pO. 
TROUBLE. 
“Coustn Extien has a new ring,” confided 
Undine to Tom soon after. 
“That so?” responded Tom, in an uninter- 
ested voice. 
“Tt’s lovely,” continued Undine; “a dear 
little diamond and some pearls.” 
“Don’t see what she wants of any more 
rings!” ventured Tom, with more esprit. “She’s 
more rings now than she can wear. Td a 
thought she’d rather have a double-lens micro- 
scope, or an alligator—J/ would !” 
Without appearing to notice Tom’s prefer- 
ence, Undine gently touched the heart of the 
matter, and Tom’s heart as well, by her next 
announcement: “I guess Dr. McLean gave it 
to her.” 
Tom’s face grew troubled; he was silent a 
moment and then asked, “Undine, you don’t 
s’pose Dr. McLean cares anything about Cousin 
Ellen, do you?” 
: 169 
