ir
steel jackets can't stand it very deep down. An' here we be, miles
from the top o' the water, I s'pect, an' we don't feel crowded a
bit."

"I know why," answered the child wisely. "The water don't touch us,
you see. If it did, it might crush us, but it don't. It's always
held a little way off from our bodies by the magic of the fairy
mermaids."

"True enough, Trot," declared the sailor man. "What an idjut I was
not to think o' that myself!"

In the royal banquet hall were assembled many of the mermaids,
headed by the lovely queen, and as soon as their earth guests
arrived, Aquareine ordered the meal to be served. The lobsters again
waited upon the table, wearing little white caps and aprons which
made them look very funny; but Trot was so hungry after her
afternoon's excursion that she did not pay as much attention to the
lobsters as she did to her supper, which was very delicious and
consisted of many courses. A lobster spilled some soup on Cap'n
Bill's bald head and made him yell for a minute, because it was hot
and he had not expected it, but the queen apologized very sweetly
for the awkwardness of her servants, and the sailor soon forgot all
about the incident in his enjoyment of the meal.

After the feast ended, they all went to the big reception room,
where some of the mermaids played upon harps while others sang
pretty songs. They danced together, too--a graceful, swimming dance,
so queer to the little girl that it interested and amused her
greatly. Cap'n Bill seemed a bit bashful among so many beautiful
mermaids, yet he was pleased when the queen offered him a place
beside her throne, where he could see and hear all the delightful
entertainment provided for the royal guests. He did not talk much,
being a man of few words except when alone with Trot, but his
light-blue eyes were big and round with wonder at the sights he saw.

Trot and the sailor man went to bed early and slept soundly upon
their sponge-covered couches. The little girl never wakened until
long after the sun was shining down through the glass roof of her
room, and when she opened her eyes she was startled to find a number
of big, small and middle-sized fishes staring at her through the
glass. "That's one bad thing 'bout this mermaid palace," she said to
herself. "It's too public. Ever'thing in the sea can look at you
through the glass as much as it likes. I wouldn't mind fishes
looking at me if they hadn't such big eyes, an'--goodness m