Page 258 - Adventures in shadow-land

it was because all the people in the sea were “ Phil­
istines,’ ' No cme knew just what he meant, but

when he called people by that name most all of
them experienced a sort of crushed feeling, and

pretended to admire the poems. Sometimes they
would even buy them, but not often. Moby Dick

accompanied the young merman home, and they
made up a story that his hurt had been caused by

a sword-fish, against whom he had run in the dark.
Nobody believed him, for some way every one

knew the truth, but all the members of the family’s
own circle pretended to believe the tale, for they

were all very high-bred people.
It had been intended that the wedding of the ■
professor’s granddaughter should be a very bril­

liant affair, but they felt so unhappy about the

grandson that they resolved to invite only a few
intimate friends. Moby Dick, of course, was
among the number. He was too huge to come

into the house, but he put his nose to the window

and ate ice cream with a fire shovel for a spoon.
The beautiful mermaid from next door was brides­
maid, and looked most lovely. She seemed in

better spirits than any one else, and never said a