e at last
spoke to them in their own, and paid Graziella a very pretty compliment
on her beauty.

The mermaid noticed that the lower floor was full of water. 'Why,' cried
she, 'that is just the place for us, for we can't live quite out of
water.' So saying, she and her brother swam in and took up a position in
the bathroom, the princess and her governess seating themselves on the
steps which ran round the room.

'No doubt, madam,' said the mermaid, 'you have given up living on land
so as to escape from crowds of lovers; but I fear that even here you
cannot avoid them, for my brother is already dying of love for you, and
I am sure that once you are seen in our city he will have many rivals.'

She then went on to explain how grieved her brother was not to be able
to make himself understood, adding: 'I interpret for him, having been
taught several languages by a fairy.'

'Oh, then, you have fairies, too?' asked Graziella, with a sigh.

'Yes, we have,' replied the mermaid; 'but if I am not mistaken you have
suffered from the fairies on earth.'

The princess, on this, told her entire history to the mermaid, who
assured her how sorry she felt for her, but begged her not to lose
courage; adding, as she took her leave: Perhaps, some day, you may find
a way out of your difficulties.'

The princess was delighted with this visit and with the hopes the
mermaid held out. It was something to meet someone fresh to talk to.

'We will make acquaintance with several of these people,' she said to
her governess, 'and I dare say they are not all as hideous as the first
one we saw. Anyhow, we shan't be so dreadfully lonely.'

'Dear me,' said Bonnetta, 'how hopeful young people are to be sure! As
for me I feel afraid of these folk. But what do you think of the lover
you have captivated?'

'Oh, I could never love him,' cried the princess; 'I can't bear him.
But, perhaps, as his sister says they are related to the fairy Marina,
they may be of some use to us.'

The mermaid often returned, and each time she talked of her brother's
love, and each time Graziella talked of her longing to escape from her
prison, till at length the mermaid promised to bring the fairy Marina to
see her, in hopes she might suggest something.

Next day the fairy came with the mermaid, and the princess received her
with delight. After a little talk she begged Graziella to show her the
inside of the tower and let her see the garden on the top, for with the
h