'Edith!' he exclaimed. 'What--when he doesn't _want_ the children--when he deserts them?' 'He is their father.' 'Their father! Then, if you were married to a criminal who implored you to divorce him you wouldn't, because he was their father!' 'Bruce is not a criminal. He is not bad. He is a fool. He has behaved idiotically, and I can never care for him in the way I used to, but I mean to give him a chance. I'm not going to jump at his first real folly to get rid of him.... Poor Bruce!' She laughed. Aylmer threw himself down in an arm-chair, staring at her. 'You amaze me,' he said. 'You amaze me. You're not human. Do you adore this man, that you forgive him everything? You don't even seem angry.' 'I don't adore him, that is why I'm not so very angry. I was terribly hurt about Miss Townsend. My pride, my trust were hurt but after that I can't ever feel that personal jealousy any more. What I have got to think of is what is best.' 'Edith, you don't care for me. I'd better go away.' He turned away; he had tears in his eyes. 'Oh, don't, Aylmer! You know I do!' 'Well, then, it's all right. Fate seems to have arranged this on purpose for us--don't you know, dear, how I'd be good to the children? How I'd do anything on this earth for them? Why, I'd reconcile Mrs Ottley to it in ten minutes; I'd do _anything_!' He started up. 'I'm not going to let Mrs Ottley know anything about it for the present.' 'You're not going to tell her?' 'No. I shall invent a story to account for his absence. No-one need know. But, of course, if, later--I mean if he persists--' 'Oh, Edith, don't be a fool! You're throwing away our happiness when you've got it in your hand.' 'There are some things that one _can't_ do.' said Edith. 'It goes against the grain. I can't take advantage of his folly to make the path smoother--for myself. What will become of him when they quarrel! It's all nonsense. Bruce is only weak. He's a very good fellow, really. He has no spirit, and not much intellect; but with us to look after him,' she unconsciously said us, and could not help smiling at the absurdity of it,' he will get along all right yet.' 'Edith, you're beyond me,' said Aylmer. 'I give up understanding you.' She stood up again and looked out of the window. 'Let him have his silly holiday and his elopement and his trip! He thinks it will make a terrific sensation! And I hope she will be seasick. I'm sure she will; she's the sort of woman who would, and then--after--' 'And you'll take him back? You have no pride, Edith.' She turned round. 'Take him back?--yes; officially. He has a right to live in his own house, with his own children. Why, ever since I found out about Miss Townsend ... I'm sure I was nice to him, but only like a sister. Yes. I feel just like a sister to him now.'