"Not in this house," says I. "It isn't my own dignity alone that I have got to maintain, but the whole Society of Infinite Progress is represented in my humble person."
"But you are mistaken. Was ever anything so absurd! Do speak to her, Mr. Dempster. You know how far it is from my mind to give offence to Cousin Phœmie."
Cousin Dempster, who had been rubbing his hands and enjoying himself mightily, now smoothed down his face, and spoke.
"A masked ball, Cousin Phœmie, is an entertainment, you understand."
"Just so," says I.
"In which each person takes some character not his own."
"All slanderers, are they?" says I.
"No, no; they assume a character."
"Oh!" says I, a-drawing out a long breath; "make believe have one?"
"They dress the character, and act it."