"
"What will you call him, Ellen," said Miss Sophia. "My father
has dubbed him 'George Marshman;' — he says you will like
that, as my brother is such a favourite of yours."
"He didn't _really_, did he?" said Ellen, looking from Sophia to
Alice. "I needn't call him that, need I?"
"Not unless you like," said Miss Sophia, laughing — "you may
change it, but what _will_ you call him?"
"I don't know," said Ellen, very gravely — "he must have a
name, to be sure."
"But why don't you call him that?" said Ellen Chauncey;
"George is a very pretty name — I like that. I should call him
'Uncle George.' "
"Oh, I couldn't!" said Ellen — "I couldn't call him so; I
shouldn't like it at all."
"George Washington?" said Mrs. Chauncey.
"No, indeed!" said Ellen. "I guess I wouldn't!"
"Why, is it too good, or not good enough?" said Miss Sophia.
"Too good! A great deal too good for a horse. I wouldn't for
anything."
"How would Brandywine do, then, since you are so patriotic?"
said Miss Sophia, looking amused.
"What is 'patriotic?' " said Ellen.
"A patriot, Ellen," said Alice, smiling — "is one who has a
strong and true love for his country."
"I don't know whether I am patriotic," said Ellen, "but I
won't call him Brandywine. Why, Miss Sophia?"
"No, I wouldn't either," said Ellen Chauncey; — "it isn't a
pretty name. Call him Seraphine! — like Miss Angell's pony —
_that's_ pretty.
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