She paused a moment. 'Miss Townsend won't be able to come back any more,' she said steadily. 'Really? What a pity. I suppose the fool of a girl's engaged, or something.' 'She won't come back any more,' answered Edith. 'Will you have to get a new Miss Townsend?' 'I thought of being their governess myself--during the holidays, anyhow.' 'But that will leave you hardly any time--no leisure.' 'Leisure for what?' 'For anything--for me, for instance,' said Aylmer boldly. He was full of the courage and audacity caused by the immense relief of seeing her again and finding her so responsive. There is, of course, no joy so great as the cessation of pain; in fact all joy, active or passive, is the cessation of some pain, since it must be the satisfaction of a longing, even perhaps an unconscious longing. A desire is a sort of pain, even with hope, without it is despair. When, for example, one takes artistic pleasure in looking at something beautiful, that is a cessation of the pain of having been deprived of it until then, since what one enjoys one must have longed for even without knowing it. 'Look here,' said Aylmer suddenly. 'I don't believe I can do without you.' 'You said _I_ was to make the rules.' 'Make them then; go on.' 'Well, we'll be intimate friends, and meet as often as we can. Once a week you may say you care for me, and I'll say the same. That's all. If you find you don't like it--can't stand it, as you say--then you'll have to go away again.' 'I agree to it all, to every word. You'll see if I don't stick to it absolutely.' 'Thank you, dear Aylmer.' He paused. 'Then I mustn't kiss you?' 'No. Never again.' 'All right. Never again after tonight. Tonight is the great exception,' said Aylmer. She made a tardy and futile protest. Then she said: 'Now, Aylmer, you must go.' She sighed. 'I have a lot of worries.' 'I never heard you say that before. Let me take them and demolish them for you. Can't you give them to me?' 'No; I shall give nothing more to you. Good-bye.... 'Remember, there are to be no more exceptions,' said Edith. 'I promise.' She sat quietly alone for half-an-hour, waiting for Bruce.