returning a value from a method

I am confused about my inability to return a value from a method.  Both the calling method and the returning method are in the same form class definition.  Following is a simplified example of my code.

 

public class frmMain:Form

{

     public frmMain()

     {

          InitializeComponent();

     }

 

     private void getGreetingToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

     {

          string greeting = getGreeting()

          // some further processing such as display greeting to console

     }

 

     private string getGreeting()

     {

          return "Hello"

     }

}

 

When  I run the form the variable "greeting" is null before and after execution of the method "getGreeting()".  Near as I understand them, the dot Net help files indicate this should work; ditto for the examples I've found here and other help sites.  What am I overlooking?  Thanks.