"If you permit me, you started the row before I spoke, even." "I do _not_ permit you." Clearly, my lady could be haughty enough to satisfy the most fastidious.
"Well," I sighed, "I will go my way.

I'm a lover of peace, myself; but since you proclaim war, war it must be.

I'm not so ungallant as to oppose a lady's wishes.

Is that gate down there locked ?" "Figuratively, it's _always_ locked against the Carletons," she said.
"But I want to go through it _literally_," I retorted.

And she just looked at me from under those lashes, and never answered.
"Well, the air grows chill in King's Highway," I shivered mockingly.