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〃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
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profusion。
〃Why； it's very much like the earth；〃 exclaimed Mary Louise； 〃only
one doesn't walk； and its not dusty； andand 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
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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 hairyou needn't wash your hands
and face； you knowthe banquet will be ready。〃
Mary Louise clapped her hands and hopped； or； rather； flopped about；
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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。
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King Seaphus
The great dining hall of King Seaphus was considered by all the
inhabitants of Merlandthat is； all those who had been lucky enough to
have seen its splendorto be the most magnificent of its kind anywhere。
The dining table； or banquet board； as it was called； was made of
mother…of…pearl。 The pale； shimmery cloth was woven from the most
delicate of sea…grasses。 The gold and silver plates shone with a strange
luster； and the goblets； fashioned of the thinnest and most exquisite pearl；
gave the impression that they were strange sea lilies。
King Seaphus seated himself majestically at th head of the banquet
board； and little Mary Louise was shown the place on his right。 At the
other end sat the Mermaid Princess。 Mermen in dark green liveries
served the meal。 But what delighted and interested Mary Louise the
most was the way in which the food was served。 Instead of ordinary；
everyday dishes； it appeared in little airtight boats； which the servants
guided dexterously to the table； and when opened； the steam escaped in
hundreds of little bubbles that took on all the hues of the rainbow。 These
slowly ascended through the pale green water until they reached the
surface； where they probably floated off in the air； until they burst； like
fairy soap…bubbles。
All kinds of delicious fish； little pink and white crabs； goldfish；
luscious oysters； and； finally； coral…candy