“Until you GOT me, yes,” assented Alfred, “and NOW you care for everybody BUT me.” She was about to object, but he continued quickly. “Where you MEET your gentlemen friends is beyond me. I don't introduce them to you.”
“I should say not,” agreed Zoie, and there was a touch of vindictiveness in her voice. “The only male creature that you ever introduced to me was the family dog.”
“I introduce every man who's fit to meet you,” declared Alfred with an air of great pride.
“That doesn't speak very well for your acquaintances,” snipped Zoie. Even HER temper was beginning to assert itself.
“I won't bicker like this,” declared Alfred.
“That's what you always say, when you can't think of an answer,” retorted Zoie.
“You mean when I'm tired of answering your nonsense!” thundered Alfred.
CHAPTER IX
Realising that she was rapidly losing ground by exercising her advantage over Alfred in the matter of quick retort, Zoie, with her customary cunning, veered round to a more conciliatory tone. “Well,” she cooed, “suppose I DID eat lunch with a man?”