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THE LITTLE MERMAID. 187
heart to one of her sisters, from whom all the others
immediately learned her secret, though they told it to
no one else except to a couple of other mermaids, who
divulged it to nobody except to their most intimate
friends. One of these happened to know who the
prince was. She, too, had seen the gala on ship-board,
and informed them whence he came, and where his
kingdom lay. |
“Come, little sister !” said the other princesses; and,
entwining' their arms, they rose up, in a long row, out
of the sea, at the spot where they knew the prince’s
palace stood.
This was built of bright yellow, shining stone, with
a broad flight of marble steps, the last of which
reached down into the sea. Magnificent golden cupo-
las rose above the roof, and marble statues, closely
imitating life, were placed between the pillars that
surrounded the edifice. One could see, through the
transparent panes of the large windows, right into the
magnificent rooms, fitted up with costly silk curtains
and splendid hangings, and ornamented with large
pictures on all the walls; so that it was a pleasure to
look at them. In the middle of the principal room, a
large fountain threw up its sparkling jets as high as
the glass cupola in the ceiling, through which the sun
shone down upon the water, and on the beautiful plants
growing in the wide basin that contained it.
Now that she knew where he lived, she spent many
an evening, and many a night, on the neighbouring
water. She swam much nearer the shore than any
of the others had ventured to do ; nay, she even went
up the narrow canal, under the handsome marble hal-
cony, that threw its long shadow over the water.
Here she would sit, and gaze at the young prince,
ho thought himself quite alone in the bright moon
shine,
Many an evening did she see him sailing in his
pretty boat, adorned with flags, and enjoying music :
then she would listen from amongst the green reeds;