XI. 



ROCKED IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP. 



"How happy tlie sea looks to-day! Its 

 waves are sparkling and dimpling as witk mer- 

 riment," and Undine's heai't was like the sea 

 of which she spoke. 



" Halloo ! " shouted Tom from the water's 

 edge ; " here's something beats a mermaid's 

 cradle. It's funny enough to make old Nep- 

 tune roar." And Tom's laughter, though per- 

 haps a trifle less uproarious, Avas a very good 

 substitute. 



There lay a clam shell upon the sand. The 

 tide had lifted a diminutive crab into it and 

 left both Just low enough for the sea to touch 

 with its silvery hands and keep them rocking. 



"That might be called crabbed comfort," 

 laughed Miss Bremely, " and looks as if Venus 

 had turned Crustacean baby tender." 



After amusing themselves for some time 

 over what Tom called " a freak of Nature," the 

 ever-observant Undine asked, " Cousin Ellen, 



93 



