They used to ride through scented woods, where the green
branches brushed her shoulders, and little birds sang among the
fresh leaves. She climbed up the highest mountains with the prince,
and although her delicate feet bled so that others saw it, she only
laughed and followed him until they saw the clouds sailing below
them like a flock of birds, taking flight to distant lands.
At home in the prince's palace, when at night the others were
asleep, she used to go out on to the marble steps; it cooled her burning feet to stand in the cold sea-water, and at such times she used to
think of those she had left in the deep.
One night her sisters came arm in arm; they sang so sorrowfully as
they swam on the water that she beckoned to them, and they recognised
her, and told her how she had grieved them all. After that they visited
her every night, and one night she saw, a long way out, her old grand-
mother (who for many years had not been above the water), and the
Merman King with his crown on his head; they stretched out their
hands towards her, but did not venture so close to land as her sisters.
Day by day she became dearer to the prince; he loved her as one
loves a good sweet child, but it never entered his head to make her
his queen; yet unless she became his wife she would never win an
everlasting soul, but on his wedding morning would turn to sea-
foam.
'Am I not dearer to you than any of them?' the little mermaid's
eyes seemed to say when he took her in his arms and kissed her
beautiful brow.
'Yes, you are the dearest one to me,' said the prince, 'for you have
the best heart of them all, and you are fondest of me; you are also like
a young girl I once saw, but whom I never expect to see again. I was
on board a ship which was wrecked; I was driven on shore by the
waves close to a holy Temple where several young girls were minister-
ing at a service; the youngest of them found me on the beach and
saved my life; I saw her but twice. She was the only person I could
love in this world, but you are like her, you almost drive her image out
of my heart. She belongs to the holy Temple, and therefore by good
fortune you have been sent to me; we will never part!'
'Alas! he does not know that it was I who saved his life,' thought
the little mermaid. 'I bore him over the sea to the wood where the
Temple stands. I sat behind the foam and watched to see if any one
would come. I saw the pretty girl he loves better than me.' And the
mermaid heaved a bitter sigh, for she could not weep.
'The girl belongs to the holy Temple, he has said; she will never
return to the world, they will never meet again. I am here with him;
I see him every day. Yes! I will tend him, love him, and give up my
life to him.'