He agreed, but it was with short grace.

He was angry when he left the house.
"I'll put a stop to this," he thought.

"I'm not going to be bothered fooling around with visitors when I have work to do." Not long after this Mrs.Hurstwood came with a similar proposition, only it was to a matinee this time.
"My dear," he returned, "I haven't time.

I'm too busy." "You find time to go with other people, though," she replied, with considerable irritation.
"Nothing of the kind," he answered.

"I can't avoid business relations, and that's all there is to it." "Well, never mind," she exclaimed.