sort. You must
show him every respect, and obey him as you obey me. Whenever I leave
the house, you must amuse him and look after him and guard him as the
apple of my eye. You will be severely punished if you neglect to carry
out my orders exactly."

Sleepy Tony looked round him like one dazed, for he did not know what to
make of the adventures of the night, which were more wonderful than
wonder itself. He continually turned the question over in his mind as to
whether he was awake or dreaming. The lady noticed his confusion, and
rose from her throne, took him by the hand, and led him from one room to
another, all of which were untenanted. At last they arrived at the
twelfth chamber, which was rather smaller, but handsomer than the
others. Here the lady took her crown from her head, cast aside the
gold-embroidered mantle, and when Sleepy Tony ventured to raise his
eyes, he recognised that it was the mermaid at his side, and no strange
lady. Oh, how quickly his courage rose and his hopes revived! He cried
out joyfully, "O dear mermaid!"--but the maiden laid her hand on his
mouth, and spoke very earnestly, "If you have any regard for your own
happiness or for mine, never call me by that name, which has only been
given to me in mockery. I am one of the daughters of the Water-Mother.
There are many sisters of us, but we all live apart, each in her own
place, in the sea, or in lakes and rivers, and we only see each other
occasionally by some fortunate chance." She then explained to him that
she had hitherto remained unmarried, but now that she was an established
ruler, she must assume the dignity of a royal matron. Sleepy Tony was
so bewildered with this unimagined good fortune that he did not know how
to express his happiness. His tongue seemed paralysed, and he could not
manage to say more than Yes or No. But while he was enjoying a capital
dinner and delicious beverages, his tongue was loosened, and he was not
only able to talk as well as before, but to indulge in many pleasant
jests.

This agreeable life was continued on the next and on the third day, and
Sleepy Tony thought he had been exalted to heaven in his living body.
But before retiring to rest the mermaid said to him, "To-morrow will be
Thursday, and every week I am bound by a vow to fast, and to remain
apart from every one. You cannot see me at all on Thursdays until the
cock has crowed thrice in the evening. My attendants will sing to you to
pass the time away