public class AddrBook { // internal variable to hold the bookList private ArrayList bookList; // outsiders may access the list with the Book property public ArrayList Book { get { return bookList; } } public AddrBook(Addr addr) { bookList = new ArrayList(); bookList.Add(addr); } // internally we reference bookList, but others would use Book, so: AddrBook ab = new AddrBook(); ab.Book.Add(addr);