MRS WHITEFIELD. [rising and shaking her widow's weeds straight] Now that you are Ann's guardian, Mr Ramsden, I wish you would speak to her about her habit of giving people nicknames. They can't be expected to like it. [She moves towards the door]. ANN. How can you say such a thing, Mamma! [Glowing with affectionate remorse] Oh, I wonder can you be right! Have I been inconsiderate? [She turns to Octavius, who is sitting astride his chair with his elbows on the back of it. Putting her hand on his forehead she turns his face up suddenly]. Do you want to be treated like a grown up man? Must I call you Mr Robinson in future? OCTAVIUS. [earnestly] Oh please call me Ricky-ticky-tavy, "Mr Robinson" would hurt me cruelly. [She laughs and pats his cheek with her finger; then comes back to Ramsden]. You know I'm beginning to think that Granny is rather a piece of impertinence. But I never dreamt of its hurting you. RAMSDEN. [breezily, as he pats her affectionately on the back] My dear Annie, nonsense. I insist on Granny. I won't answer to any other name than Annie's Granny. ANN. [gratefully] You all spoil me, except Jack. TANNER. [over his shoulder, from the bookcase] I think you ought to call me Mr Tanner. ANN. [gently] No you don't, Jack. That's like the things you say on purpose to shock people: those who know you pay no attention to them. But, if you like, I'll call you after your famous ancestor Don Juan. RAMSDEN. Don Juan! ANN. [innocently] Oh, is there any harm in it? I didn't know. Then I certainly won't call you that. May I call you Jack until I can think of something else? TANKER. Oh, for Heaven's sake don't try to invent anything worse. I capitulate. I consent to Jack. I embrace Jack. Here endeth my first and last attempt to assert my authority. ANN. You see, Mamma, they all really like to have pet names. MRS WHITEFIELD. Well, I think you might at least drop them until we are out of mourning. ANN. [reproachfully, stricken to the soul] Oh, how could you remind me, mother? [She hastily leaves the room to conceal her emotion]. MRS WHITEFIELD. Of course. My fault as usual! [She follows Ann]. TANNER. [coming from the bockcase] Ramsden: we're beaten--smashed--nonentitized, like her mother. RAMSDEN. Stuff, Sir. [He follows Mrs Whitefield out of the room]. TANNER. [left alone with Octavius, stares whimsically at him] Tavy: do you want to count for something in the world? OCTAVIUS. I want to count for something as a poet: I want to write a great play. TANNER. With Ann as the heroine? OCTAVIUS. Yes: I confess it. TANNER. Take care, Tavy. The play with Ann as the heroine is all right; but if you're not very careful, by Heaven she'll marry you. OCTAVIUS. [sighing] No such luck, Jack! TANNER. Why, man, your head is in the lioness's mouth: you are half swallowed already--in three bites--Bite One, Ricky; Bite Two, Ticky; Bite Three, Tavy; and down you go. OCTAVIUS. She is the same to everybody, Jack: you know her ways.