"Evidently not."
I looked quickly up. Evie's tone was new to me.
"Come, come, darling—a necessary matter of business," I expostulated.
"I'm sorry I interrupted."
"'Interrupted!'... Good gracious, Evie!"
"But of course I didn't; you can't be interrupted here."
I was astonished.
"Why, what—what do you mean?"
She looked coldly at me, without replying.
I frowned. I am ashamed to say that it cost me a little effort to master an impatience that had suddenly arisen in me. I spoke slowly for that purpose.