This is the answer that I have been looking for. Thank you very much, Athanasius. I sincerely appreciate the time and energy you have put into answering my question. Also, I'd like to thank you for recommending a reference book for additional information. Again, I appreciate this additional gesture. I was so bogged down by details that I could no longer see the bigger picture. I have forgotten that the setter and getter functions reside inside the object. So, even if they directly access the object's attribute, the activity is still taking place inside the object. Thank you, again Athanasius. :)