you'd go.'
She looked into his eyes, and then said, looking away:
'Are you really going out of town?'
'I'm ordered to. But I doubt if I can stand it.'
'Well, good-bye, Aylmer dear.'
'Fiend! Are you going already? Cruel girl!'
'Why you've just sent me away!'
'I can stand talking to you, Edith. Talking, for hours. But I can't
stand your being within a yard of me.'
'Thank you so much,' she said, laughing, and arranging her hat in front
of the mirror.
He spoke in a lower voice:
'How often must I tell you? You know perfectly well.'
'What?'
'I'm not that sort of man.
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