emeralds and pearls. Here reclined Queen Aquareine, a being so
lovely that Trot gazed upon her spellbound and Cap'n Bill took off
his sailor cap and held it in his hands.

All about the room were grouped other mother-of-pearl couches, not
raised like that of the queen, and upon each of these reclined a
pretty mermaid. They could not sit down as we do, Trot readily
understood, because of their tails; but they rested very gracefully
upon the couches with their trailing gauzy robes arranged in fleecy
folds.

When Clia and Merla escorted the strangers down the length of the
great room toward the royal throne, they met with pleasant looks and
smiles on every side, for the sea maidens were too polite to indulge
in curious stares. They paused just before the throne, and the queen
raised her head upon one elbow to observe them. "Welcome, Mayre,"
she said, "and welcome, Cap'n Bill. I trust you are pleased with
your glimpse of the life beneath the surface of our sea."

"I am," answered Trot, looking admiringly at the beautiful face of
the queen.

"It's all mighty cur'ous an' strange-like," said the sailor slowly.
"I'd no idee you mermaids were like this, at all!"

"Allow me to explain that it was to correct your wrong ideas about
us that led me to invite you to visit us," replied the Queen. "We
usually pay little heed to the earth people, for we are content in
our own dominions; but, of course, we know all that goes on upon
your earth. So when Princess Clia chanced to overhear your absurd