"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." Anne nodded brightly and opened the creamery-door. Mrs. Brewster stood with skimmer in hand, taking the rich cream from the pans of milk. She looked up with a welcoming smile as the two girls came in. "Mother, Anne's been giving me 'first aid' in manners," laughed Polly, watching her mother's expression keenly. "In which line, dear; there are several you can improve in," rejoined Mrs. Brewster, with a loving little laugh. "Didn't you hear me? I have improved upon your name." "I noticed it, but I wanted to make sure it was intentional and not a mistake." "Tell me--do you like it?" asked Polly, eagerly. "Indeed I do, dear; I never could abide that name of 'Maw' and 'Paw' that is common with the ranchers." "Then why didn't you tell me this long ago! Oh, mother!" "If I corrected you, and the other children at school heard you use different terms from those they were accustomed to, they would think you 'proud' and 'too good for a rancher.' I have heard that criticism so often, that I have given up trying to better conditions or express my own desires in anything that an illiterate and inexperienced neighbor may find fault with. I just accept things as they are, now, but hope for better things for my children." This was a new light on her mother, and Polly felt subdued by it. She wondered if her mother would have been any different if she had been in Mrs. Maynard's place. "You see," continued Mrs. Brewster, turning to Anne, "one so gets to dread the free speech and narrow-minded opinions of some ranchers that one forbears in _everything_, rather than have strife and ill-will from those one must meet at times." Anne nodded. "But sometimes it is better to take the risk of offending the whole community if one finally wins out." Mrs. Brewster looked approvingly at the girl, and Polly changed the conversation by saying: "Mother, Anne and I have a plan that will surprise you." Mrs. Brewster smiled encouragingly for the girls to speak. "It's just this: we think it will be lovely to move the table out under the trees. There the air and view can be enjoyed and afford us ample subjects for conversation," explained Anne. "Anne, splendid! After my experience of last night I would hail any change. But this is really good. I never thought of it myself," replied Mrs. Brewster, with relief.