Q: CHAPTER IX.

COUSINS.

"Come in," called Beth, answering a knock at her door.

Louise entered, and with a little cry ran forward and caught Beth in her arms, kissing her in greeting.

"You must be my new cousin--Cousin Elizabeth--and I'm awfully glad to see you at last!" she said, holding the younger girl a little away, that she might examine her carefully.

Beth did not respond to the caress. She eyed her opponent sharply, for she knew well enough, even in that first moment, that they were engaged in a struggle for supremacy in Aunt Jane's affections, and that in the battles to come no quarter could be asked or expected.

So they stood at arm's length, facing one another and secretly forming an estimate each of the other's advantages and accomplishments.

"She's pretty enough, but has no style whatever," was Louise's conclusion. "Neither has she tact nor self-possession, or even a prepossessing manner. She wears her new gown in a dowdy manner and one can read her face easily. There's little danger in this quarter, I'm sure, so I may as well be friends with the poor child."

As for Beth, she saw at once that her "new cousin" was older and more experienced in the ways of the world, and therefore liable to prove a dangerous antagonist. Slender and graceful of form, attractive of feature and dainty in manner, Louise must be credited with many advantages; but against these might be weighed her evident insincerity--the volubility and gush that are so often affected to hide one's real nature, and which so shrewd and suspicious a woman as Aunt Jane could not fail to readily detect. Altogether, Beth was not greatly disturbed by her cousin's appearance, and suddenly realizing that they had been staring at one another rather rudely, she said, pleasantly enough:

1. Louise
2. They're cousins
3. Yes
4. Aunt Jane's affections
5. Faced one another
6. That she was older and more experienced
7. She was pretty enough
8. She was shrewd and suspicious
9. No
10. Yes
11. Elizabeth
12. Louise
13. Hugged and kissed her
14. No
15. Yes
16. Yes
17. Her evident insincerity
18. Yes
19. No
20. Tact and self-possession

Numbered questions:
1. Who did Beth meet for the first time?
2. What was their relationship?
3. Were they competing for something?
4. What?
5. What did they do to each other after the saying hello?
6. What was Beth's estimation of Louise?
7. What was Louise's of Beth?
8. What did Beth think of Aunt Jane?
9. Was Beth agitated by Louise's appearance?
10. Is Beth a nickname?
11. What is her full name?
12. Who is older?
13. How did she greet Beth?
14. Did Beth respond?
15. Did she think Louise had any advantage?
16. Did she think she had any disadvantages?
17. What?
18. Did Beth think Aunt Jane would notice?
19. Did Louise think that Beth was stylish?
20. What did she think she lacked?

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. Dr.Michael Prager, a leading Botox expert, said that a growing number of women are developing something called "computer face".He also mentioned that professionals who worked long hours in front of a screen were ending up with saggy jowls , "turkey neck" and deep-set wrinkles on their forehead and around their eyes.

The Botox expert said that, of all his clients, office workers were most likely to show premature signs of ageing."If you are one of the unfortunate people who frown while you are concentrating on the screen then, over time, you will inevitably end up with frown lines," Dr.Prager said."What is perhaps more surprising is the number of women with saggy jowls because they are sitting in one position for so long.If you spend most of the time looking down then the neck muscles shorten and go saggy, eventually giving you a second neck."

Dr.Prager, who has a practice near Harley Street in London, said he encourages his clients to put a mirror next to their computer so they can see if they are frowning at the screen."When people are stressed or thinking hard about something, then they will often put on a 'grumpy face' without even knowing what they are doing.When my clients put a mirror next to their desk, they are often shocked by the angry, frowning face which stares back at them."

He said, "The women I am seeing at the moment have only been using computers at work for the last decade or so.But women in their 20s have grown up with them and use them for every single task.I think the problem is going to become much, much worse.In another ten years, they could be looking quite awful."

Dr.Prager said there were several simple steps which could avoid "computer face" such as regular screen breaks and stretching the neck muscles.And, of course, there was always Botox.He said that, after a couple of sessions of Botox, the habit of "grumpy face" could be broken. 1. Who is most likely to show premature signs of aging?
2. Why are they likely to look that way?
3. Will the problem get worse in the future?
4. What is this problem being called?
5. Who is the professional talking about this?
6. Is there a method suggested for avoiding this?
7. Is there any other method available?
8. Where is the expert's business located?
9. Who are the clients?
10. What are they shocked by?
11. Is there any other way to fix this?
numbered_answers: 1. office workers
2. they frown while concentrating on the screen
3. yes
4. saggy jowls
5. Dr. Michael Prager
6. put a mirror next to their computer so they can see if they are frowning at the screen
7. regular screen breaks and stretching the neck muscles
8. near Harley Street in London
9. professionals
10. the angry, frowning face which stares back at them in the mirror
11. Botox

CHAPTER XIV

GOOD-BYE TO OAK HALL

"I'll wager Merwell is the maddest boy Oak Hall ever saw!" said Shadow, when the excitement had subsided.

"Poole is a sneak, and no mistake," said Sam. "I wonder if he'll go and tell old Haskers or Doctor Clay?"

"He won't dare--for he is afraid we will tell about the fire-crackers," answered Dave. "Yes, he is a sneak."

"I don't see, now, how I could ever make a friend of him," declared Gus Plum. "Now, in one way, I like Merwell--he's a fighter and he doesn't care who knows it."

"Yes, but he's got a wicked temper," observed Roger. "He reminds me of Nick Jasniff. They would make a team."

"Where did he come from, anyway?" questioned Messmer.

"From some ranch out West. His father is a big cattle-owner. He is used to life in the open air, and one of the fellows says he can ride like the wind."

"We must watch him," declared Phil.

"I can't do that--since I am going away," answered Dave. "I'll have to leave you chaps to fight it out."

"Do you think they'll come back or send Haskers?" asked Buster Beggs.

"It might be wise to leave this spot," answered Phil. "There are plenty of places we can go to."

It was decided to move, and several baskets which had been stored away in the bushes were brought forth.

"I've got an idea!" cried Henshaw. "Let us go to that old barn on the Baggot place. Nobody will disturb us there." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who is the angriest kid?
2. What are they worried about telling?
3. What is a characteristic that he has that he doesn't worry about who knows?
4. Is he a calm person?
5. Where is he from?
6. What does his dad do?
7. Where do they decide to go?
8. Where is it?
9. Will they be alone?
10. Who do they consider a good teammate for him?
Answer:
1. Merwell
2. about the firecrackers
3. He is a fighter
4. no
5. out West
6. owns cattle
7. The old barn
8. The Baggot place
9. yes
10. Nick Jasniff