"I'll think over your advice, Cousin Raymond," said Fred with a twinkle of fun in his eyes.
"Were you going to call at our house?" asked Raymond.
"Not this evening."
"I don't care to have you call me Cousin Raymond."
"I won't, then. I am just as much ashamed of the relationship as you are."
"If that's a joke it's a very poor one," said Raymond, provoked.
"It's no joke, I assure you."
Fred seemed so cool and composed that his cousin was nonplussed. He started as if to go on, but curiosity got the better of him.
"You haven't told me where you were going in that absurd dress," he said.
"I don't see anything absurd in it. I am going to a party."