Page 237 - Adventures in shadow-land

forgot his home, his old grandfather, his sisters,

his best friend, who loved him like a brother and
who had saved his life in the war. As for the

mermaid who had given him the ring, he never
gave her a thought. He didn't care for anything

in the world but that painted image smiling up
there and holding its vase. He saw nothing but

that, and, in fact, he didn’t see that either, for he
saw it as if it were alive.

“ Oh I wish I knew her name or what she is 1”
said the merman to himself. “ She can’t be hu­
man, She is too beautiful.” He swam round

and round and read the words “ The Sea-nymph”

painted under the figure. He gave a jump almost
out of the water. It is a nymph,” he said— " one
of the Nereides or Oceanides. I thought they had

left this world long ago. What can she be doing
on that ship ?”

He gazed at the wooden creature with all his
heart in his eyes. He wished he were human that

he might at least be a little like this lovely shape.
He hated his own form. Was it likely the divine

nymph would ever deign to notice a creature with
a fish’s tail ? Finally he ventured to speak.