thinking it urgent to say something, I asked him presently if he felt any cold draught from the door, which was behind him.No, no! he responded shortly and somewhat testily.
If you describe someone as testy, you mean that they easily become impatient or angry. Ben's getting a little testy in his old age. + testily tes·ti·ly He reacted testily to reports that he'd opposed military involvement. impatient and easily annoyed = irritable (testif , from teste )