"That was very kind of you," Elizabeth smiled, "but I don't know who you are."
"We'm the step-children."
"You are just about like steps," said Elizabeth, "but that seems a funny name to call you just the same."
"'Tis our name," the second child, a girl with long red curls, met Elizabeth's eyes and subsided instantly.
"S-T-E-P-P-E," the boy spelled out. "'Tain't a joke. It's our name. It's Parper's name and Marmer's name."
"Steppe-father and Steppe-mother," Elizabeth said to herself, "and the Steppe children."
"You have other names?" she said aloud.
"I'm Moses."
"I'm Mabel."
"I'm Madget."