He was suddenly annoyed. “No, I did not, Maisie. She was the first to suggest that I take you golfing.”
“Indeed! What magnanimity! I wonder why.”
“She said she had some letters to write.”
“Her letters could have waited. She had some other reason. I do not relish being the recipient of her—of her—forbearance and generosity. I’ll not be patronized by that barbarian.”
He was furious. “I’m sorry you mentioned her name,” he retorted. “I have carefully refrained all day long from doing so.”
“Why?”
“Maisie, that eternal ‘why?’ of yours grows provoking. You make me feel like a cadaver on a dissecting table.”
“You’re mixed in your metaphor, my dear Dan,” she replied with a small clink of ice in her tones. “Your statement that you have carefully refrained, all day long, from mentioning Tamea’s name to me seems to imply an impression on your part that such mention would be distasteful to me. I have a normal, healthy feminine curiosity, so I asked you why. If one would ascertain information, one must make inquiries, I’m sure.”
“Well, you didn’t mention her name, and that seemed a bit queer. I merely bowed to what I gathered was your unspoken wish.”
“How silly! Why, I didn’t refer to the girl today because I never once thought of her today—until just now. Why should I think of her? She doesn’t interest me in the least, Dan.”