"Why, the ocean is full of cracked ice!" exclaimed Mary Louise, as she
and the mermaid rose to the surface and looked about them. "I wonder
what it was that caused such a tremendous crash?"
"Perhaps the Whale Ice Trust is after a big ice supply," replied the
mermaid with a laugh. "The ocean depths are no longer a quiet place
since this dreadful hot weather set in. Just the other day I heard the
King of the Mermen say that they were about to send a note of protest
to Neptune for violating the laws of Merland!"
"I don't know much about it," said Mary Louise, "except that it's very
inconvenient to have one's voyage disturbed in such a way. What are we
going to do now?"
"How would you like to visit the Court of the Mer King?" asked the
mermaid.
"Oh, lovely!" cried Mary Louise. "I've never met any kinds, although
I've read about them in fairy stories."
"Come along then," said the mermaid. "Follow me straight down, for I
think we are not very far from the Coral Palace, where King Seaphus
holds court."
Placing the palms of her hands together diving fashion, she gave her
pretty tail a kick-off, and away she went, head downward, through the
water.
Mary Louise followed her example, somewhat surprised at the ease with
which she executed this difficult maneuver.
In a short time they found themselves on the bottom of the ocean. In
the distance could be seen the dim outline of a magnificent castle of
pink and white coral. Leading up to it was a wide highway, flanked on
either side with beautiful sea-grass, and dotted here and there, like
milestones, stood columns of beautiful coral. Banks of exquisite
mother-of-pearl rose at intervals along the way; water plants of
various hues grew in wild profusion.
"Why, it's very much like the earth," exclaimed Mary Louise, "only one
doesn't walk, and its not dusty, and--and it's not hot and sunny!"
"No, indeed!" said the mermaid. "But sometimes we have a pest of water
gnats that are worse than mosquitoes, and we have to put up netting on
our bedroom windows to keep them out."
As she finished speaking they approached the door of the castle, on
which she knocked with a flap of her finny tail. It was immediately
opened by a merman dressed in the uniform of a court page. "What can I
do for you, Your Highness?" he asked, bowing low.
"Why, are you a princess?" asked Mary Louise in surprise, turning
quickly to the mermaid and forgetting for the moment that they were on
the steps of a real merman's castle.
The little mermaid only laughed in reply, and taking Mary Louise by the
hand led her through the coral doors to King Seaphus.
His Majesty was seated on a throne of pearl, studded with many precious
stones. A long emerald robe fell from his shoulders and on his head
rested a magnificent crown set with glittering jewels, which gleamed
and sparkled in the dim light of the royal chamber.
"Ah, my daughter, whom have you here?" he asked, leaning from the
throne and gazing intently at little Mary Louise. "Methinks she is a
mermaidized mortal!" At which the King laughed loudly, for he was very
fond of coining words and was busily engaged, when his state duties did
not interfere, in compiling a new dictionary.
"You are right, Father Seaphus," replied his beautiful daughter. "Let
me introduce little Mary Louise."
The King rose graciously and extended his royal right hand. Mary
Louise made a low curtsey, finding it much easier now that she was a
mermaid to perform this little act of graciousness on account of the
flexibility of her tail.
Legs, of course, are indispensable for walking; but, then, in these
days of new inventions, when the air is invaded by wing, and the earth
traversed by wheels, and the depths of the waters by mechanical fins,
walking may soon become a lost art! Something like this may have
flitted through her mind, but she only answered in a trembling voice,
"How do you do, Your Majesty!"
"You are welcome, 'Mermaid Mary,' to our Kingdom of the Sea," he
replied. "I hope you will enjoy your stay with us." So saying, he
gallantly lifted his gold crown as little Mary Louise made another
curtsey.
"Let us dress for dinner," said the mermaid.
They swam quickly upstairs between two balustrades of lovely coral to
her bedroom.
It was just like fairy-land; at least, it seemed so to little Mary
Louise, as she looked about the pretty room. In one corner stood a
beautiful bed of mother-of-pearl, hung with varied colored sea grass
for curtains. Sea moss made it as soft as down. In fact, it seemed
almost softer to Mary Louise, who by this time was very sleepy. She
rested her tired little body upon the cushions and in a few short
seconds was sound asleep. The princess mermaid looked at her with
loving eyes, while she sang very low and sweetly:
"Sleep, little sister, for when you awake,
We'll have a fine dinner of fishes and cake!"
I think the mermaid took somewhat after her royal father for she often
spoke in rhyme, which she composed as she talked, while his great
delight, as has been mentioned before, was to coin a new word for his
dictionary.
Leaving Mary Louise to her slumbers, the princess mermaid sat herself
down before her mirror and combed her hair. Presently, she went over
to her wardrobe and took out a beautiful shimmery pink shawl. What it
was made of I cannot tell, except that it shivered and quivered with
little colors like a rainbow. Perhaps it was made of changeable
sea-silk.
At any rate, Mary Louise, who at that moment opened her eyes, thought
it was the most exquisite thing she had ever seen.
"Is it really for me? Is it really?" she asked with a cry of delight,
as the mermaid came toward her.
"Of course it is, my dear," replied the mermaid princess, "and as soon
as you have put it on, and combed your hair--you needn't wash your
hands and face, you know--the banquet will be ready."
Mary Louise clapped her hands and hopped, or, rather, flopped about, so
happy was she to receive such a gift in the depths of the sea.
When she was dressed in the lovely shawl, and a beautiful
mother-of-pearl comb fastened in her hair, the princess mermaid
declared she looked "too sweet for anything!" Then they floated down,
arm in arm, to the great dining hall.