TROUBLE. 171 
Cousin Ellen nor Dr. McLean—nor anybody,” 
and promised he would look into the matter. 
Undine’s confidence in her father was only 
equaled by her love, and soon she was laugh- 
ing gleefully while she searched his pockets 
for the strange money he told her he had 
brought her. 
One pocket she found filled with cowries, 
yellow and shining. “Money cowries,” her 
father told her they were called, because of 
their commercial value in some parts of Asia 
and Africa, to which places many tons weight 
have been carried annually by traders. “Orange 
cowries,” said her father, “are the crown jewels 
of the Friendly Islanders, and are worn as 
marks of chieftainship. But go further, Un- 
dine; you will find other Cyprwa that will 
please your fancy.” And truly the elegant 
“porcelain shells” she found m another pocket, 
with their exquisite enamel and beautiful mot- 
tling, called forth expressions of the greatest 
delight. Among the richly colored was a 
shell of purest white, all the fairer for its lone- 
ness. It was the Ovulum ovum, or “ poached 
ego,” as it is often called. Another very curi- 
ous to her was the Ovulum volva, or “ weavers’ 
shuttle,” as 1t is named, because of the prolon- 
gations of both ends of the shell. 
18 
