"Well, I'm not going to keep it up. I've made arrangements to have the afternoon free, just to be with you. We'll go somewhere—do something——"
"Thank you: I'd rather not."
"Don't talk rot." Most unwisely, Bellamy essayed the masterful method. "Of course we'll go some place——"
"We will not," Lucinda told him inflexibly. "My afternoon is booked full up already, and——"
"Where you going? I don't mind tagging along——"
"Sorry, but I don't want you."
Injudiciously again, Bellamy elected to show his teeth, stepped closer to Lucinda and with ugly deliberation demanded: "See here: where you going? I've got a right to know——"
"Have you, Bel? Think again. I never ask you such questions. If I did, you'd either lose your temper or lie to me, and justify yourself by asserting that no man ought to be asked to stand prying into his affairs. So—I leave you to your affairs—and only ask that you leave me to mine."
"Meaning you won't tell me where you're going?"
Lucinda shrugged and turned away; but Bellamy swung in between her and the exit.