170 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 
“JT don’t see how he can help it, Tom; she’s 
so lovely. Dr. McLean is nice, too,” continued 
Undine; “the nicest man I ever saw—’cept 
papa,” she added slowly. 
“That’s so,” exclaimed Tom, “if he is a 
minister ! ” 
“But, Tom, we can’t spare Cousin Ellen,” 
continued Undine, with dimming eyes. 
“Course we can’t!” agreed Tom. “Nor 
we can’t spare the doctor either!” Evidently 
the children’s problem was deepening. 
At last Undine said with a sigh of mingled 
trouble and relief, “ll talk with papa about 
it when he comes; he always helps us.” And 
Tom, with hands deep in his pockets, went out 
whistling Three Blind Mice. 
That evening with her head upon her 
father’s broad shoulder, Undine sobbed out her 
story of the beautiful ring and the anxieties 
assailing her loving little heart. 
Mr. Bremely laid his bearded face against 
her cheek and for several minutes was silent. 
His heart was far away with his own sweet, 
sad past. A tear upon his hand recalled him 
to the child to whom he must not only give 
strength and protection, but motherly comfort 
as well. Patting her cheek and smiling he 
agreed with her that “they could not spare 
