asin of water, in which
she would sport most gracefully, modestly attired, as a nymph of the
sea.

She always identified herself with the part she sustained. As a sea
nymph, she could never be induced to speak; but, when we addressed her,
she always replied in musical tones, because, according to our legends,
mermaids always discoursed in song.

In the basin of water there were willows, hung with small lyres, through
which Sylifa would show her face, and then, taking one of the lyres,
would play and sing exquisitely, always keeping up the illusion.

She was very fond of a lion brought up in my palace, with which, as a
cub, she had played when a child. As a woman, she had complete mastery
over the noble animal. Both as a child and as a woman, she, with the
lion, formed the subject of many of the beautiful pictures that adorned
my palaces.

For a particular reason, we once separated Sylifa from her husband for a
day. She refused to eat; neither would she retire to rest. As the day
was ending she walked into the room where I sat with my numerous guests.

She said, "Do you love Sylifa?" "Yes," was my answer. "Then give me back
my Oma. Without him I die; already I droop; to-morrow I shall be no
more."

When asked to amuse us, she said she could not; her heart was too heavy.
We tried to console her, but it was useless; she wept, and her long hair
was wet with her tears.

After two days, we were obliged to restore Oma to the devoted Sylifa.

Sylifa was enthusiastic in her love of flowers. It was she who suggested
that, at the _fete_ of which I have spoken, the camelopards should be
united by wreaths of flowers. She sought and obtained my permission to
mount the tallest of the stately animals, and appeared, resplendent in
beauty, amongst the beautiful women who graced the _fete_.

XXVIII.

THE YOUNG GIRL RESTORED.

MADNESS.

"A sleep of sorrow."

Formerly, as before observed, many were pronounced mad who were
perfectly sane, but madness itself was scarcely ever recognised until by
violent actions or incoherent words the patient had excited fear in
others. Numbers, afflicted with incipient madness, might have been
easily cured had its presence been detected; but they were allowed to
inflict great injury upon their neighbours. This they did the more
effectually as their madness was not even suspected until the symptoms
of the malady became too glaring to be disregarded.

I will relate to yo