"Do you mean the——"
"Yes," she said hastily—"you do remember. That is a prior engagement."
"Engagement!"
"An engagement to converse on the subject of engagements. I told you about it—in the days of my communicative innocence."
He was patient because he had to be.
"After you have made your answer clear to him, may I ask you again?"
"Ask me what?"
"Wouldn't that permission depend upon what answer I may give him?"
"Good Heavens!" he exclaimed, "is there any doubt about your answer to him?"