that it
is a ball we are speaking of?"

"A ball?" says I; "then what did you call it a Liederkranz for?"

"The Liederkranz ball. It's a German word."

"But I don't speak Dutch. How should I, not being an old settler of York
Island," says I.

"Well, never mind that. The Liederkranz is a masked ball."

"A masked ball! Now what do you mean? I've heard of masked batteries,
but they went out with the war."

"There it is again; you won't take time to understand," says Cousin E.
E., a-lifting both her hands in the air. "This is a ball where people go
in character."

I arose at once, burning with indignation.

"Cousin E. E.," says I, "do you mean to insult me? What have you seen in
my conduct to lead you into supposing that I would go to any ball that
was out of character?"

"Do sit down," says she.

"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
Phoemie."

Cousin Dempster, who had been rubbing his hands and enjoying himself
mightily, now smoothed down his face, and spoke.

"A masked ball, Cousin Phoemie, 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."

"Well?" says I, completely beat out.

"Some dress themselves up as beasts and birds."

"What?"

"And some as tame animals."

"You don't say so!"

"The ladies put masks on their faces."

"Masks! now what are they?"

"Pieces of silk, or gold and silver cloth, with holes for the eyes, and
a fringe over the mouth. Then over the dress they put on a great
circular cloak, with a hood to it, and loose sleeves that hide the
shape, so that a man don't know his own wife."

"Oh, it's a hide-and-seek ball; but ain't some of the ladies in danger
of losing themselves," says I.

Cousin Dempster laughed, and his wife turned red as fire.

"People who lose themselves at the Liederkranz, generally get found out
in the end," says he.

"But I must hurry down town. Will you go? Everybody will be there. It is
the place to meet a prince in disguise."