"How would you like to visit the Court of the Mer King?" asked the
mermaid.

"Oh, lovely!" cried Mary Louise. "I've never met any kinds, although
I've read about them in fairy stories."

"Come along then," said the mermaid. "Follow me straight down, for I
think we are not very far from the Coral Palace, where King Seaphus
holds court."

Placing the palms of her hands together diving fashion, she gave her
pretty tail a kick-off, and away she went, head downward, through
the water.

Mary Louise followed her example, somewhat surprised at the ease with
which she executed this difficult maneuver.

In a short time they found themselves on the bottom of the ocean.
In the distance could be seen the dim outline of a magnificent castle
of pink and white coral. Leading up to it was a wide highway, flanked
on either side with beautiful sea-grass, and dotted here and there,
like milestones, stood columns of beautiful coral. Banks of exquisite
mother-of-pearl rose at intervals along the way; water plants of
various hues grew in wild profusion.

"Why, it's very much like the earth," exclaimed Mary Louise, "only
one doesn't walk, and its not dusty, and--and it's not hot and
sunny!"

"No, indeed!" said the mermaid. "But sometimes we have a pest of