DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a full-time college student. My university has scheduled all classes so that there is a 10-minute gap between each one, giving students time to get to their next class, use the restroom, grab a coffee, etc. This is generally respected by most of my professors, who let us out when class is supposed to be over.

But I have one professor who repeatedly continues to lecture after class is supposed to be over, sometimes up to five minutes, which makes it difficult to get to my next class on time. I wouldn’t mind if this happened every once in a while for a minute or two, but it’s almost every class.

Generally, students will subtly pack up their belongings when class is over to alert a professor who may have lost track of time. But this professor just ignores us and keeps lecturing.

How do I approach this without seeming rude? I’m not late arriving to class, so I feel like keeping students after class is very disrespectful.

GENTLE READER: “I am not sure that you are aware, but some of us have classes scheduled directly after this one and find it difficult to get to them if we don’t have the 10-minute buffer allotted by the university. Your lectures are always so insightful, I wouldn’t want to miss a word. But I also don’t want to get in trouble with my other professors.”

If this does not work, Miss Manners suggests that you ask the professor for a note explaining your tardiness to your other instructors. The idea of writing 73,664 separate notes will act as a deterrent from ever making you late again.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We are fortunate to have been able to build a vacation home. In our first year of owning this property, we have hosted many family members and friends, as well as invited our college-aged children to host their friends. We have also offered the home to my sister when she was visiting her daughter, who attends college nearby.

Now an adult relative asked to use the house (without us there) for a vacation with their partner, and I’m finding myself conflicted by this request.

Building this home was a big decision for us, and we are not interested in making it a rental property. I am not keen on setting a precedent that opens the door to my sizable extended family requesting weeks they want to use our home -- but perhaps we already have by inviting our children and my sister to use it.

I wonder if there is an appropriate way to set boundaries that balance my desire to be generous with my desire to limit unattended guests to those we invite per specific circumstances.

GENTLE READER: You do not need to make excuses. It is your home and you may lend it -- or not -- to anyone you like. You know -- as does Miss Manners, and anyone else who tries to compare the situations -- that a daughter and sister are quite different from these more distant, and more brazen, relatives.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have never been one to wear a lot of makeup unless it is a special event. My daily makeup often consists of foundation/concealer, mascara and lip gloss.

I have often received compliments on my “lovely” skin. Knowing that I’m covering discoloration from acne scars and that my natural skin is not blemish-free, I feel dishonest just saying "thank you." In fact, my ex-husband once gave me the side-eye when I did this, whispering, “if only she knew.”

Should I be disclosing that they are not seeing a makeup-free face?

GENTLE READER: You do not have to betray truth in packaging when it comes to compliments. As a society, we are oversharing, and in Miss Manners’ opinion, women in particular feel the need to apologize for, explain away or deflect even the most generally pleasant of accolades. You do not need to indulge anyone with unsolicited confessions.

And while we are at it, you might have told your ex-husband to keep his side-eye and whispering to himself. Obviously, he must have had serious blemishes of his own.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a niece who had a baby a year ago. The mother hosted a shower, and I gave a very generous gift from her baby registry. About a month later, the gift I had given her was listed for sale on her social media page.

If she was not happy with the gift, I would have gladly returned it in exchange for something else. Needless to say, seeing the gift for sale left a bad taste in my mouth. I never mentioned any of this to anybody. My niece has no idea I came across my gift for sale on her page, and I’m not going to bring it up. There will simply be no more presents.

Now, the baby is turning 1 and there is a birthday party planned. The invitation has a gift registry listed. I’m going to be out of town, so I will not be in attendance, nor am I inclined to give a gift of any sort.

Am I overreacting by sending my regrets for the upcoming party and withholding future gifts without stating why? I hate to punish the child because of the actions of the mother. I do plan to spend time with him as he grows up, and to give him experiences rather than gifts whenever possible.

GENTLE READER: Selling presents off of one’s very own registry is a confounding practice. She asked for it! Trading it for cash publicly, and therefore exposing the scam, is even more unspeakably rude.

Miss Manners assures you that you are under no obligation to issue any more presents. But she likes your idea of spending time with the child and giving him experiences that -- one hopes -- are not returnable. Maybe one of those can be teaching him the manners that his mother seems to be dreadfully lacking.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have many nurses in my life: My mother, aunt, significant other and FIVE of my closest friends are all in the medical field. I love them all, of course, and love to spend time with them, but they are used to discussing certain things that I would rather not hear about.

I’m not in the medical field, and therefore have little pleasure in hearing about body fluids, bodily waste, catheters and Lord-knows-what-else entering and exiting people’s bodies. They’ll talk about these topics anytime and anywhere, even in public and/or when I’m trying to eat.

I don’t know how to politely steer conversation away without seeming like I’m not interested in or supportive of their professional lives. How can I be a good friend and loved one without risking my appetite at the same time?

GENTLE READER: Ask how they deal with queasiness. If they look puzzled, you can add, “... for people who have trouble hearing about bodily fluids.” And then, sheepishly, “It’s not a theoretical question.”

Miss Manners knows that this comes dangerously close to criticizing their manners for talking shop in front of you, but it does so only indirectly -- and is more likely to be successful than pointing out that their chosen profession has some aspects that are revolting to the uninitiated.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it rude to tell an artist that you love their work, but cannot afford to buy it?

I said something along these lines to an artist at a local art show, and her response was to the effect of, “The price is very reasonable.” Which it was, of course -- I hadn’t intended to imply otherwise, just to express my regret at not being able to purchase the art.

I had thought that saying that I would purchase a piece if only I could was a stronger compliment than simply saying I liked the art and moving on.

GENTLE READER: Sensible people believe you when you say that you love their work; introducing the topic of money does not, contrary to popular belief, make you sound more convincing. And, as Miss Manners could have told you before you discovered it yourself, it can get you into trouble.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have been with my partner for a number of years, and all of a sudden he has a problem with my last name. He wants me to get rid of it and renew using my maiden name instead.

I am 73 years old. I have been divorced for 28 years and never thought of changing my married name, having had it longer than I had my maiden name. To change my name would be very expensive, not to mention a hassle: I would have to change it on all of my legal work, house loan, retirement accounts, etc.

Is it worth it, or too much hassle? Just curious.

GENTLE READER: That is entirely up to you. But are we sure that it is your maiden name that your partner wishes you to adopt? That, too, would be your choice. Miss Manners is merely curious.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)