'If you talk like that, I'll send her away today.'
'Oh, Aylmer! how ungrateful of you to say such a thing! She's been an angel.'
He spoke wearily. 'I don't want angels! I want you!' He suddenly leant forward and took her hands.
She laughed nervously. 'What a compliment.'
Then she disengaged herself and stood up.
Aylmer sighed. 'Now you're going to say, Ought you to talk so much? What is your temperature? Oh, women are irritating, even the nicest, confound them!'
Edith was unable to help laughing.
'I'm afraid I was going to say something like that.'
'Now, are you going to say you won't answer me for fear it will excite me?'
'Don't talk nonsense,' said Edith. 'I take you seriously enough. Don't worry!'