"

"She is a thorough lady, and allows no liberties," said Dr. May.

"Ah!" said Margaret, "it is a proof of what I want to impression you. We
really must leave off calling her Daisy when strangers are there."

"It is so much nicer," pleaded Mary.

"The very reason," said Margaret, "fondling names should be kept for our
innermost selves, not spread abroad, and made common. I remember when I
used to be called Peg-top--and Flora, Flossy--we were never allowed to
use the names when any visitor was near; and we were asked if we could
not be as fond of each other by our proper names. I think it was felt
that there was a want of reserve in publishing our pet words to other
people."

"Quite true," said Dr. May; "baby-names never ought to go beyond home.
It is the fashion to use them now; and, besides the folly, it seems, to
me, an absolute injury to a girl, to let her grow up, with a nickname
attached to her."

"Ay!" chimed in Norman, "I hear men talking of Henny, and Loo, and the
like; and you can't think how glad I have been that my sisters could not
be known by any absurd word!"

"It is a case where self-respect would make others behave properly,"
said Flora.

"True," said Dr. May; "but if girls won't keep up their own dignity,
their friends' duty is to do it for them. The mischief is in the
intimate friends, who blazon the words to every one."

"And then they call one formal, for trying to protect the right
name," said Flora. "It is, one-half of it, silliness, and, the other,
affectation of intimacy."

"Now, I know," said Mary, "why you are so careful to call Meta Miss
Rivers, to all the people here."

"I should hope so!" cried Norman indignantly.

"Why, yes, Mary," said Margaret, "I should hope lady-like feelings would
prevent you from calling her Meta before--"

"The Andersons!" cried Ethel, laughing. "Margaret was just going to
say it. We only want Harry, to exact the forfeit! Poor dear little
humming-bird! It gives one an oppression on the chest, to think of her
having that great do-nothing brother on her hands all day."

"Thank you," said Norman, "I shall know where I am not to look when I
want a sister."

"Ay," said Ethel, "when you come yawning to me to find amusement for
you, you will see what I shall do!"

"Stand over me with a stick while I print A B C for Cocksmoor, I
suppose," said Norman.

"Well! why not? People are much better doing something than nothing."

"What, you won't even let me