I would like to have
you accustom yourself to the use of these titles for your parents and
see how the very sound of it will cause you to _feel_ more affection."
Polly weighed this news thoughtfully but she was surprised at the
information that her customary "Maw" and "Paw" were not the most
desirable terms to use. She knew that Anne Stewart knew better than she
what was the proper manner of speech and she thanked her for her
interest in helping her.
"Then another thing I want you to do, Polly, is that you call me
'Anne.' I am to be with you as one of the family all this summer, and
the 'Miss' is too formal for members in the same family. I want to ask
this favor of your mother and father too. If you were to use Eleanor's
and Barbara's first names for them as I do, I think they would feel
more at home."
"Oh, Miss--I mean Anne, I will love to call you that, but I never
_could_ have courage enough to call that proud girl by the name of
'Bob'!" declared Polly.
Anne laughed and patted her apt pupil on the head, then she said,
"Shall we go in search of your mother and ask about the breakfast
table?"
Polly jumped up and led the way to the kitchen door where Sary was hard
at work.
"Sary, can you tell us where my mother is?" asked Polly.
"Your maw's just went to th' buttery to skim the milk," said she,
giving Polly an opportunity to compare the two terms.
As the two girls went toward the buttery, Polly admitted: "Anne, it
does make a difference, I think.
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