herself with bowing to him from the balcony, but she would not go
down to the door in spite of all his signs.

Some days later he came with a person of his own kind, but of
another sex. Her hair was dressed with great taste, and she had a
lovely voice. This new arrival induced the ladies to go down to
the door. They were surprised to find that, after trying various
languages, she 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