LITTLE VEMBA BROWN 141

dace, and Alma; but Stephania condemns every one of
them as too plain or too hackneyed. The fact is, all the
pretty names are used up.”

“You might name her Chestnut,” said Morris, musingly.
“There are three of us, and three is an awful lot.”

Just then the wind howled dismally ; sere and yellow
leaves whirled past the windows.

!” exclaimed Grandmama.
is n't it?”

“Here ’s sunshine, though,’ murmured Mrs. Brown,
cheerily. “You ’re a ’ittle pessus bit of booful sunshine,
so you is, even if you is a poor ‘itty "Vember baby !” and
she fell to kissing Miss Brown in the most rapturous
manner.

“Goodness, what weather
“Bleak even for November

 

“Ha! there it is!” cried Uncle Tom. “Vemba ’s her
name. Her mother has said it. Let us call her Vemba!”
Every one laughed, but Uncle Tom was in earnest; be-
sides, he had to take the afternoon train back to Phila-
delphia,

 

and you know how they always rush matters
through in Philadelphia.

“Tt’s a good name, and new,” he said, nodding his head
in a rotary way that somehow took in Mr. Brown, Mrs.
3rown, Grandma Brown, Morris Brown, Harris Brown,
and Miss Brown. “It ’s a good name. Think it over.
I must be off!”

“Vemba, from November?” eried Grandma. “What a
bleak name! Do you want the poor child to be a shadow
on the house?” and the dear old lady flourished her knit-
ting as she spoke.

Whether it was the gleam of the long needles, or Uncle