CHAPTER IX.
UNA'S PET.
"Another secret? Oh, Tom!" said Una.
"It's a nice one, too," said Tom. "Guess what I've got here, Una."
Una looked hard at the handkerchief for some moments; then she slowly shook her head.
"I can't, Tom," she said, wondering if Norah would have been able to guess, and fearing that Tom must think her a very stupid little girl indeed.
But Tom only laughed gleefully.
"I knew you couldn't," he said; "and I don't expect you'll know what to call it, even when you've seen it."
He knelt down on the moss and opened the handkerchief, exhibiting a funny-looking, spiky ball.
"Oh, Tom, what is it?" asked Una. "A ball made of pine-needles?"'