scattered about the sea gardens and which Merla informed them were
hyalaea, or sea glowworms. But their light was dim when compared to
that of the electric jellyfish, which they found placed in clusters
upon the ceilings of all the rooms of the palaces, rendering them
light as day. Trot watched these curious creatures with delight, for
delicately colored lights ran around their bodies in every direction
in a continuous stream, shedding splendid rays throughout the vast
halls.

A group of mermaids met the visitors in the hall of the main palace
and told Merla the queen had instructed them to show the guests to
their rooms as soon as they arrived. So Trot followed two of them
through several passages, after which they swam upward and entered a
circular opening. There were no stairs here, because there was no
need of them, and the little girl soon found herself in an upper
room that was very beautiful indeed.

All the walls were covered with iridescent shells, polished till
they resembled mother-of-pearl, and upon the glass ceiling were
clusters of the brilliant electric jellyfish, rendering the room
bright and cheerful with their radiance. In one corner stood a couch
of white coral, with gossamer draperies hanging around it from the
four high posts. Upon examining it, the child found the couch was
covered with soft, amber sponges, which rendered it very comfortable
to lie upon. In a wardrobe she found several beautiful gossamer
gowns richly embroidered in colored seaweeds, and these Mayre was
told she might wear while she remained the guest of the mermaids.
She also found a toilet table with brushes, combs and other
conveniences, all of which were made of polished tortoise-shell.