"What would you like to be?" And Patty flashed him a dangerous glance of her pansy-blue eyes.
But Mr. Bell kept his equanimity. "How about second cousin, once removed?"
"I suppose you'll be removed at the end of this dance."
"Then, may this dance last for ever!"
"Oh, what a pretty speech! Of course, you wouldn't make that to a sister! I think a second cousinship is very pleasant."
"Then, that's settled. And I may call you Cousin Patty, I suppose?"
"It would seem absurd to say Cousin Miss Fairfield, wouldn't it? And yet our acquaintance is entirely too short for first names."
"But it's growing longer every minute; and, if you would grant me another dance after I'm removed from this one, I'm sure we could reach the stage of first names."
"I will give you one more," said Patty, for she liked Mr. Bell very much.
So at the end of their dance they agreed upon a number later on the programme, and Mr. Bell wrote down "Cousin Ed" on Patty's card.