Full text: Tales and fairy stories

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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;
	        
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