"Can't you postpone it?"
She laughed at that, a little soft laugh that came bubbling through her words:
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Must be something very interesting."
"Um—maybe so."
"You're very mysterious—can't I be told what it is?"
"Why should you be told?"
That riled him, I could hear it in his voice.
"As a friend, or if I don't come under that head, as a fellow who's got the frosty mit and wants to know why."
"I don't think that's any reason. I have no engagement with you and I have with—someone else."