In a more leisurely time, when ladies and gentlemen had calling cards and social obligations could be fulfilled merely by leaving a calling card at an acquaintance's house, it was the custom, if this was a farewell call, to write the initials PPC in the upper lefthand corner -- pour prendre conge -- for leave taking.
Perhaps then, the spectacular leaves that Autumn scatters so freely are her calling cards --pour prendre conge . . .
