"How funny," said the child, "to be eating ice cream at the bottom
of the sea."

"Why does that surprise you?" inquired the Queen.

"I can't see where you get the ice to freeze it," Trot replied.

"It is brought to us from the icebergs that float in the northern
parts of the ocean," explained Merla.

"O' course, Trot. You orter thought o' that. I did," said Cap'n
Bill.

The little girl was glad there was no more to eat, for she was
ashamed to feel she had eaten every morsel she could. Her only
excuse for being so greedy was that "ev'rything tasted just
splendid!" as she told the queen.

"And now," said Aquareine, "I will send you out for a swim with
Merla, who will show you some of the curious sights of our sea. You
need not go far this afternoon, and when you return, we will have
another interesting talk together." So the blonde mermaid led Trot
and Cap'n Bill outside the palace walls, where they found themselves
in the pretty flower gardens.

"I'd feel all right, mate, if I could have a smoke," remarked the
old sailor to the child, "but that's a thing as can't be did here in
the water."

"Why not?" asked Merla, who overheard him.