Most people of good taste very much dislike being asked their names. to say "what is your name? " is always abrupt and unflattering. if you want to know with whom you have been talking, you can generally find a third person later and ask "who was the lady with the grey feather in her hat? " the next time you see her you can say "how do you do, mrs.—" (calling her by name). does the author use a consistent tone in the passage?