"What are their names?"
"Oh,—oh, I forget."
"Rubbish! You don't forget. Be sensible, Azalea. You're making a mystery of something. Now if it's anything wrong, I'm going to know about it,—if it's merely a little secret of your own,—a justifiable one,—tell me so, in a convincing way, and I'll stop questioning."
"It is a secret of my own,—and it's nobody's business but mine."
"Is it a harmless, innocent matter?"
"Of course it is! What do you think I am? A thief?"
"Gracious, no! I never thought you were that!" Patty laughed. "But I do suspect you're up to some flirtation or affair of that sort, and I have a perfect right to inquire into the matter. Why didn't you let us meet your friends that day they called?"
"I didn't suppose you would care to know them. They're not your sort."
"Are they your sort? Oh, Zaly, I thought you wanted to be our 'sort,'—as you call it. You don't want to have friends Bill and I wouldn't approve of, do you?"
"Oh,—I don't know what I want! I wish you'd go 'way, and leave me alone!"