"Mary Lee. May I be inquisitive, please? What is your name?"
"Ah, I don't think it would interest you if you heard it."
"That's not fair. Names are very important, they help you to know what people are like. I'm Mary, you can see that to look at me, I see that myself when I look in the glass. Any one like Aunt Jael could only be called Aunt Jael, it belongs to her just as much as her stick. I like names, especially fine names of people and places: like Ur of the Chaldees. Say it over slowly, in a grand way like this—Urr—of—the—Chal—dees! Penzance is another nice one, and Marazion: I like all places with a 'z' in them, a 'z' looks so rare and special. People's names are better still. The man we beat in the Armada—do you remember it was you who told me about the Armada first, and I thought it was an animal, but I know all about it now—the Spanish commander was called the Duke of Medina Sidonia. Roll it over on your tongue. If there is a Duke of Medina Sidonia alive now, I should like to marry him. Fancy being called the Duchess of Medina Sidonia!"
I half closed my eyes in rapture.
"Yes," he said twitching just a little at the corners of his mouth, "you're the same little girl."
I liked this observation, as I was intended to. I could see he was laughing at me, but liked me. I forgave the first for the second.
"You have not told me your name yet. I think it must be a good one."
"If it is very good will you do the same for me as for the Duke of Medina Sidonia?"
"What do you mean? Oh"—colouring—"I will see. Tell me your name first."
"No, you must promise first."